Student Research Grants
The Wetland Restoration Section started offering grants and awards in 2017.
These funds support students performing research, presenting posters, or doing other work relating to wetland restoration.
Every year since, the SWS Wetland Restoration Section offers awards to student researchers studying wetland restoration.
Starting in 2022, we modelled our Student Research Grant Awards after the highly successful SWS SWaMMP (SWS Multicultural Mentoring Program). We will continue to offer a grant specifically to students from underserved and underrepresented communities.
Thank you to all 2023 Student Research Grant Applicants.
Congratulations to our 2023 recipients, review their work and updates on their research below.
Stay tuned for our 2024 grant announcements.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for application requirements.
We will update the application forms with dates for the 2024 grant cycle by the end of the year.
2023 Student Research Grant Recipients
Sofia Álvarez Castrejón
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas, Mexico
Ecohydrological needs of the Antillean Manatee
Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, yet they remain threatened by human activities. This project proposes studying the habitat needs of a protected species with a freshwater connectivity lens, to assess the flood regime performance of the enacted environmental water reserve that allows wetlands to secure ecological functioning and provide ecosystem services. We aim to study flow connectivity between the Mexico’s mightiest river (Usumacinta River), the Catazajá lagoon system –feeding area of the Antillean habitat– and their dependent wetland.
Kyle Boutin
North Dakota State University, North Dakota, USA
Incentivizing Restoration by Developing Typha Potting Media
The goal of my research is to determine whether a Typha bioproduct can replace peat moss as an ingredient in potting media.
If so, this product would discourage peat mining and encourage the harvest (rather than spraying) of nuisance cattails, thus helping to export nutrients from eutrophied wetlands.
A pilot study using T. Domingensis indicate that Typha compost and biochar possess physicochemical properties comparable to commercial potting media.
This work will continue using invasive Typha x glauca harvested in the Red River basin. Future work will include plant trials and an economic analysis.
2022 Student Research Grant Recipients
Josh Barufaldi
Drexel University, Pennsylvania, USA
The use of biochar to promote saltmarsh restoration success
September 25th, 2022: “While in California, we took around 200 soil samples from Elkhorn Slough, and determined vegetation coverage in biochar plots, and water data.
I have attached some pictures! Included is a sea otter as well who was there one of the days (who was 50 Yards away, and then swam off).”
Opeoluwa Atewogboye
Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria
Copper and Iron Uptake Kinetics of Inorganic Fertilizer Amendment on Phytoremediation by Water
Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Update coming soon
Elizabeth MacDougal
Tulane University, Louisiana, USA
Does AMF inoculation improve vegetation growth in the presence of salt stress?
Does recycled
glass sand impact the success of AMF inoculation?
December 12, 2022: “This fall, I received my permits and harvested roots and rhizosphere of Sporobolus pumilus (formerly Spartina patens) from a local salt marsh. I mixed the roots and soil with sterilized sand, and planted it with a species of grass that will help recruit beneficial fungi from the soil. These pots are my "spore traps." This spring I will continue to care for them, and by the end of the spring semester, I should have many healthy fungal spores to use in an inoculation experiment”.
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March 1, 2023: "Yesterday we began our second spore trap cycle and are planning on using the spores from it in the planned experiment this summer"
2023 Call for Student Grant Applications
The application period for 2023 is closed. Please stay tuned for updates on grant applications for 2024.
2023
The Society of Wetland Scientists Wetland Restoration Section will be awarding two research grants ($1,000 USD each) to undergraduate or graduate students to assist with wetland restoration research costs.
To be eligible, you must be:
1) a current student, and
2) a member of the SWS Wetland Restoration Section (you can join if not currently a member!). Proposed research must focus on wetland ecosystems and address questions related to ecological restoration.
One of the two grants offered will specifically support students of underserved and underrepresented backgrounds, modeling the *SWS Multicultural Mentoring Program (SWaMMP) to aid motivated students considering environmental careers. For the purpose of this award, applicants must belong to one or more groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in wetland sciences (eligibility has been set using SWaMMP criteria). *You do not need to be involved in SWaMMP to apply for this student research grant award.
Applications
Applications should be submitted using the Google Form prior to April 15, 2023.
The application includes:
1. A research proposal of no more than 3 double-spaced pages that describes:
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Page 1: 1) motivation/background for the research, 2) clear statement of hypotheses, objectives, or research questions
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Page 2: 3) research design (methods), and anticipated outcomes 4) a paragraph describing the research implications for restoration, and its direct application to implementing restoration projects
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Page 3: 5) a project timeline that clarifies when research activities will take place, including a timeline for providing updates of completion to the SWS Wetland Restoration Section
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Figure: A proposed budget table that includes categories (e.g., field equipment, mileage, laboratory supplies/analysis, etc.) that makes it clear how grant monies would be used. Any reasonable costs for supporting or enhancing an existing project that will allow the student to advance their research are allowed. Table of budget does not count towards the 3 page limit.
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A Literature Cited section should be appended, but does not count toward the 3 page limit
2. A current resume or CV
Briefly describe your degree and any other highlights about your studies you want to share. Be sure to include relevant skills you gained, accomplishments you achieved or milestones you reached during your education.
3. Letter of recommendation
A letter of support from the student’s research advisor should be emailed separately to whitney.sauskojus@ndsu.edu. Email subject title “LOS Lastname Applicant SWS-Wetland Restoration 2023 Student Research Grant''
Evaluation
Evaluation criteria will include the ability of the proposed research to advance the field of wetland restoration, the feasibility of the applicant to successfully implement the research, and the financial need to conduct the research.
The results of the competition will be announced before the 2023 Society of Wetland Scientists Meeting in Spokane, June 27th
