Carol Baird Student Award for Field Research

The Carol Baird Student Award for Field Research was established in 2017 thanks to a generous pledge to UC Berkeley from the JiJi Foundation. This award honors Dr. Carol Baird, who completed her PhD in Zoology at UC Berkeley in 1986. Read more on the establishment of the award here.

Purpose: This award funds high-quality research projects from UC Berkeley Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate students asking compelling questions about California’s natural history. The common thread of these projects is a strong field work component. Students conduct their research in and around the following UC Berkeley Natural Reserves and Field Stations:

Angelo Coast Range Reserve
Blue Oak Ranch Reserve
Chickering American River Reserve*
Hastings Natural History Reserve
Point Reyes Field Station
Sagehen Creek Field Station
Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve*

Important Note: Chickering American River Reserve and Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve do not have any facilities or staff. These sites are only accessible for research purposes to PhD students or Faculty Members. Classes and other large groups are not permitted on site. If you are interested in conducting field research at these two reserves, contact [email protected] for more details. 

Award Amount: Awards of up to $25,000 will be made based on merit. Applicants may request up to the full amount or less. Funding may be requested for a single field season or multiple field seasons, and for work at or around a single or several reserves. Support allocations (amount per student, potential for renewal) are flexible, as long as the research is field-based, is of excellent quality, and is substantially improved by this support. 

Eligibility Criteria: Funds must be used to support field research beginning in 2026. Students who have applied in the past and been unsuccessful are encouraged to revise and resubmit their proposals. Past awardees are also eligible to re-apply for additional support. Awards will be granted to UC Berkeley students in any major or department who are:

  • Undergraduates with an expected graduation date of Spring 2026
  • Baccalaureates within 3 years of receiving their bachelor’s degree
  • Pursuing a Graduate-level degree (Masters or PhD)

Note: Applicants may be working individually or as part of a research team. Post-baccalaureate applicants who will not be enrolled at UC Berkeley during the research period must be hired as research assistants or make other arrangements with their sponsoring lab or research unit on campus. Please consult with your Faculty Advisor on this process.

Application Timeline:
Application Opens: Dec 5, 2025
Deadline: January 25, 2026
Award Notification: around March 15, 2026
Award Disbursement: between April and May, 2026
Progress Report Due: December 20, 2026
Final Report Due: May 20, 2027

Application Process: Submit your application materials using the Google Form linked below.
You will be asked to input the following Applicant Information directly in the form: Name, Pronouns, Email Address, Department, Faculty Advisor Name, Website URL (if available), Degree name, Intended graduation date, Student status (undergraduate, postbac, or graduate student), Proposed UC Berkeley Reserve/Field Station(s)

Application Form

Required Application Materials: All materials should be compiled into a single PDF document and the file name should be formatted as follows: LastName_BairdAward_2026.pdf.

1. Project Proposal (up to 5 pages single-spaced). Include the following sub-headings:

  • Project Title
  • Introduction
  • Study Objectives (i.e., Hypotheses, Predictions, or Aims of project)
  • Methods & Logistics: Please indicate where you intend to conduct your research and provide a proposed timeline for your project. To be eligible, research must primarily be conducted at a UC Berkeley Reserve. Additional sites (e.g., non-Berkeley NRS sites, state parks, national parks, preserves, urban spaces, etc.) may be listed to provide the Review Committee with a broader perspective on your research goals.
  • Broader Impacts of Research
  • Community Engagement Plan: Awardees are required to present their findings to local community members or groups based around their project field sites. This may include: talks/lectures at town meetings, workshops organized by local conservation organizations, educational/K-12 school events, local radio shows, community science groups, and presentations to Tribal Nations and groups, state, or federal agencies. Our staff can provide details about ongoing outreach and community activities that we support on site or can put you in touch with partner organizations. Contact details for Reserve Directors can be found here.
  • Budget & Budget Justification: Applicants must provide an itemized list or table including associated expenses and the total amount requested. Please also provide a list of all funding sources for this project (include pending grants to you and your advisor) and how this grant would supplement these funding sources.
    • Allowable costs: Funds may be used for summer stipends, research-related expenses such as reserve user fees (housing, lab space), research supplies, transportation costs (e.g., renting vehicles from Enterprise, travel reimbursement for personal vehicles), hiring UC Berkeley undergraduate assistants, and other fieldwork costs necessary to complete the project. Lab expenses may be permitted, however they must not be the majority of the budget (i.e., 30-40% or less of the total amount requested).
    • Non-allowable costs: Funding cannot be used for GSR support, semester stipends, tuition & fees, personal expenses, or non-research related costs.
  • Supporting Materials (i.e., References, Tables, Figures, Maps, etc.)

3. Professional C.V. (up to 3 pages single-spaced)

4. Field Safety Plan. Please download the following template and update accordingly. 

5. Approval from Reserve Directors. Please include a screenshot of your email correspondence or a letter of approval from Reserve Directors, demonstrating that you have discussed feasibility of your proposed project at all the sites where you plan to conduct research. Contact details for Reserve Directors can be found here.

6. Faculty Letter of Commitment (up to 2 pages single-spaced).Only required for finishing undergraduates and baccalaureates! A letter of commitment from a UC Berkeley Faculty Advisor should indicate how they intend to support and guide you after graduating. 

Review Process & Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by a three-member committee composed of UC Berkeley Faculty Directors and Reserve Staff Directors. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:
Criteria 1: Scientific Merit (10 points)
Criteria 2: Project Feasibility (5 points)
Criteria 3: Broader Impacts & Community Engagement Plan (5 points)

Any questions should be directed to Berkeley Natural Reserves Associate Director, Dr. Neetha Iyer ([email protected]). 

Award Obligations:

  1. Funds must be used within one year of access, with the option to request a no-cost extension for up to two additional years if needed, provided the project scope remains unchanged and no additional funding is required. You must submit a Progress Report via a designated Google Form describing the project’s status by December 20, 2026. If a no-cost extension is being requested, you must include a justification, revised timeline, and evidence of satisfactory progress. A Final Report summarizing research accomplishments will be due by May 20, 2027. This 4-page report shall include scientific findings and any related outputs such as publications, media, or presentations. The Final Report deadline may be extended pending approval of no-cost extension requests. 
  2. Awardees are required to present their findings to local community members or groups based around their project field sites. This may include: talks/lectures at town meetings, workshops organized by local conservation organizations, educational/K–12 school events, local radio shows, community science groups, and presentations to Tribal Nations and groups, state, or federal agencies. Our staff can provide details about ongoing outreach and community activities that we support on site or can put you in touch with partner organizations. Contact details for Reserve Directors can be found here.
  3. As a 2026–2027 awardee, you are expected to attend two research symposia/retreats, affectionately termed BairdFest. The first of these will take place in late August or early September 2026 as a 2-day retreat at one of the Berkeley Natural Reserves, where you will give a brief, informal 5-minute flash talk introducing your research plans and any early progress. You will then return for BairdFest 2027 to deliver a more in-depth 20–30 minute presentation on your work. Your travel to BairdFest, as well as lodging and food during the retreat, will be fully covered. BairdFest is a celebration of the research conducted by past and current awardees at the Berkeley Natural Reserves, and all participants are encouraged to engage in discussions about the value and future of field science and field stations in a changing world. Dr. Carol Baird and other members of the JiJi Foundation will be honored guests at this event. You are also welcome to continue attending BairdFest events beyond your award cycle. Additional details about scheduling and logistics will be shared at a later date.