Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship

Purpose

With generous support from the Weston Family Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Canada is pleased to offer one-year Boreal Research Fellowships to graduate students pursuing their Master's or Doctoral degree. Successful applicants will receive financial support for their projects along with mentorship from WCS Canada scientists and an opportunity to network with other Fellows and Fellowship alumni.

Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowships support field-based research that contributes to WCS Canada’s conservation objectives or priority research projects in the Ontario Northern Boreal and the Northern Boreal Mountains of BC and Yukon. We encourage research that partners with Indigenous communities in these regions. Research that takes place outside of these areas and supports WCS Canada’s vision and mission, particularly around Key Biodiversity Areas, peatlands, and species at risk in the boreal, may also be eligible.

Value

• up to a $20,000  The amount of funding awarded will be determined by the quality and financial needs of the project, the degree of knowledge co-creation and sharing with local Indigenous communities, and the number of applications received. 

Applications Open

November of every year

Application Deadline

January of every year

Eligibility

• Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in conservation science or in a related social or natural science field,
• Current fellows may reapply for and receive continued project support for a maximum of three years per research project. 
• Applications for new projects from Fellows who have previously been awarded the Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship will be considered. For example, a student tat received a fellowship award for master's research may apply to support subsequent PhD research. 

What makes for a great project?

• High quality social and ecological scientific research that addresses the conservation objectives or priority research projects of WCS Canada in the Ontario Northern Boreal Mountains, and other projects in the boreal (see Eligible Projects).
• A clear study design and appropriate methodology
• Projects that consider whether the research is relevant to the Indigenous communities where it is taking place and provides a plan outlining how the research will be developed and shared with these communities
• A project that aims to discuss research ideas with Indigenous communities or share the results of research that has recently been completed within these communities. 
   

Application Guidelines and the online application are found on The Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship website.