Dear Friend,

Applications are now open for the 2027 Biota Awards, a program to fund early career researchers based in Illinois who seek to restore, protect, and conserve biodiversity locally and around the world. 

Applications are due October 8, 2026 by 5 p.m. CT.

Award Program Aims
Walder Foundation aims to support the development and deployment of evidence-based, durable solutions to real world conservation challenges. We are interested in interdisciplinary projects that have the potential to bridge academic research and conservation practice.

Award Eligibility
The 2027 Biota Awards are exclusively focused on providing support for early career independent investigators. They must be within seven years of their first independent appointment but not yet tenured, and they may be based in academic, non-profit, government, or hybrid research settings. 

For investigators at Chicago region* institutions: The geographic focus of the research is not restricted, and projects may focus on biodiversity and conservation topics relevant to the Chicago region or elsewhere, for example, biodiversity hotspots and/or the Global South.    

For investigators at Illinois institutions outside of the Chicago region* (e.g. University of Illinois Urbana Champaign or Illinois State University): The geographic focus of the research and intended outcomes must be the Chicago region. 

*The Chicago region is defined as the Illinois parts of the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area according to the United States Census Bureau.

Award Support
Awards are three-year research grants with funding granted to host institutions rather than individual researchers. A total of $300,000 will be distributed over three years, including indirect costs of 15%. Payments will be made in installments of $100,000 at the start of each of the three grant years covered by the award, subject to receiving an annual grant report. 

Eligible costs include but are not limited to: salary support for the awardee; postdoctoral and/or graduate and undergraduate research assistants; travel; equipment; research services and other research costs; and/or subgrants to partner organizations.  

Further Award Details
Full program and application details and requirements are available on the Biota Awards website. In addition, interested applicants may register for an informational webinar about the opportunity that will take place on July 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. CT.

Spreading the Word
We appreciate your help spreading the word about this opportunity! Please consider sharing application information via e-mail, social media, websites, and/or word-of-mouth.

Questions?
Please contact biotaawards@walderfoundation.org.