Conservation Research Program projects are proposed by external conservation partners to support their conservation goals. Selected students will collaborate with these partners and faculty mentors to design and complete projects that advance the partners’ objectives over the course of the year-long program.
Interested students should review the project descriptions below, paying special attention to travel requirements and preferred skills. Select your top three projects and include a reflection on your interest and fit for each project in your application.
Apply for the 2025 Conservation Research Program
Accelerating Biodiversity Conservation: Enhancing the Extinction Solutions Index with Advanced Data Science
Research Location: Implemented: Global
Conservation Partner: Conservation X Labs
A Framework for Community Monitoring of Rangeland Productivity in Amboseli, Kenya
Research Location: Implemented: Kenya
Conservation Partner: Amboseli Ecosystem Trust
A One Health Approach to Community Health, Development, Conservation, and Environmental Justice in Mbhashe, South Africa
Research Location: Implemented: Mbhashe, S Africa
Conservation Partners: Battle of Lurwayizo Development (BOLD) and the Mbhashe Municipality
Cultivating Repair on Historic Landscapes: Co-Creating an Environmental Justice Learning Model
Research Location: Virginia, USA
Conservation Partners: Highland and Highland Council of Descendent Advisors
Development of Inexpensive and DIY Water Sensors to Advance Community-Led Nature-Based Conservation Solutions
Research Location: Implemented: Madagascar and Virginia, USA
Conservation Partner: Conservation International
Exploring Community-led Mitigation Strategies to Prevent Carnivore-Herder Conflict in the Western US and Humla, Nepal
Research Location: Implemented: Humla, Nepal and Western US
Conservation Partner: Ukali
Exploring Spatial and Temporal Trends in Roadkill to Improve and Propose Mitigation Structures
Research Location: Implemented: Northern Virginia, USA
Conservation Partner: Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources
From Forest Floor to Treetops: Capturing Mammalian Diversity with Camera Traps
Research Location: Implemented: Puerto Princesa, Philippines
Conservation Partner: Centre for Sustainability PH
Impacts of Climate Change on Spatiotemporal Relationships Between Human Disease, Gorilla Health, Livestock Health, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in Uganda
Research Location: Implemented: Uganda
Conservation Partner: Conservation Through Public Health
Learning with and within City Ecosystems: Studying Children’s Changing Understandings of Socio-ecological System in Richmond, VA
Research Location: Implemented: Richmond, Virginia,USA
Conservation Partners: William & Mary School of Education and Blue Sky Fund
Mitigating the Risk of Economic and Ecological Harm Posed by Invasive Species in the Dragon Run Watershed
Research Location: Implemented: Virginia, USA
Conservation Partner: Friends of Dragon Run, Inc.
Prioritizing Areas for Landscape-Scale Ecological Restoration and Rewilding
Research Location: Implemented: Montana, USA
Conservation Partner: American Prairie Reserve
Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs
Research Location: Implemented: Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, USA
Conservation Partners: Traditional Eastern Woodlands Foodways Alliance-Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC), Seven Generations United Association, The Reed Center for Ecosystem Reintegration, USDA, Just Harvest, NCGrowth, IndigineiTEA
Supporting Women-Led Conservation and Livelihood Initiatives in Southern Kenya
Research Location: Implemented: Amboseli, Kenya
Conservation Partners: Amboseli Ecosystem Trust, South Rift Association of Land Owners
Understanding and Advancing Improvements to Nighttime Lighting for the Benefit of Birds, Other Wildlife, and People
Research Location: Implemented: United States
Conservation Partner: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Understanding the Impacts of Climate-driven Urban Water Insecurities on Women in Nepal
Research Location: Implemented: Nepal
Conservation Partner: Nepal Engineering College
