Opportunities

Requests for Proposal

CESU Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI): Field Biology Technical Assistance and Predator Control for Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kauai, Hawaii This work requires the equivalent of 1 FTE onsite biologist, and equivalent of 6 FTE staff memebers to support the PMRF Natural Resources Program.  Support needs are: protected species field monitoring and survey work, species and habitat conservation, predetor control, maitenance and operation of small nursery facility used for native plant production and restoration work, and envirnmental planning/GIS support, in order to implement the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). Approximately $612,000 is expected to be available to support this project for the base period. Additional funding may be available to the successful recipient for optional tasks and/or follow on work in subsequent years. Statements of Interest are due by May 17, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. CST.

CESU Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI): Biological Assessment for Water Draw on the Edwards Aquifer - Joint Base San Antonio Natural Resource Office, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The purpose of this Biological Assessment (BA) is to determine effects of JBSA’s groundwater withdrawal on species listed pursuant to Section 4 of the ESA or aquifer dependent species on USFWS five year workplan over the next 15 years. This BA will be submitted to and utilized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a Biological Opinion (BO) and Incidental Take Statement for effects of ongoing Edwards Aquifer well withdrawals by JBSA. JBSA withdraws water from the Edwards Aquifer to sustain its military mission. Water use varies at each base depending on the activities supported at that time. Although water use is likely to remain consistent through 2042 (2027 plus 15 years), continued flexibility is required to assure national security. The biological opinion resulting from this BA ensures that JBSA has sufficient groundwater withdrawals to support the existing and foreseeable future missions. Approximately $138,000 is expected to be available to support this project for the base period.  Statements of Interest are due by 2:00 P.M., Central Time, on 01 April 2024.

CESU Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI): Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan for the Military Use Area (MLA) on Tinian Island.  The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) is to develop an Integrated Wildland Fire Management Plan (IWFMP) for the proposed USMC training area within the MLA on Tinian, CNMI. The primary deliverables shall be a Draft IWFMP, Final Draft IWFMP and Final IWFMP that define a program of wildland and range fire management for the Marine Corps’ proposed training areas on Tinian. Estimated funding available: $74,272.  Submit Statement of Interest o later than 19 March 2024 2:00 P.M. Hawaii Standard Time. 

Student Opportunities: Scholarships, Fellowships, Internships

Glacier National Park Conservancy – Jerry O’Neal Student Research Fellowship -2024 Call 

Applications are now being accepted for the Glacier National Park Conservancy – Jerry O'Neal Research Fellowship for work in Glacier National Park. The fellowship aims to provide educational assistance for students seeking to understand natural and cultural resources issues and how these interact with human values. Special consideration will be given to proposals that address the following:

  1. natural resource issues such as aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology, fire ecology, invasive plants, and climate change
  2. cultural resource issues, such as history and architectural studies, cultural landscape reports, ethnographic research, and archeology
  3. social science that informs resource management about a natural or cultural topic and/or that addresses visitor impacts to park resources

Competition is open to graduate students or superior upper division undergraduate students at universities and colleges in the CESU Network.  Applicants may request up to $7500. Applications must be submitted electronically by April 17, 2024. Application Process 

RM-CESU Announces the Annual Competition for Student Award

The Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU) annually recognizes "above and beyond” accomplishments by student(s) involved in RM-CESU projects.  Nominations may be submitted by any representative of the federal agency that sponsored the project, or by the student’s academic institution. Nominations for Student Award are due August 16, 2023. The Award winner(s) will receive a citation and give a presentation on their project results at annual RM-CESU Fall Meeting. Nomination Instructions.

Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WBEF) Offers Two Student Research Grants

 The WBEF is accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate students conducting research on whitebark pine. WPEF will provide $1000 - $2000 to one grant recipient, and John Van Gundy is offering a separate $1000 grant for research on whitebark pine dynamics under climate change. Applications are due March 1st, 2024. Learn more about the grant program.

The Boyd Evison Graduate Research Fellowship is sponsored by the Grand Teton Association

The Evison Fellowship was established in memory of Boyd Evison to honor his dedicated service to both the National Park Service and the Grand Teton Association. Evison retired in 1994 after an exemplary 42-year career with the National Park Service in which he rose from park ranger to regional director in parks from Alaska to the Rocky Mountain Region. After retiring from government service, he became executive director of the park's primary interpretive and educational partner, the Grand Teton Association, until his death in October 2002.

Following Boyd's vision, the Evison Fellowship encourages scientific and conservation-related research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to help shape wise management decisions and maintain healthy natural resources. It provides $10,000 in support for highly motivated graduate students working on completion of a master's or Ph.D. degree in the biosciences, geosciences, or social sciences.  The call for 2024 proposals is opend until January 26, 2024.

UW-NPS Research Station announces the 2024 Small Grants Program RFP

The small Grants Program is funded by the National Park Service and the UW-NPS Research Station at the University of Wyoming. It is limited to US academic institutions, government, and NGO researchers conducting their studies in the Greater Yellowstone Area. See uwnps.org/funding-opportunities for more information, a list of past awards, and a link to annual reports of research going back to 1954. 

Grants will be evaluated by a panel of park personnel and faculty in diverse fields based on intellectual merit (will the study advance our understanding in some key way), and relevance to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We welcome proposals that address Grand Teton National Park research priorities and Yellowstone National Park research priorities, but that is not necessarily a requirement for funding. 

We encourage grant submissions by and/or for graduate student research support as these small grants can be a vital source of support for students working in the GYE. 

For RFP details and to submit a proposal, go to 2024 UW-NPS Small Grants in InfoReady. Proposals due 1.31.2024.

The Izaak Walton League of America National Conservation Scholarship 

The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) is to conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources. Part of their longstanding mission includes education– thus the formation of the IWLA National Conservation Scholarship program. Each year this non-profit, membership organization offers two $2,500 scholarships to qualified natural resources undergraduates. More detailed information is available on the IWLA website. Completed application must be postmarked no later than May 15 every year.

Bailey Research Fellowship

The Rocky Mountain National Park Research Fellowship is an endowed program of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy that is funded by the Leslie Fidel Bailey Charitable Trust. It is designed to encourage highly qualified graduate students to apply their talents to conducting research in the national parks. It is also intended to convey the importance of communicating park research to the public. One fellowship is awarded annually.

This fellowship opportunity invites a broad range of research proposals to be reviewed and conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park, including wildlife management, vegetation and riparian studies, fire ecology, cultural sciences, archeology and historic structures preservation, as well as other topics in botany, zoology, geology, history, ecology and ornithology.

The graduate student awarded the Research Fellowship will work with Rocky Mountain National Park staff for a period of three to four months. Applicants must submit a preliminary research proposal and the chosen fellow will be expected to convey research finding to the general public as well as to professional audiences. Application deadline: February 1, annually.

Scientist in Parks Program

The Scientists in Parks Program is now accepting applications for the Summer 2024 Season. There are many exciting internship opportunities in national parks across the country. These paid internships contribute to natural resource management needs at parks with projects related to biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and science communications/education. A list of positions and how to apply can be found at Scientist in Parks. Most applications close January 21, 2024, please consult individual job announcements to verify eligibility requirements and deadline information If you have any questions, please email us at Scientists_in_Parks@nps.gov. 

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