2020-2021 NRWD Fellows
The NRWD Fellows selected are graduate students in research-based thesis or dissertation-granting programs at the seven SW CASC consortium institutions. The fellowship science theme this year is management in the aftermath of landscape-scale disturbances. The cohort of eight Fellows will continue working together over the course of 12 months via Zoom and conclude with an in-person gathering and final presentation in Fall 2021 at USU. View this storymap to meet the ’20-’21 Fellows and hear their experiences.
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "The motivation and focus of my research falls in line with this year’s SW CASC NRWD Fellowship’s theme in that I aspire to prevent the negative long term impacts of landscape-scale disturbances that El Salvador and many other less fortunate areas of the world already endure."
What do you hope to gain? "Being chosen as a Fellow would prove to be a great fit, not only to enhance my experience as a collaborative scientist in preparation for future ecosystem management, but also to garner knowledge for further direction and insight on my research from other intelligent students that are fundamentally fighting for the same cause."
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "I am applying to the SW CASC Natural Resources Workforce Development Fellowship as my research involves many disciplines including ecology, social dimensions, economics, and policy. This fellowship provides the perfect environment to learn about fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, engaging with stakeholders, and using science to inform management decisions in the real world."
What do you hope to gain? "I expect that this fellowship will give me tools and skills to conduct collaborative research in a multi-disciplinary environment that can inform decisions on the use and management of natural resources."
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "My doctoral research provides the opportunity for me to develop skills, relationships, research, data analysis, and so-on to ensure multiple stakeholders can commit to a natural resource management practice in which local Indigenous and American Indian people can engage and partner with various stakeholders."
What do you hope to gain? "NRWD Fellowship attracts me because of the opportunity to build my skills as a team member to identify a project, stakeholders, and solutions for landscape-scale disturbances. I cannot predict exactly the discussions and challenges our group will face, however, I will advocate for inclusion of the local American Indian traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) based on my research on American Indian and Indigenous environmental self-determination and epistemology."
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellows
Why are you applying for the NRWD? ". . . This research directly applies to the SW CASC NRWD fellowship as it ultimately seeks to inform both individual landowners and citizens, continued landslide hazards, and reservoir managers about hurricane and landslide-induced sedimentation that is predicted to occur during future storm scenarios."
What do you hope to gain? "Through this training and collaborative experience, I hope to work with scientists of different skills and backgrounds to improve management decisions and enhance our preparedness and strategies to ensure a future thriving and resilient society."
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "My current research involves understanding the health effects of wildfires and prescribed burns in the Reno, Nevada area. Wildfires are landscape-scale disturbances that have significant impacts on humans as well as the land."
What do you hope to gain? "By being able to work with others who are also researching disruptions of the land and how to adjust management after those disruptions, I would be able to ensure that my research will be as useful as possible. Incorporating the expertise of other researchers in my own research ensures that what I’m doing is useful and relevant."
M.S. candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "My research focuses on water policy in the US West and collaboration, and closely aligns with the mission of SW CASC and this year’s science theme, Management in the Aftermath of Landscape-scale Disturbances."
What do you hope to gain? "Through this fellowship, I would be interested in exploring how management guidelines including collaborative learning and decision-making processes would increase the resilience of post disturbance landscapes."
M.S. Student
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "Today's entangled problems need scientist that can work in diverse groups. Potentially more important than coursework is experience working with scientists from different disciplines"
What do you hope to gain? "Learning the language and methodology of other disciplines will only improve my collaborative capability. As a member of the Climate Adaptation program at USU, I have gotten a taste of interdisciplinary and collaborative research but I am looking to expand my experience to work with different institutions."
PhD Candidate
2020-2021 Fellow
Why are you applying for the NRWD? "I am studying the impacts of a seagrass transplant restoration on community composition and the impacts of marine protected area designation on biodiversity and species abundance. Additionally, I am studying the morphological and physiological effects caused by the interaction of ocean acidification and hypoxia on red and purple sea urchins. The relevance of my interests to the fellowship science theme would be applying my skillset and methodologies to landscape-scale disturbances instead of landscape-scale restorations."
What do you hope to gain? "I believe that the SW CASC NWRD fellowship would aid in my professional development and career goals by providing training and interactions with resource managers and other decision makers."