CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT (BID) FELLOWS 2021

Project Title: Capacity development for mobilization and use of Biodiversity Information Development (BID) data on endangered bird species in Kenya | BID-AF2020-014-NAC

Background

The Biodiversity Information Development programme aims to establish a community of practice to improve data acquisition and sharing, analysis and scholarly publication using GBIF data. The project is
focused on enhancing national-level capacity to use Biodiversity Information Development (BID) data on endangered bird species in Kenya under three objectives: 1) integrating GBIF Biodiversity Information
Development data into conservation decision-making via conservation policy briefs created in collaboration with graduate students, early-career scientists, and conservation managers; 2) enhancing the
use of BID data by graduate students and early-career scientists through the publication of peer-reviewed articles; 3) strengthening the capacity of conservation managers to collect policy-relevant biodiversity
data through citizen science. This call engages all eligible graduate students (Master or PhD levels), early career scientists and  conservation managers in Kenya to submit their applications to the Center for Biodiversity Information Development (BID-C), Strathmore University.

Applications are now OPEN!

Slots Available:

Graduate students: 6 (Masters - 4, PhD – 2)
■ Early career scientists: 6 (Former IFS grantees – 3, Open – 3)
■ Conservancy managers: 6

Eligibility criteria:
■ Applicants must demonstrate research interest on endangered bird species in Kenya
■ The student applicants must be registered in an accredited university (Masters or PhD) and
currently in their research year in: Ecology, Wildlife management, Bioinformatics, Biodiversity
conservation, Zoology, Environmental science, natural resource management or related fields
■ Applicant conservation managers must be currently working in one of the Kenyan community
conservancies and holders of at least an undergraduate degree from an accredited university in
Biodiversity conservation or related fields
■ Applicant early career scientists should have a demonstrable track record of biodiversity related
research supervision, currently working in universities or research institutions with at least 2
publications in peer reviewed journals and supervised at least 1 student at graduate level
■ Student and early career scientist applicants must demonstrate at least the basic knowledge in a
statistical software for analysis (knowledge in R is preferred)
Application & Selection Timeline:
Step 1: Applications open on Monday, 12th April 2021 and close on Friday, 23rd April 2021
Step 2: Shortlisting and panel review of applications and selection by 28th April 2021
Step 3: Notification of outcome to successful applicants by 30th April 2021
Step 4: Induction and programme commencement for selected BID Fellows 2021 on Monday, 10th May 2021

Application Requirements:
1. Submit your current CV
2. Submit your letter of motivation
3. Conservation managers will be required to submit reference letters from the relevant umbrella
organization e.g. KWCA, NRT etc. in addition to the above
4. Student applicants will submit a letter of reference from their lead supervisor in addition to 1&2
above
5. Student applicants will submit proof of registration as a student e.g. certified university admission
letter (not confined to Kenyan universities)
Applications should be sent as a single file to vmuniu@strathmore.edu on or before Friday, 23rd April
2021 with the subject: Application for Biodiversity Information Development (BID) Fellows 2021