Waterfowl Research Foundation Fellowships

Graduate students enrolled at any North American university may apply. Research may address any aspect of waterfowl or wetland biology that promises to advance conservation. Applicants must have a current hunting or sportsman licence issued by the appropriate regulatory authority.

• Submit individual files through the current fellowship application form by December 4, 2026.
• Research plan: maximum five pages, excluding figures, tables, timetable and literature cited. Include an introduction explaining relevance to Ducks Unlimited, objectives and major hypotheses, study design and methods, a timetable and cited literature.
• Budget: use the supplied template. IWWR does not pay indirect costs to cooperating universities or research institutions.
• Include a statement of career objectives under one page, your CV and academic transcripts including your undergraduate degree; unofficial copies are accepted.
• Include an endorsement from your advisor or advisors. Co-supervisors should submit a single joint letter.
• Include one additional recommendation from someone other than your current graduate advisors. That letter may be included in the package or sent separately.
• For this fellowship, also include a statement under one page explaining how hunting has shaped your perspectives on conservation and a scanned image of your hunting or sportsman licence.

A committee of Ducks Unlimited staff from Canada and the United States reviews and ranks applications. Criteria include applicant qualifications, scientific soundness and merit, originality and creativity in study design, contributions to waterfowl conservation and achievability. The checklist also considers career path and mission alignment. Competitive projects explain their contributions to basic biology, waterfowl or wetland conservation, and Ducks Unlimited management decisions. Applicant qualifications include participation in waterfowl hunting.

Two awards of $12,000 CAD per year each provide personal or research support. Renewal is available for up to two additional years for PhD students and once for master’s students, subject to annual approval of a satisfactory progress report, continued possession of a valid hunting or sportsman licence, and continued financial need.