The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is partnering with Hispanic Access Foundation, Greening Youth Foundation, Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, Thurgood Marshall College Foundation (TMCF) and American Indian for Higher Education Consortium to implement their 2022 Directorate Fellows Program (DFP).

Who is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) mission is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our ~9000 employees work in all 50 states and U.S. territories in partnership with others to achieve this mission.

What is the DFP Fellowship?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Fellows Program (DFP) is an 11-week fellowship program that includes a direct hire authority (DHA) for a permanent position in FWS. Students must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a rising senior or senior in an undergraduate program or graduate degree program at the start of the 2022 DFP. Fellows selected for the 2022 DFP must successfully complete their 11-week fellowship (+1 week of orientation) and subsequently complete their degree requirements to meet eligibility requirements for the DHA.

DFP is for students interested in conservation careers. The 11-week fellowship focuses on projects that support FWS conservation priorities and begins in mid-May and June 2022 and end in August or September 2022. Most projects are a good fit for students with majors in biological sciences and natural resources. There are a limited number of projects that could be a good fit for other degree areas, such as education and outreach, social sciences/humanities, geographic and information sciences, law enforcement/ criminal justice, communications and marketing, and information technology. You are applying to be part of the 2022 cohort of over 90+ Fellows. 

Past projects have included work on species conservation planning, field surveys and monitoring for species, landscape scale conservation partnerships, environmental law and policy, education and outreach, community engagement, digital communications, and many others that support the agency's mission.

Why is DFP important to FWS?

DFP Eligibility Requirements

• Current students: Undergraduate rising seniors, seniors; enrolled or current graduate students 
  • Students graduating in May 2022 or June 2022 are ineligible to participate in FWS DFP unless they provide verification that they have been accepted for enrollment in an undergraduate, graduate or Ph.D program before the start of the 2022 DFP fellowship (May/June 2022).
• Students pursuing biological science and/or natural resource management degrees. There are a limited number of projects that could be a good fit for other degree areas, such as education and outreach, social sciences/humanities, geographic and information sciences, law enforcement/ criminal justice, communications and marketing, and information technology.
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Must be 17 years of age or older
• Cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher
• Must be available for 12 weeks during summer 2022 (1 week of orientation plus 11-week fellowship)
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
• Males born after 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service

Benefits

• $540 weekly stipend based on a 40-hour work week
• Travel expenses paid for field/in-person projects - roundtrip travel to and from fellowship site
• Travel for a 1-week orientation at the FWS National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV - TBD if virtual
• Housing provided or housing allowance provided in select locations
• Hands-on experience
• Fellows may be eligible for a permanent position in the FWS after successfully completing their fellowship and degree requirements

How to Apply

Application questions or issues may be directed to Nina Martí (nina@hispanicaccess.org), Anastasia Hernández (anastasia@hispanicaccess.org), Crystal Strong (crystal@hispanicaccess.org), Yashira Valentin Feliciano (yashira@hispanicaccess.org), or Michelle Neuenschwander (michelle@hispanicaccess.org).

Application Deadline:

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2022 program.

Applicants may apply to as many projects as they are qualified for and interested in. Selected applicants will work on a specific project strategically designed to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's priorities.