Russell E. Train Fellowships: WWF Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowship Grant

The Russell E. Train Fellowships by WWF support current and aspiring university faculty from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in their doctoral studies related to conservation. This initiative aims to bolster local academic expertise, engaging faculty in developing future conservation leaders. Eligible candidates must demonstrate commitment to academia and possess relevant experience. The fellowship encourages diverse stakeholder involvement and aims to provide measurable conservation outcomes, ultimately enhancing the capacity for sustainable development in local communities.

Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowships
While progress has been made to address the shortfall of adequate expertise at higher education in many countries, locally led and relevant solutions are still needed to recruit, retain, scale, and sustain academic and research expertise at institutional and country levels.
WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) provides funding support to current and aspiring university faculty that are affiliated with or currently employed at African, Asian, and Latin American and Caribbean universities. This opportunity is for doctoral degree study in natural and social science and other conservation-related fields. Strong university faculty is fundamental for effective exchange of knowledge, expertise and skills, and leadership. Faculty members inspire and mentor students, design curricula, promote learning and idea sharing, lead and collaborate on research, and disseminate scientific outcomes.
WWF Train Fellows must enhance, expand, or support the development of intergenerational scientific expertise at a university in their home country or region. In doing so, WWF aims to improve the capacity of local and regional faculty to activate the training of current and future conservation leaders, leading to more equitable and accessible conservation science capacity, education, and leadership for the benefit of people and nature. Fellows will also have an opportunity to join the expansive global community of EFN alumni to enable knowledge exchange and collective success.
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 activities 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.

Eligibility

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.
The fellowship is open to nationals of eligible countries within the WWF-US priority areas: Belize, Brazil, Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, ZambiaEligibility criteria:You must be a citizen and legal permanent resident of an eligible country.
You must have at least two years of conservation-related work or research/academic experience.You must have an existing affiliation with a college or university in an eligible country and demonstrate collaboration and strategic partnership with country and/or regional institutions.You must have a demonstrated commitment to working in academia in an eligible country; For example: Commitment to providing targeted mentorship and guidance to early career conservation leaders and scientists.You must be enrolled in or admitted to a PhD program anywhere in the world.
You must plan to begin your studies no later than January 2026.
You must contact EFN if you are a WWF employee, consultant, or previous EFN grant recipient to determine eligibility.

Ineligibility

EFN is not allowed to provide fellowship funding to individuals who are earning a wage from WWF.