Faculty FAQs
How are the research projects identified?
Each spring, the IIC sends out a request for proposals from faculty and external conservation partners for applied research needed to advance conservation outcomes. The IIC research committee then selects projects based on their feasibility (for a student to complete in one year), on their integrative, interdisciplinary and collaborative aspects, and on their potential to advance integrative conservation through applied research. In addition, the selection team considers the collective potential of the suite of projects for a given year, to build community and foster long-term partnerships. After projects are identified, the IIC identifies a faculty mentor with relevant expertise and reviews student applications to identify student researcher who will join the interdisciplinary team to complete the project.
Can faculty propose projects?
Yes! We encourage faculty to propose applied research projects that will support external conservation partners with advancing conservation outcomes. Faculty can collaborate with partners with whom they already have a relationship with or can propose a project and the IIC can help the faculty find an external partner who may be interested in collaborating on the project and who would benefit from its outcomes.
Do faculty need to have an external conservation partner?
Yes. A hallmark of the Conservation Research Program is that it brings together W&M faculty and students with external conservation partners to combine complementary expertise to advance conservation outcomes. For this reason, we require that external conservation partners are involved in the research and are the primary beneficiaries of the applied research. In addition, engagement with external conservation partners provides important networking and professional development opportunities for W&M students.
Is there funding available for faculty?
Not directly. The IIC does not directly compensate or fund faculty mentors. However, the support the IIC provides for the student reduces the direct cost of the research for faculty and conservation partners. If the expenses meet IIC and W&M policies and aligns with our budget, the IIC provides students with:
- A summer research stipend
- Travel support if needed
- Field and research materials support
In addition, the IIC also absorbs significant student training costs via the program lab, and significant administrative, logistic or other “overhead” type of expenses that might otherwise be part of a research budget.
What is the program schedule?
The year-long Conservation Research Program begins in the spring semester when students complete a research proposal (for projects submitted the prior spring), supports students with a stipend to complete the research full-time over the summer, and concludes in the fall semester when the students complete a final report and communicate their research findings to stakeholders. Faculty are asked to commit to meeting regularly with students throughout the year-long program.
How do I get involved?
Faculty interested in serving as a mentor for a student on a project proposed by external partners are encouraged to review projects in early fall and reach out to [[elgarroutte,Erica Garroutte]] to inquire.
