The Jeannie Morris Graduate Fellowship Program for Coastal Conservation and Research will be awarded by The Wetlands Institute, a New Jersey federal tax-exempt nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote appreciation, understanding & stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems through research, conservation and education, in order to support the academic development and research of a highly qualified graduate student pursuing a degree focused on natural resources, environmental science, wildlife ecology, or coastal and wetlands science.

Areas of research can include environmental, natural, and wildlife sciences. Projects should be focused on or relevant to the conservation, health, and ecology of mid-Atlantic tidal salt marshes, barrier beach systems, or the avian and herpetofauna populations they support. Projects aligned with and best able to advance the Wetlands Institute’s current research and conservation programs will be selected.

Eligibility Criteria and Expectations

Students enrolled in a graduate program (M.S. or Ph.D.) focused on natural resources, environmental science, wildlife ecology, or coastal and wetlands science at accredited college or university within the U.S. which is a federal tax-exempt educational organization are eligible to apply. The Fellow must remain enrolled in their graduate school program full-time during the academic calendar of the award period. The Fellow must be self-directed in their studies and have an established research mentor/academic advisor at their home institution.

Projects must focus on research and conservation in the mid-Atlantic region related to tidal salt marshes, barrier beach systems, or the avian and herpetofauna populations they support. 

Applicants must be citizens of, or have permanent resident alien status in, the U.S. and must provide evidence of the same with their application. Applicants must also provide evidence that they are residents of the U.S. at the time of the funding of the award disbursements. 

Award

Up to $10,000, dispersed in two equal payments during the award period (November 2026 – August 2027), which shall be used for tuition and fees required for enrollment at the educational institution, fees, books, supplies and equipment, certain pre-approved research project travel and supplies and professional development opportunities. Funds may not be used to support indirect costs. A Form 1099-Misc will be provided to an awardee for each calendar year during which the award was dispersed.

Institutional Involvement

All applicants must identify and work with an academic advisor at their institution for Project guidance. Fellows are not required to conduct research at the Institute. The proposed Project may be aligned with, or part of, an existing research initiative undertaken by the home institution and separately funded by governmental or private funding. 

Fellows may have the opportunity to use their award to conduct research at the Institute, in coordination with the Institute staff, though all such opportunities must be coordinated in advance and are not guaranteed. Fellows may also receive mentoring from Institute staff.