Plant Conservation Biology Fellowship Grant

Plant Conservation Biology Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Amount: US $10,000
Last Updated: February 12, 2025

Summary

The Plant Conservation Biology Fellowship supports early-career scholars to focus on plant conservation research. Awarded annually, this prestigious $10,000 grant enables fellows to spend 2-5 weeks at Oak Spring, providing an ideal environment for independent writing and reflection. Alongside communal activities, fellows will explore the estate's landscape and library resources. This fellowship aims to nurture exceptional talent in conservation biology, fostering collaboration and innovation within the field.

Overview

Purpose The Plant Conservation Biology Fellowship is awarded annually to one outstanding, early-career practitioner, scholar or scientist working on issues related to plant and landscape conservation in the broad sense. The goal is to provide advanced graduate students, post-docs, and beginning faculty with an extended stay of 2 - 5 weeks on the Oak Spring estate to undertake independent writing and thinking, away from the day-to-day demands of their other responsibilities. This is one of our four most prestigious awards and it includes a $10,000 individual grant. While at OSGF, the fellow will be able to meet with staff, explore our 700-acre landscape and our efforts in sustainable land management, and visit our rare book library that holds over 19,000 objects, including many examples of botanical art. The Fellowship is well suited for individuals working on writing projects that require dedicated time and minimal distractions. OSGF intends to award the Fellowship to an exceptional plant conservation biologist whose research shows remarkable promise to contribute to the conservation of plants, and the landscapes of which they are a part of. The Fellow will be scheduled to visit when there are other Interdisciplinary Residents or Fellows on site. This scheduling will allow the Fellow to join in communal meals, and optional activities and field trips with other artists, ecologists, researchers, or scholars working on projects related to OSGF’s mission. Beyond time to develop their projects, a Fellow’s typical day at Oak Spring might include a walk to enjoy the landscape or birds; an appointment to visit the Oak Spring Library; and/or a morning spent volunteering at the BCCF or in the formal garden. These optional activities provide Fellows time to learn from, and interact with our staff. None of these activities are required, and we understand that some Fellows might want to spend most of their time in their writing or working independently. We support and enable Fellows to use their time as they best see fit. At the culmination of their stay, we encourage, but don’t require, Fellows to give a 20 – 30 minute presentation with time for questions, to Oak Spring staff and any other Fellows, Residents, or program participants who might be on site. Award The $10,000 individual grant associated with this award can be put towards travel to and from OSGF, materials and supplies purchased for their Residency, and other items that will support their work, before or after their stay at OSGF. The selected Fellow should make travel arrangements to Dulles International Airport, where Oak Spring will arrange ground transportation for them to our estate in Upperville, VA. The Fellow will be housed in a nicely appointed shared accommodations. The fellow will have a private bedroom and bathroom, and share a living room and kitchen with 1 – 3 other Residents or Fellows.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants must be early-career practitioners, scholars or scientists, not enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in 2025. The successful Fellow must be self-directed and able to work independently while on site. Applicants are expected to show dedication in their work in plant conservation in the broad sense, exceptional promise, good communication skills and excellence in what they have accomplished or plan to accomplish.