The International Wolf Center is seeking applicants for the 2026 Dr. L. David Mech fellowships. As an investment in the future of wolf research and science-based wolf education, each year the Center awards up to two fellowships for undergraduate students or recent graduates interested in pursuing careers in natural sciences with an interest in wildlife. Fellowship recipients receive a $6,000 stipend and up to $4,000 in support for field research expenses.
Fellowship goals
- Reduce barriers to allow undergraduate students and recent graduates to directly engage in research and field work.
- Encourage students from diverse backgrounds to explore natural sciences/wildlife biology as a profession.
- Provide bridge support for early-career researchers prior to graduate school.
Description
The International Wolf Center uses science-based education to teach and inspire the world about wolves, their ecology, and the wolf-human relationship. Since our founding in 1985 by Dr. L. David Mech and others, the Center has sought to provide the latest scientific information about wolves to our visitors and program participants. We believe that continued investment in scientific discovery about wolves and other wildlife will lead to increased understanding of how to build a future where wolves and humans can coexist and thrive. We also understand that many barriers exist for students and early career researchers and hope these fellowships can facilitate access to people pursuing a wildlife biology career.
Fellowship Award Details
- Application opens: October 1, 2025
- Application deadline: February 1, 2026
- Fellowships Awarded: March 31, 2026
- Term: April 1, 2026 through April 1, 2027
- Stipend: $6,000
- Research Allowance: up to $4,000 per year
Stipends are meant to support study and research during the tenure of the appointment. They are not salaries, and fellowship recipients are not employees or contracted workers of the International Wolf Center. All funds provided, including stipends and research allowances, are subject to tax. Fellows awarded stipends receive a financial summary at the end of each calendar year and are responsible for meeting their own state and federal tax obligations.
Research allowances are for equipment, supplies, research-related travel costs, housing, and other support required to conduct the research itself. A budget and general justification for these expenses must be included with your application.
Qualifications and Eligibility
- Applicants must be either currently enrolled in an undergraduate institution (upper-level student) or recently graduated within two years with an undergraduate degree. Current graduate students, those accepted to graduate school and those already with graduate-level degrees in wildlife biology or a related field are not eligible.
- Applicants must indicate their project preference from the provided list.
- Applicants must provide a letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference. This letter should reference their preferred project and ability to complete it.
- Applicants must be available to conduct an online webinar with the International Wolf Center in late 2026 or early 2027.
Expectations for Fellows
Fellows will be expected to present an online webinar summarizing their field research experience and research findings by early 2027.
Fellowship recipients will also be expected to submit a summary report to the International Wolf Center and be willing to be interviewed and photographed by Center staff. These materials may be used in issues of International Wolf magazine or in web/social media posts. Summary reports should include the goals of the research project, methods used during the project, skills acquired, how this opportunity will help further a career in the wildlife field as well as their journey through the wildlife field to get to this point.
Application Materials
Along with providing contact information, please include the following with your application:
- Purpose Statement: 500-800 word essay focusing on (a) how you will accomplish the goals of the fellowship program, (b) your project preference, (c) why you are a good candidate, (d) your previous career building experiences, and (e) barriers you have faced or overcome in this field and your future career goals.
- Resume/CV
- Budget Proposal: Include financial needs for support during the project. An example is provided below. Estimated dollar amounts preferred but not required. You may enlist the help of the research lead to determine needs. If specific expenses are unknown at application time, please indicate that in lieu of a budget.
- An academic or professional reference letter highlighting research aptitude to successfully complete the project, emailed by the reference to mechfellowship@wolf.org before February 1, 2026.
Sample budget proposal:
Criteria for Selection
Fellowship applications will be reviewed by the selection team using the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen
- Special consideration will be given to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color candidates
- Applicant’s demonstration of financial need
- Applicant’s demonstrated need for wildlife research experience
- Applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed research/field experience
- Candidate’s demonstrated interest in pursuing natural sciences with an interest in wildlife as a career
Fellowship Projects
Projects coming soon
Projects coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. L David Mech?
L. David Mech (pronounced “Meech”) is a Senior Research Scientist with the Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. He has studied wolves and their prey since 1958, as well as several other species of wildlife.
Although administration of his U.S. Geological Survey research is through Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, he is headquartered on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota in the Raptor Center, 1920 Fitch Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108.
Mech is also founder and vice chair of the International Wolf Center, and chaired the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group from 1978 to 2013. In 2013, the Wolf Specialist Group merged into the IUCN Canid Specialist Group, and Dave became advisor for wolves in that Group since then.
Mech has used radio-tracking for most of his career on wolves, deer, leopards, caribou, elk, lions, elephants, raccoons, lynxes, elk, hares, etc. For basic info, see Handbook of Animal Radio-tracking, and for info about satellite and GPS collars, see “A critique of wildlife radio-tracking and its use in national parks: a report to the National Park Service”. For wildlife research techniques before radio-tracking, see wildlife research in the old days.
Do I need to design my own project or can I get funded to participate as a volunteer on an established project?
Fellowship applicants should select a project from the list provided. The list will be available when the application opens on October 1.
I am not from the United States, can I apply?
At this point, fellowship recipients must be U.S. citizens to qualify but projects may take place internationally.
Who should I contact for more information?
Please email questions to MechFellowship@wolf.org
