The Rufford Foundation makes grants for nature conservation undertaken by small and medium-sized organizations for projects in the developing world. The Foundation prefers projects that are pragmatic, and that have a significant human element. There are no restrictions by nationality or country of residence. Grant applications are made in sequential stages: first grant, second grant, booster grants, and completion grant. Grants start at £6 thousand and increase to £15 thousand for projects that complete each stage. Applications can be submitted at any time. Instructions for Applicants
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European Space Agency — African Research Fellowships 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) invites applications for its African Research Fellowships to support the next generation of African Earth observation scientists. The program offers four one-year fellowships at the ESA-ESRIN center in Frascati, Italy, starting in October 2026. Applicants must be African nationals holding a PhD or a master’s degree with significant research experience in satellite remote sensing or a related field. Fellows will receive a monthly subsistence allowance, travel expenses, and a relocation package, though the specific financial totals are not disclosed in the call.The deadline for applications is 29 April 2026. African Research Fellowships
Belmont Forum — Ocean Collaborative Research
The Belmont Forum invites proposals for the Ocean 2 Collaborative Research Action (OCEAN 2 CRA), a program supporting transdisciplinary research focused on biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability for nature and human well-being. Consortia must include participants from at least three different countries receiving support from participating funding agencies, which include organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and Uruguay, among others. Projects should span 36 months and address one of three themes: biodiversity conservation, ocean-biodiversity-climate integration, or ocean governance and ethics. While total funding varies by the specific national annexes of the participating agencies, grants typically support international research collaboration and societal engagement. The deadline for registrations is 30 April 2026. OCEAN 2 CRA
Save Our Seas Foundation — Keystone Grants 2026
The Save Our Seas Foundation funds and supports marine and ocean research, conservation, and education projects worldwide. Projects have to focus on charismatic threatened wildlife and their habitats, with a particular concern for marine chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, and chimaeras). The usual project duration is limited to three years with a grant average of US$25 thousand per year. The next application period (Stage I) is 13 May 2026. Keystone Grants
L’Oréal-UNESCO — Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa
The Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO invite applications for the For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme to support young women researchers across the region. This program is open to female PhD students and post-doctoral researchers who are citizens of one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries and are conducting research there. Eligible fields include formal and life sciences, environmental and physical sciences, and engineering and technological sciences. The program will award 30 grants of €10 thousand to doctoral students and eight grants of €15 thousand to post-doctoral researchers, alongside leadership and communication training. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2026. Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa
Morris Animal Foundation — Veterinary Student Scholar Program
The Morris Animal Foundation supports research on animal health and welfare, including wildlife/exotics. The Foundation provides veterinary students with the opportunity to become involved in mentored research that advances the health and/or welfare of companion animals and wildlife exotics. The Veterinary Student Scholars program awards stipends up to US$5 thousand to veterinary students. The program is open to currently enrolled veterinary students from all around the world. Applications are due 20 May 2026. Veterinary Student Scholar Program
MDPI — Water Best PhD Thesis Award
The journal Water invites applications for the Best PhD Thesis Award to recognize young scholars who have completed outstanding doctoral research in any aspect of water science, technology, management, or governance. The competition is open to PhD students or recently qualified PhD fellows worldwide, provided their thesis is original work and was defended during 2025. One winner will be selected to receive CHF 800. Applicants must submit an executive summary of their thesis in English. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026. Thesis Award
Leakey Foundation — Research on Primates
The Leakey Foundation funds research related to human origins. This includes research on primate biology, ecology, and behavior. The majority of research grants awarded to doctoral students range from US$3 thousand to US$20 thousand. Larger projects by senior scientists and post-doctoral students may be funded up to US$30 thousand. There are no citizenship restrictions. The next application deadline is 15 July 2026. Find out more
American Association for the Advancement of Science — Science and SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists 2026
The SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists rewards outstanding early-career researchers. The prize is awarded annually to four young scientists for research performed while they were graduate students in the fields of cell and molecular biology, genomics, proteomics and systems biology, ecology and evolution, or molecular medicine. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD between 01 January 2023 and 31 December 2024. The grand prize winner receives US$30 thousand, and each of the three category winners receives US$10 thousand. Additionally, the grand prize-winning essay is published in Science, and the category winners’ essays are published online.The deadline for entries is 15 July 2026. SciLifeLab Prize
MDPI — Plants Awards 2026
MDPI is a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals. The publisher has several awards in the category “Plants.” MDPI currently invites nominations for the Best PhD Thesis Award (CHF 500) for original work defended in 2025, with a deadline of July 31, 2026, and the Travel Award (CHF 800) for students and postdocs attending international conferences, closing October 31, 2026. Additionally, the journal honors high-quality peer review through the Outstanding Reviewer Award and celebrates research impact with the Best Paper and Young Investigator awards, providing winners with cash prizes, formal certificates, and publication vouchers to waive future article processing charges. Click here