Wild Animal Initiative Fellowships for Early-Career Scientists

Wild Animal Initiative (WAI) offers Fellowships supporting early-career scientists—specifically PhD students or postdocs—who want to build careers in wild animal welfare research. Fellows work with a WAI mentor to turn an initial idea into a structured research plan during a three-month placement period, then complete a WAI-funded project in close collaboration with their academic supervisor. Applications are open through 31 October (time zone and exact time not specified in the source). Wild Animal Initiative Fellowships are designed for early-career researchers who aspire to develop careers in wild animal welfare research. If accepted, Fellows work directly with a WAI mentor to strengthen their initial project proposal into a robust research plan.

The program includes:

During the three-month placement period and beyond, Fellows are expected to engage in structured mentoring and learning activities, including meetings with a WAI mentor and participation in program-related events (details below in “Additional opportunities and expectations for fellows”). Based on the source, eligible applicants are: Additional eligibility requirements stated in the source: Geographic eligibility, nationality requirements, and institutional eligibility rules are not specified in the provided source. The source describes a clear focus on wild animal welfare science and research career development. Fellowship projects are expected to relate to: If invited to submit a project proposal, applicants will need to provide a welfare triangulation plan. The source also strongly encourages using previously validated welfare indicators (validated via a WAI Validation grant or similar prior research), which it says can make triangulation planning easier. This Fellowship is built for applicants who want both: The fellowship emphasizes scientific rigor and ongoing collaboration through mentorship, reviewer feedback, and an interview process—aimed at helping fellows produce outputs such as peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Applications are submitted through WAI’s fellowship process described as four stages (specific submission mechanics, forms, and links are not included in the provided text). The application form collects information on: Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a project proposal outlining the fellowship project. After reviewers provide feedback, applicants provide a written response. Final candidates are invited to an interview with WAI researchers to discuss career goals and the proposed project. Deadline: Applications are open through 31 October. Exact application submission method and the specific official “apply” link are not provided in the source text. The source notes: “Click here to read the announcement,” but the link is not included in the provided article text.

1) Who can apply for the Wild Animal Initiative Fellowships?

The source states Fellowships support early-career scientists who are PhD or postdocs and who aspire to wild animal welfare research careers.

2) What is the funding amount for WAI Fellowships?

The listed grant size is up to $100,000 USD per year, and Fellows receive a required stipend, with a minimum of $50,000 per year. Fellows can request up to a total of $75,000 per year.

3) How long are the Fellowships?

Fellowships last 1–3 years, depending on career stage and project duration, and the overall duration is described as up to 3 years.

4) What is the three-month placement period?

Accepted Fellows complete a three-month placement period focused on expanding their project proposal into a robust research plan and building skills for impactful work in wild animal welfare science.

5) What are the main stages of the application process?

The process is described as four stages: application form, project proposal submission if shortlisted, a written review response, and an interview.

6) What does WAI expect regarding welfare triangulation?

If invited to submit a project proposal, applicants must submit a welfare triangulation plan. The source encourages using previously validated welfare indicators to support triangulation.

7) What outputs are Fellows expected to produce?

The source states Fellows must produce at least one peer-reviewed article based on the fellowship project and prepare at least one conference presentation per year during the fellowship. If you are a PhD student or postdoc pursuing a career in wild animal welfare research, review WAI’s fellowship guidelines and prepare your application with the program’s structure in mind—especially the fellow-led project requirement and the later requirement for a welfare triangulation plan. Then follow the official application instructions referenced by WAI on the fellowship page/announcement.