COSA NFF Fellowship Opportunity: Demonstrating the Impact of Stream Restor ation Projects through Data Management

Hello COSA Community,

The National Forest Foundation is pleased to share the posting for our 2025 Conservation Connect Fellowships. In 2025, the program will host 14 graduate students working across the world of natural resource management and the human dimensions of conservation. In particular, we have three fellowships that will focus on the health of the Colorado River, including the project featured below.

Please share with your networks!

Thank you!

Adde Sharp
Watershed Program Manager – National Forest Foundation
Mobile: 970.406.1296

2025 Conservation Connect Fellowship Opportunity
Each year the National Forest Foundation (NFF) hosts a small group of exceptional graduate students pursuing advanced studies in conservation, natural resources management, and related fields. The goal of the Conservation Connect Fellowship Program is to build experience, knowledge, and skills within the next generation of collaborative and conservation leaders. To learn more and apply, visit nationalforests.org/fellows. 

  • Must be enrolled in a graduate program during the ’25-26 academic year
  • Fellows are paid $20/hour for up to 300 hours of work
  • Fellowships start in May 2025 and end in April 2026; exact timeframes depend on specific projects
  • Application deadline is February 2, 2025
Featured Project
Demonstrating the Impact of Stream Restoration Projects through

Data Management
This Conservation Connect fellow will work with the Watershed Team at the NFF to formalize a Watershed Program Monitoring Framework and an associated data collection and management methodology. The fellow’s work will involve integrating information from NFF’s various databases, spatial analysis tool, and water metrics systems into an internal data management system and providing NFF project data to partners and collaborators’ systems (for example, the Riverscapes Consortium platform). The fellow will play a critical role in helping the NFF leverage data to demonstrate the impact of NFF’s watershed health and restoration projects occurring across the Colorado River Basin (CRB).

Deliverables include supporting the integration of NFF’s existing data processes and basic analysis of key Watershed Program data to better communicate NFF’s watershed monitoring protocol and outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in ArcGIS, ArcPro, OpenSource, and coding; proficiency with programs such as Adobe, Microsoft Office, and Excel; be highly organized and efficient; and have a passion for natural resources and/or environmental conservation. Familiarity with the Riverscapes Consortium and Data Exchange and other watershed outcomes tracking platforms preferred but not required.

This is a remote position, though familiarity with the Western U.S. where the bulk of the watershed projects are occurring (including but not limited to CO, WY, AZ, and NM) is preferred. This fellowship will take place from spring 2025 through fall 2025.
Learn More
Other opportunities:

The NFF is pleased to offer 14 fellowship spots for 2025. Projects range from storytelling to stakeholder analysis to youth engagement and more! Click here to see all projects and to apply.

The National Forest Foundation welcomes a diverse pool of applicants and maintains a policy of nondiscrimination.
Please contact Jane Mandala, Conservation Connect Coordinator, with any questions:

jmandala • (406) 830-4795

2025 NFF Fellows Program Overview.pdf