Be part of Our 2027 Cohort of Fellows!

Call for Applications 

The Coastal Solutions Fellows Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is looking for exceptional candidates that excel in understanding multiple disciplines and sectors to design and implement solutions that improve the coastal resiliency along the coasts of Latin America.

The deadline to submit pre-proposals is May 15, 2026. Pre-proposals should be submitted in Spanish.

The proposed projects should include the following characteristics:

• Are focused on priority coastal sites for shorebirds in the following Latin American countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Priority shorebird sites can be consulted on the website of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. If your site is not included but you believe it is important for shorebirds, include a justification with the available information. You may use the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Status and Trends tools, where you can obtain estimates of the percentage of shorebird populations at your site.
• Are focused on our conservation targets: Shorebirds and Coastal Ecosystems
• Are evidence based and incorporate the best available science.
• Include resources and expertise from different sectors and disciplines.
• Undertake priority threats for shorebirds and coastal ecosystems, in particular:
  • Non-sustainable land-use changes in wetlands and coastal zones.
  • Watershed impacts that influence coastal areas.
  • Coastal human disturbance .
• Propose the application of a concrete and effective solution with measurable impacts to solve a priority threat.
• Include mechanisms that guarantee the participation of different sectors (academic, non-governmental, communities, private, and government agencies).
• Incorporate governance strategies that will secure the feasibility of the project.
• Consider strategies for the long-term continuity of the project.
• Benefit from existing opportunities, synergies, and conservation plans specific to the region.
• Contribute to the professional development and goals of the fellow.

Eligibility Requirements for Candidates

We are looking for exceptional candidates who are motivated to work across sectors and disciplines to develop new approaches for sustainable development and the conservation of coastal ecosystems in Latin America.

The eligibility requirements for candidates are:

• Exceptional leadership skills and passion for the conservation of coastal ecosystems
• Be a citizen of a Latin American country
• Early-career professional, with less than 10 years of experience
• Have a completed undergraduate degree.
• Based at an institution from the NGO, public, private or academic sectors.
• We also accept proposals from independent professionals, and from graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career faculty based at universities and research institutions.
• We welcome proposals from candidates from a diversity of disciplines, including from the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, architecture and planning, law, economics, etc.
• Must have at least an intermediate level of English (written and oral).

The Fellowship

The two-year fellowship includes a USD $80,000 cash award for stipend support, project development, and effective conservation training opportunities. The Program also includes two required  retreats with training on coastal zone governance, conservation planning, monitoring and evaluation, leadership, fundraising, and strategic communications, as well as a series of seminars and online courses with experts from a diversity of fields and sectors, promoting peer-to-peer learning and collaborations along the continent.

Each fellow will integrate a network of collaborators from diverse disciplines and sectors whose mentorship, knowledge, and experience will contribute to the success of the project and to the fellow’s professional development. This should include one or two primary collaborators who will serve as mentors during the program period. Fellows may also propose the use of funds to support professional development activities.

Once the fellowship is completed, the senior fellow can continue to be a central part of the program and will have the opportunity to become a mentor, collaborator or a member of the Technical Committee of the Program. Senior fellows will also be eligible for collaboration grants to continue working on creative coastal solutions with other fellows on shorebird conservation projects in Latin America.

Benefits for Fellows

The Coastal Solutions Program provides $80,000 USD over 2 years to each fellow.

The $80,000 USD budget is flexible with the only constraint that some categories have a maximum amount allowed. This flexibility will allow applicants to meet their financial needs, leverage other funding sources, and create a custom budget for their proposed project. There is no limit on the amount that can be allocated towards project funds.

Stipend: Maximum of $25,000 per year. This amount should be justified based on the academic degree, experience, discipline and country of the fellow.

Project funds: No limit, but the total budget cannot exceed the $80,000. The project may include the following budget categories: field work, community engagement and management activities, equipment, materials, software, collaborator fees, salaries for field technicians, and institutional support funds.

Professional development: A maximum of $5,000 can be used for professional development activities, including traveling to conferences, workshops, courses and internships.

Fellowship Timeline

First Year:

• Fellows and mentors attend the first training retreat.
• Fellows begins the two-year project, participate in the online seminars of the Program and begin their professional development activities.
• Fellows participante in an international field trip to visit case studies of successful coastal conservation.

Second Year:

• Fellows attend the second training retreat.
• Fellows continue with their projects, their professional development activities and participate in events of the Coastal Solutions Network, including international conferences.
• Fellows complete their project and present their results, achievements and lessons learned.

After the Fellowship:

• Fellows are part of the Coastal Solutions Network, with opportunities to collaborate with other fellows, mentors, and partners in the Americas.
• Are eligible to receive funding for collaborative projects.
• Can continue their participation in the program as mentors, collaborators, or instructors.