�պ�����

The Gund Institute for Environment at �պ����� has announced fellowships and research awards for six new community members, including three PhD students, a postdoctoral researcher, and two undergraduate researchers. 

This outstanding cohort of new Gund Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients will target urgent environmental issues within five research themes: climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, health and wellbeing, equity and justice, and resilient communities.  

“I am excited to welcome this cohort of brilliant graduate fellows into our global community of scholars. They are among our future leaders, who will chart a global course for environmental sustainability” says Gund Institute Director Taylor Ricketts. “I can’t wait to watch their research develop and inspire action on the urgent environmental challenges facing society.”

This week, the Gund Institute opened the application period for the 2025 cohort of PhD student fellowships. 

We seek PhD students who will conduct research in the five research themes and the connections among them. Strong applicants will have exceptional academic qualifications, research experience, coordination with a Gund faculty fellow advisor, alignment with Gund’s research themes, and commitment and contributions to diversity and inclusiveness.

Gund Fellowships are made possible by support from the Gund family, the Barrett Family, the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Scholars Initiative, the Mayo-Smith family, Dennis Meany, and the Medina Fund, as well as anonymous donors to the Gund Institute. 

Gund PhD Fellowships 

Abraham Awolich (Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance) will pursue research into the ways in which pastoral communities in South Sudan and other African countries respond to challenges including climate change and conflict, taking an approach from governance and resilience perspectives. Travis Reynolds will advise Abraham.  

Robert "RJ" Jones (Civil and Environmental Engineering) will explore how microorganisms could be used to drive greenhouse-gas-producing materials such as permafrost and food waste into needed products including biofuels. This work could aid local economies where such materials occur.  will advise Robert.

Carina Manitius (Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance) plans to investigate the overlap between agricultural lands and potential protections for biodiversity hotspots. Carina’s work will include consideration of how such protections may impact income and food production in these locations. Asim Zia and Taylor Ricketts will coadvise Carina. 

Gund Postdoctoral Fellow 

Humberto Romero Uribe (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources) is evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of smallholder coffee farms’ climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in Latin America, as well as exploring markets farmers can access to incentivize these practices’ adoption. 

Undergraduate Research Awards (2024) 

Madeleine van Esbroeck (Environmental Science) collected water samples from urban and rural locations in the Burlington area and Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, for analysis of how beavers affect water quality and other ecological factors in these different types of environments. Eric Roy supervised this project. 

Eliza Barker (Chemistry) is in the midst of a research project pursuing novel and environmentally friendly methods of synthesizing a class of molecules that are commonly used in agriculture and pharmacology. Rory Waterman supervises this project.

About the Gund Institute at �պ����� 

Since launching six years ago, the Gund Institute for Environment has awarded 44 PhD and postdoctoral fellowships and 12 undergraduate research awards, an investment of over $4.2M in �պ����� student success. Recipients are mentored by Gund Fellows from a range of disciplines.    

With over 250 scholars and leaders, the Gund community has tripled in size since the Institute’s launch. The Institute’s global network of researchers and partners hail from all eight �պ����� colleges and dozens of organizations in 11 countries, including Microsoft, World Wildlife Fund, Jackson State University, Root Capital, and Ben & Jerry’s.    

The Gund Institute for Environment at �պ����� is a research center dedicated to understanding and tackling the world’s most critical environmental challenges. Driven by the belief that research should inspire action, the Institute takes a cross-sector approach to solving environmental issues with stakeholders from government, business, and broader society. The Institute focuses on five interconnected research themes: climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, health and well-being, equity and justice, and resilient communities. With over 250 scholars in Vermont and across the world, the Institute brings together a network of internationally recognized researchers from diverse disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, business, health, technology, engineering, and the humanities.