From: IBIOS LIST <nschwa06@mail.ubc.ca>

Subject: Announcing the IBioS Graduate Fellowship

Date: March 30, 2023 at 4:36:27 PM PDT

To: “geog-everyone@lists.ubc.ca” <geog-everyone@lists.ubc.ca>, “IBioS@biodiversity.ubc.ca” <IBioS@biodiversity.ubc.ca>

 

IBioS is pleased to announce the establishment of a new fellowship for graduate students at UBC (master’s or PhD) doing research related to solving problems of biodiversity loss. This fellowship aims to create opportunities for graduate students to become active participants in IBioS, and to help develop new programs and mechanisms to increase graduate involvement in IBioS. Please circulate this announcement widely and faculty, please encourage your students to apply! Keep reading below for more details.

 

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What is IBioS?

 

The Interdisciplinary Biodiversity Solutions Collaboratory (IBioS) offers solutions for global and local biodiversity challenges through research, training, policy and outreach.

 

Our vision: Collaborative science to advance just, equitable, and inclusive interdisciplinary solutions for biodiversity and people to thrive.

 

Our mission: The Interdisciplinary Biodiversity Solutions (IBioS) program develops science-to-solutions approaches to improve biodiversity outcomes and promote a sustainable future for our planet. Informed by multiple ways of knowing, we aim to identify and support mechanisms for transformative social and ecological change that supports biodiversity and diverse peoples. Our work is based on interdisciplinary collaborative research, enhancing capacities of current and future generations of scientists and practitioners, and building trust andrelationships with communities through practice, policy, and outreach.

 

What is the IBioS Graduate Fellowship?

 

Over the last 2-3 years, IBioS has built an interdisciplinary community of scholars interested in developing new approaches to equitable and inclusive biodiversity conservation. We have hosted seminars, had many stimulating meetings and conversations, built research collaborations, produced a podcast series, and more. To date, the group has been comprised mostly of faculty, and we are eager to expand our activities to include graduate students and postdocs and create opportunities for their participation.

 

This fellowship will provide an opportunity for graduate students to become active participants in IBioS via networking, professional development, and participating in important conversations about biodiversity conservation and the activities of IBioS. As the inaugural group of fellows, selected graduate students will also help develop the fellowship program by coordinating programmatic activities (e.g. professional development or networking opportunities, approximately once per term) for fellows and other graduate students. Budget will be provided to support these activities. Fellows will be expected to be involved in IBioS events, contribute to the IBioS community with their research and enthusiasm, and attend the IBioS annual retreat (August 28-29, 2023). The fellowship will be for the duration of the 2023/2024 academic year, with opportunities to continue their participation in IBioS in the future.

Fellows will receive a stipend of $2500.  We expect that fellows will dedicate 5-10 hours per month to fellowship activities, which, in addition to attending IBioS events, could be creating new student-focused activities or assisting with existing projects of IBioS (such as science communications, faculty-led research, or representing IBioS on campus committees working on biodiversity). Several IBioS faculty will be involved as mentors to the Fellows group.

Who is eligible, and how can I apply?

 

The fellowship is open to UBC graduate students in good standing (Master’s or PhD) doing research related to biodiversity conservation, restoration or management, from any disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective (social or natural science, business, journalism, etc.), from any Faculty or Department. Please secure the support of your supervisor before applying for the fellowship!

 

To apply, please answer the following questions, limiting your responses to 200 words each. Applications are due by April 26. Submit your answers and upload your cv here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bClnig6mYIkBSbI

 

1. Briefly describe your research, and how it is relevant to IBioS.
2. Why are you interested in this position, and what do you hope to gain from participating in this program?
3. What are some (1-2) ideas you have for activities for the inaugural group of IBioS graduate fellows to pursue?

 

We anticipate awarding 5 fellowships. All applications will be screened for eligibility, and final selection will focus on creating a diverse group of scholars.

 

Please contact naomi.schwartz@ubc.ca with any questions.