Conduct Research in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a crown jewel of the National Park System with a reputation for innovation in research and interpretive programs. Each year the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and Rocky Mountain National Park co-sponsor a research fellowship opportunity for one graduate level student to spend three to four months conducting research in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Bailey Research Fellowship is an endowed program of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy that is funded by the Leslie Fidel Bailey Charitable Trust. It is designed to encourage highly qualified graduate students to apply their talents to conducting research in the national parks. Application deadline: February 16, annually.
About the Fellowship
The Bailey Research Fellowship is an endowed program of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy that is funded by the Leslie Fidel Bailey Charitable Trust. It is designed to encourage highly qualified graduate students to apply their talents to conducting research in the national parks. It is also intended to convey the importance of communicating park research to the public. One fellowship is awarded annually.
This fellowship opportunity invites a broad range of research proposals to be reviewed and conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park, including wildlife and recreation management, vegetation and riparian studies, fire ecology, cultural sciences, archeology and historic structures preservation, as well as other topics in botany, zoology, geology, history, ecology and ornithology. These projects should aim to promote the informed decision making and adaptive management of RMNP or the education of staff to promote professional development and growth.
Qualifications for Fellows
- Education. Participant must be currently enrolled in, or in the process of graduating from, a graduate level program at an accredited college or university.
- Research. Participant must show proven excellence in scholarship and research, or training in the fields of natural and/or cultural resources.
- Future plans. The applicant’s goals should include an interest in a career with national or state parks in interpretation, natural or cultural resources, resource management, or environmental education.
- Communication. Participant should exhibit the ability to communicate effectively to both academic and general public audiences.
- Attitude. Participant should exhibit a willingness to contribute to the purposes of the Bailey Research Fellowship Program and assist the National Park Service by sharing knowledge, skill, and enthusiasm.
Fellowship Requirements
- A ~45-minute public presentation for a general audience, scheduled by RMC and given during the fellowship. This can be an introduction to the research question and methods with preliminary results and does not need to include final data analysis.
- A 15–30-minute presentation for RMNP, coordinated by the
- A presentation (poster or talk) at a professional conference within 2 years of completing the fellowship. $1000 reimbursement available to support this requirement.
- A work representative of the fellowship, e.g. a peer-reviewed journal article or paper, thesis, dissertation chapter, white paper, journalistic article or feature, book chapter or book, etc. Information from the scholarly work may be used in exhibits and for educational purposes by RMNP and RMC for their products or programs.
- Research must be conducted under an approved RMNP research permit. Any data and associated materials collected during the project must be provided.
Fellowship Benefits
- Park housing for one person
- Living expense stipend of $12,000, paid in weekly $1,000 disbursements, with the final disbursement paid once all requirements are complete to the satisfaction of RMC and RMNP.
- Reimbursement (not to exceed $1000) for presenting at a professional conference within 2 years of completing the fellowship.
- Reimbursement (not to exceed $1000) for supplies and materials necessary to conduct
- An honorarium equaling $1,000 paid after completion of the presentation for RMC.
Learn more about how to apply: Bailey Research Fellowship Application Instructions
Applications for the 2026 Bailey Fellowship be be accepted beginning on January 5, 2026. Review of applications will begin on February 17, 2026.