The National parks conservation association is proud to offer its ANNUal

Land & Seascape Conservation Fellowship

This fellowship is exclusively available to graduate students enrolled in Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and will be administered through NPCA’s on-campus conservation partner, the Park Institute of America.

in partnership with

 
 

Fellowship Summary

Each year, we recruit up to three student fellows to support NPCA’s role in the global 30x30 Initiative. The fellows will learn NPCA’s approach to data application by developing spatial resources that empower large land and seascape conservation around U.S. National Parks.

Location - REMOTE

Duration - 12 weeks with flexible May start date; 40 hours per week

Compensation - $7,000 stipend

 
“This fellowship experience has given me a much clearer understanding of how data-driven tools can lead to meaningful conservation efforts.”
— Ellie Harrigan, 2024 Fellow
 
 
 

NPCA Conservation Science Team

Fellows will work directly with the NPCA Conservation Science team under the supervision of Nik Moy with additional guidance and professional development provided by Amy Tian, Ryan Valdez, Ariel Kimberley of the Park Institute of America, and NPCA regional program staff based on the assigned landscape.

Nik Moy

Senior Program Manager

Amy Tian

Geospatial Science Fellow

Ryan Valdez, Ph.D.

Senior Director

Program Goals

Fellowship Goal - Fellows will collaborate with the NPCA Science team to build a geospatial resource of future national park landscape priorities and threats. Each student will focus on a single land or seascape, but work together on national level products and datasets.

NPCA Conservation Science Goal - Within park land and seascapes, help protect multi-dimensional conservation values from the most immediate climate-related impacts and land-use changes by 2030.

National Goal - Conserve 30% of US lands and waters for biodiversity by 2030.

Description of Work

Each fellow will work with NPCA’s Conservation Science team, the other fellow, and a representative from the respective NPCA regional staff to collect an up-to-date, relevant, and science-based database of publications, spatial data, and partner contacts that informs the future protection of a park landscape.

 

Core Responsibilities - Develop a landscape science toolkit for NPCA regional staff that empowers their work in the landscape. This work requires fellows to:

  • Compile and synthesize scientific literature, GIS data, and partner resources

  • Present findings and recommendations to NPCA staff

  • Contribute to collaborative conservation planning across regions

Research Areas - Fellows may explore topics including:

  • Climate resilience

  • Wildlife habitat and ESA considerations

  • Connectivity and corridor pathways

  • Indigenous land use priorities

  • Environmental justice

  • Carbon and forest resources

  • Energy development threats

  • Heritage resources and equitable access

Potential Project Outputs - Depending on fellows’ interests and skills, project deliverables may include:

  • StoryMaps and multimedia storytelling

  • Infographics and scientific illustration

  • Cartographic maps

  • Remote sensing analysis

  • Landscape indicators and summary statistics

  • White papers for policy audiences

  • Research presentations and reports

Examples of Work Outputs

Explore various formats of communications outputs from previous fellows.

StoryMap

Flyer

WebApp

Description of Study

Concurrent with the execution of work tasks, fellows will receive weekly cohort training on NPCA’s approach to conservation data management. The purpose of this instructional program is to:

  • Expand fellows’ science communications skillset

  • Foster cohesion, collaboration, and information sharing among cohort fellows

  • Ensure consistency of data management practices

Syllabus - Each week’s instruction will cover a distinct conservation science topic including:

  • Large Landscape Conservation and Consulting Regional Conservation Staff

  • Sourcing High Quality Data

  • Building a Database in ArcGIS Online and Metadata

  • Configuring a Web Application in ArcGIS Online

  • Landscape Indicators

  • Science Communication

  • Science for Policy

  • Presenting Your Results to Regions

  • Science Careers

Fellowship Impact

Read about the work of our 2024 fellows and the conservation impact of their experience.

National Program Spotlight

Fellowship featured on pages 29-38 of NPCA’s quarterly conservation science publication

Fellowship Testimonial

Student Analyzes Data for Conservation at Park Institute of America & National Parks Conservation Association

Potential Park Landscapes

Park landscape assignment will depend on student’s preference, location, and current NPCA priorities.

  • Greater Everglades (FL)

  • Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (WY)

  • North Cascades (WA)

  • Delaware River (PA)

  • Chesapeake Bay

  • Georgia Rivers

  • Alabama Rivers

  • Delaware River

  • Maine’s 100-mile Wilderness

  • Calumet Landscape (IL, IN)

  • Grand Canyon Landscape

  • Western Arctic Caribou Herd Landscape (AK)

  • The Lands Between (UT)

  • Dinosaur Landscape (UT, CO)

  • Rim of the Valley (CA)

  • Avi Kwa Ame (NV)

  • Crown of the Continent (MT)

  • Chuckwalla / Joshua Tree (CA)

Potential Partners

The Nature Conservancy

Defenders of Wildlife

Resolve

Center for Biological Diversity

NatureServe

The Conservation Fund

US National Park Service

UC Berkeley Institute for Parks, People, and Biodiversity

 
“One thing that made this experience so impactful was how it brought together different fields, like ecology, policy, data, and storytelling, to tackle complex conservation challenges.”
— Ayden Schirmacher, 2025 Fellow
 

Skills Required

This fellowship is highly multidisciplinary. Data types, stakeholders groups, and project priorities will likely vary substantially depending on assigned landscapes. We are looking for fellows motivated to learn new skills and techniques across data analysis, communications, and policy frontiers.

  • Applicants should be familiar with spreadsheets, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online

  • Strong interest in science communication and applied science

  • Strong interest in conservation, landscape ecology, mapping, wildlife, national parks, land protection, and/or the 30 by 30 initiative

  • Comfortable in a team setting and working over video conference and email with partners

  • Productive when working independently and/or remotely

  • Strong organizational skills and with an eye toward quality control

  • Desire to grow knowledge base with complementary skills

Application Details

Eligibility - This fellowship is offered exclusively to MEM or MF students enrolled in Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment who will continue to pursue their full-time studies in Fall 2026.

Applications now closed.