Fellowships

Applications for grants are now open through October 31.

Information on grant eligibility, guidelines, and the application process can be found below. Click here to read the announcement.

Wild Animal Initiative Fellowships support early-career scientists (PhD or postdocs) who aspire to wild animal welfare research careers. 

If accepted into the Fellowship Program, Fellows work with a WAI mentor to expand their initial project proposal into a robust wild animal welfare research plan. A three-month placement period emphasizes developing the project and building the skills and knowledge needed to apply their existing expertise and do impactful work as a wild animal welfare scientist. Following this, they will shift to completing their WAI-funded project in close collaboration with their academic supervisor and WAI mentor. 

Fellowships last 1–3 years, depending on career stage and project duration.

Grant size

Up to $100,000 USD per year

Duration

Up to 3 years

Selection criteria for WAI Fellowships

  • If successful at the application stage and invited to submit a project proposal, a welfare triangulation plan will also need to be submitted. It may be useful to have this in mind when completing the EOI form. Use of previously validated welfare indicators (as validated by a WAI Validation grant or similar previous research) is strongly encouraged and will make the triangulation plan considerably more straightforward.

  • Projects must be led by the fellow, with support from an experienced supervisor who can support the fellow’s aspirations in the field of wild animal welfare. Before applying, applicants should have identified a primary academic supervisor. 

Fellowship budget guidance:

  • These grants must provide a stipend for the fellow. All Fellows will be awarded a minimum stipend of $50,000 per year. Fellows can request an increased stipend (up to a total of $75,000 per year) to match the standard salary of a postdoc at their institution. Where no clear postdoc benchmark exists, WAI will apply location-based data to set an adjusted stipend. Depending on your country and institution, your stipend may be subject to tax or benefits deductions (e.g., unemployment, retirement, health insurance, tuition, etc.). Wild Animal Initiative is unable to predict or provide advice about the deductions your stipend may be subjected to. Consult a tax professional in your region and your institution to learn more.

Application process

Wild Animal Initiative fellowships are highly competitive and have a different application process to our other grant types, made up of four stages. Specific timelines are provided in the CFP announcement, but in summary: 

  • Application form: Provide information on your research background, understanding of wild animal welfare science, and your career goals in the field. 

  • Project proposal: If shortlisted, applicants will be invited to submit an initial project proposal outlining the proposed fellowship project.

  • Review response: Based on feedback from reviewers, applicants will provide a written response.

  • Interview: Final candidates will be invited to an interview with WAI researchers to further discuss career goals and the proposed project.  

  • Applicants are evaluated based on their interest in developing a research career focused on wild animal welfare science, the relevance of their initial project concept, their ability to meet high standards of scientific rigor, and openness and adaptability to WAI and mentor feedback.

Additional opportunities and expectations for fellows

During the placement period, fellows will attend regular meetings with their WAI mentor, attend WAI journal club meetings and complete reading and training on topics related to wild animal welfare science (WAWS) and suggested by the mentor. Topics may include core WAWS research concepts, including assessing welfare and welfare frameworks, indicator validation, and responsible intervention, as well as broader concepts like publishing and communicating WAWS.

We also ask that fellows:

  • Familiarize themselves with WAI’s mission and key concepts in wild animal welfare science, and reflect these in presentations, papers, and other communications about the project.

  • Provide regular project updates and discuss substantive changes to the project with the WAI mentor.

  • Actively seek opportunities to integrate wild animal welfare concepts in current and future research and to develop a career connected to the field.

  • Produce at least one peer-reviewed article based on the fellowship project.

  • Prepare at least one conference presentation per year of fellowship.

  • Be responsive to inquiries or requests for feedback/assistance from WAI and other grantees.