The Society for Conservation Biology and the Cedar Tree Foundation announce the recipients of the 2025 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship.
The Smith Fellowship, the nation's premier postdoctoral program in conservation science, seeks to find solutions to the most pressing conservation challenges. Each Fellow’s research is conducted in partnership with a major academic institution and an “on the ground” conservation organization to help bridge the gap between theory and application.
Emerging from an impressive pool of Ph.D. applicants from around the world who competed for the Fellowship are five outstanding scientists who will comprise the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship class of 2025:
• Brian Erickson (he/him) will complete a project titled, “Leveraging AI-Assisted Real-Time Public Comment Analysis for Just and Efficient Public Participation in Conservation” under the academic mentorship of Dr. Charlotte Chang at Pomona College and in partnership with Dr. Megan Jones with Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey
• Tom Iwanicki (he/him) will complete a project titled, “Protecting high seas biodiversity through a visual ecological lens” under the academic mentorship of Dr. Rebecca Helm at Georgetown University, Dr. Sönke Johnsen of Duke University, and in partnership with Chris Dorsett of the Ocean Conservancy
• Jenny Mallon (she/her) will complete a project titled, “Breathing life into coral conservation: Reef restoration in a lower oxygen ocean” under the academic mentorship of Joana Figueiredo at Nova Southeastern University, and in partnership with Dr Mark Ladd, Coral at Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Gabriela Reyes (she/her) will complete a project titled, “Reconciling Global Needs for Mangrove Blue Carbon with Local Mangrove Use for Subsistence” under the academic mentorship of Dr. Daniel Friess of Tulane University, Dr. Danielle Ogurcak at Florida International University, and in partnership with Angel Dieppa Ayala at Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
• Abhinav Tyagi (he/him) will complete a project titled, “Otters, Fishes, and Genomes: Unveiling Population Connectivity and Diet to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict” under the academic mentorship of Dr. James Andrew DeWoody at Purdue University and in partnership with Ms. Geriann Albers with Indiana Department of Natural Resources
The Smith Fellowship seeks to identify and support early-career scientists who will shape the growth of applied conservation science. It’s also an opportunity for scientists to develop solutions to critical environmental challenges. While the Fellows' research projects focus on urgent conservation issues, they also learn firsthand the challenges and rewards of conservation applications. The program's focus is to enlarge their professional opportunities and ensure future success by helping them build relationships in the conservation and research communities and by providing opportunities for professional development through targeted workshops and training events.
The fellowship is named after the late Dr. David H. Smith, founder of the Cedar Tree Foundation, and pediatrician, inventor and conservationist.
Request for proposals for the 2026 Class of Smith Fellows will be announced in spring 2025. For more information see the Smith Fellows website at www.SmithFellows.org.