
Meet the
Smith Fellows
Since its inception in 1999, the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program has supported more than 120 early-career scientists from around the world. These fellows have gone on to make significant contributions to the field of conservation science.
Current Fellows
All Fellows
Browse by Class
- Class of 1999 7
- Class of 2000 5
- Class of 2001 5
- Class of 2002 6
- Class of 2003 6
- Class of 2004 5
- Class of 2006 4
- Class of 2007 4
- Class of 2008 4
- Class of 2009 4
- Class of 2010 4
- Class of 2011 4
- Class of 2012 4
- Class of 2013 4
- Class of 2014 4
- Class of 2015 5
- Class of 2016 5
- Class of 2017 5
- Class of 2018 5
- Class of 2019 5
- Class of 2020 5
- Class of 2021 5
- Class of 2022 5
- Class of 2023 5
- Class of 2024 5
- Class of 2025 5
Rebecca Tonietto
Urban bee community structure, pollination services and conservation in shrinking cities across North America.
Mariah Meek
Conserving fish species by understanding local adaptation and predicting responses to climate change
Brian Harvey
Managing for resistance and resilience during a period of accelerating tree mortality in Rocky Mountain subalpine forests
Diogo Veríssimo, PhD
Using social return on investment to evaluate and improve conservation outreach
Ashley Smyth
Using bivavles to control nutrient pollution: Implication for management, aquaculture and conservation
Chelsea Rochman
Mitigating pollution and conserving fish populations through science-based management of microplastic debris in large urban watersheds
Michael Bogan
Of farmers and fish: balancing salmon populations, aquatic biodiversity and water resource needs during drought
Sara Kross
Conservation in the agricultural landscape: Investigating the tradeoffs between avian conservation and farm production in an ecosystem services framework
Stephanie Green
Reconciling invasion processes and conservation action: Functional eradication as a framework for invasive species control
Emily Darling, PhD
Biodiversity hot spots and climate cool spots: strategic action for coral reef conservation in a changing climate
Jonathan Armstrong
Trophic resource portfolios: incorporating spatio-temporal patterns of species abundance into ecosystem-based management of mobile consumers
Morgan Tingley
Long-term trends in the avifauna of the southern Appalachians: disentangling climate change from habitat change
Viorel Popescu
Estimating the cumulative impact of small hydropower on species conservation and ecosystems services
David Hayman
Understanding White Nose Syndrome dynamics to mitigate the precipitous decline of North American bats
Tabitha Graves
Designing an integrated, adaptive, and cost-effective sampling tool for wildlife populations
Kimberly Terrell
Conservation physiology of the hellbender: Identifying biological constraints to climate change adaptation for effective management of Appalachian salamanders
Sara Souther
Disrupting environmental and genetic associations: Can managed relocation rescue species threatened by climate change?
Maureen Ryan
Restoring resilience to climate change: synergistic benefits of exotic predator removal for preserving wetland biodiversity

“The Smith Fellowship was both an incredible experience at the time, providing excellent research support, training, and professional development opportunities, and an amazing network to be a part of in the decades that have followed!”
Building a network of change makers
Smith fellows have made significant contributions to the field of conservation science, including developing innovative solutions to critical conservation challenges, publishing groundbreaking research, and informing conservation policy and practice. Learn more about joining the program today!