Deadline: December 18, 2025

Applications are open for the WWF Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowship 2026-2027. To strengthen local capacity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean, WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) seeks to support current and aspiring faculty members to pursue their PhD in-country, regionally, or globally.

The objective of this competitive fellowship is to advance the development of a critical mass of outstanding and well-trained experts, natural and social scientists, and practitioners who will continue to increase the learning, research, and engagement in conservation science and leadership.


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Focus Areas

The fellowship aims to bridge academic excellence and conservation research to provide hands-on experience, learning, and training opportunities. The proposed research topics may cover a wide range of themes. Finalists will be identified through a competitive selection process and scored based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to, the following areas:

  • Academic and professional contributions/potential: applicant’s commitment to their academic, research, and professional development.
  • Strength and quality of the research proposal: uniqueness of proposed topic, relevance, and detailed plan of action. The proposed work demonstrates an understanding of the fellowship’s rationale. The proposed research work highlights the intent to explore solutions at the interface of climate, conservation, people, and sustainable development; the proposed ac vi es are feasible within the proposed work plan and realistic budget.
  • Individual and collective impact: the applicant’s ability to succeed in conservation research and leadership; short and long-term impacts as well as lasting conservation outcomes beyond proposed academic/research timeframe. The proposed work aims to engage diverse stakeholders, including gender mainstreaming and involvement of local and indigenous communities. The applicant demonstrates potential to build partnerships and active engagement with local communities, academic, research, and practitioners.
  • Project measurability: the proposed research has measurable outcomes and outputs.
  • Collaborations: the applicant’s demonstrated potential to enhance partnerships beyond the proposed objectives and timeframe.
  • Recommendation letters: the applicant meets the specific criteria for the fellowship with specific examples which demonstrate the applicant’s abilities.

Funding

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  • Applicants may apply for up to three years of funding and request up to $30,000 per year. The amount of funding approved will vary.

Eligibility

  • Open to nationals of eligible countries within World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-US priority areas who are already enrolled/are interested in enrolling in a PhD program.
  • Eligible countries include: Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Congo, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Application

The deadline to apply is December 18, 2025 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. Accepted applicants will be notified by June 2026.

Click here to apply


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For more information, visit WWF Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowship.

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