The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is pleased to solicit applications for the 2027 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program. These prestigious, full-time two‑year postdoctoral fellowships support outstanding early‑career scientists who propose innovative, solutions‑oriented research that links conservation science with management and policy across the United States and its five permanently inhabited territories (Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa). Funded by the Cedar Tree Foundation and administered by SCB, the program aims to cultivate the next generation of global leaders and innovators who are inspired and empowered to turn conservation science into effective real-world solutions.
The Smith Fellowship funds projects and invests in people. Smith Fellows are selected based on the strength of their proposed research and their potential as future conservation leaders. The program seeks bold, innovative thinkers who can translate science into real‑world impact and are excited to grow within a supportive, peer‑based professional community. 2027 Smith Fellowships provide an annual salary of $74,263 in 2027 and $76,490 in 2028 (plus benefits), a $45,000 research and travel budget disbursed over two years, and up to 5% overhead to the host institution. A hallmark of the Smith Fellows experience is the extensive professional‑development program: Fellows attend three to four week‑long, program‑sponsored professional development retreats each year, become part of a vibrant and active alumni community, and receive lifetime membership in the Society for Conservation Biology.
Applicants design their projects with a team of at least two mentors (minimum one academic and one practitioner) who together advise on research design, connect the work and the Fellow to real‑world conservation applications, and support the Fellow’s professional growth and partnerships. At least one of the mentors should have a primary focus on conservation practice and will help connect the Fellow’s research to practical applications and provide insight into the management and policy implications of the work. Fellows may be administratively based at any U.S. academic institution, government agency, or conservation nonprofit, typically where one of their mentors is located or affiliated.
The Smith Fellows Program values respect and dignity for all, and recognizes that the advancement and excellence of conservation research and practice relies on a commitment to greater access and inclusion of people of many views, vantage points, identities, lived experiences, and geographies who actively participate in conservation with equal opportunity, access, and sense of belonging. The Smith Fellows Program strongly encourages applications from individuals whose varied backgrounds and perspectives broaden participation in conservation. To learn more about our values and commitments, visit: www.smithfellows.org/values-conduct
Eligibility: Early-career (3 years post-PhD) applicants of any citizenship status are welcome, provided they will be based at a U.S. host institution, their research directly informs conservation practice in the U.S., and the research primarily takes place within the U.S. and its five permanently inhabited territories. The program does not sponsor visas.
Key Dates: Application deadline: 30 September 2026 (11:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time) • Status notifications: by February 28, 2027 • Typical Fellowship start window: 1 June – 30 September 2027
Apply Online: Full Proposal Guidelines are available here, along with other application resources. All components of the proposal package—including reference and mentor letters—must be submitted via the online application portal: apply.smithfellows.org
Questions? Contact program staff at smithinfo@conbio.org