SER Northwest Chapter offers competitive student research grants that support emerging leaders advancing the science and practice of ecological restoration in Pacific Northwest ecosystems (WA, OR, AK, MT, ID, and Northern CA). These grants typically fund graduate and upper-level undergraduate projects that improve restoration outcomes in natural systems such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other regional habitats.
Our goal is to help students turn innovative ideas into on-the-ground impact and to help build professional capacity in restoration science, policy, and application. We hope to elevate emerging voices across diverse ecosystems and restoration contexts. Grantees receive recognition through SER publications and online platforms, opportunities to present at regional and global SER conferences, and connections to a network of restoration professionals.
SERNW Grant Application
The 2026 grant application window has now closed. Applicants and winners will be contacted in early April regarding the status of the grants.
Be sure to check back in late 2026 for the next application cycle! Thank you for your interest in the SERNW student research grants.
Previous Winners
Grant Rubric
FAQs
Can educators apply on behalf of a project they are working on if it includes students? Are students who are enrolled in an online program eligible for the grant (i.e. asynchronous learning)?
Response: Upper-level undergraduate and graduate are eligible at this time, even if asynchronous, with the applicants being the leads on the projects.
Does the student have to have the funding go through the university where they are enrolled or can the funding be sent directly to the student?
Response: The funding will be distributed to the student themselves.
What can the grant funding be used for? What is it not allowed to be used for?
Response: The funds can be used for any part of the project process, including student research salaries, project costs, travel, and equipment.
Does unused funding have to be returned?
Response: Unused funding is not expected to be returned unless the funds are not used for direct project expenses. If there are additional project needs that were outside of the original budget scope, the awardee can confirm with the Awards Committee to use the additional funding for that.
What are the reporting / followup requirements for the student awardees?
Response: Awardees’ project abstract will be used for the SERNW website on the Previous Award Winners page and social channels. By accepting grants, awardees are expected to provide a written project update within six months of the award date. This could be done as a presentation for the Annual Member Meeting (live or pre-recorded), a project summary, or published research. SERNW will work with the awardee to ensure it is a light lift.
When does the project have to be taking place? Could it have already started?
Response: The project can have already started, but the funding should be used for a project that is occurring in the calendar year in which the funds are being distributed (i.e. it is not available for work that has already been completed or will not be started in the year in which the grant funding is awarded).
Can the grant be used as supplementary funding for another larger project?
Response: Yes, the grant funds can help cover costs for larger projects or can be used for a phase of a project to help complete it, as necessary.
When will the award decisions be communicated? When will the funding be distributed?
Response: We aim to send out updates on the grants one month after the application window closes of the project, regardless of the university’s location.
Do I need to submit letters of recommendation?
Response: No, letters of recommendation are not required.
Do I have to be based in the chapter area or can the project restoration activities be taking place in the area, if I am located / attending university outside of the region?
Response: The restoration project should be taking place within the geographical region (WA, OR, AK, MT, ID, and Northern CA), even if the student is studying at a university outside of the chapter’s region. We have accepted projects in Northern California as far south as Santa Cruz / Monterey county due to the lack of geographical overlap with other SER chapters.
I am within the Cascadia bioregion, but living / studying in Canada. Do I qualify?
Response: Our chapter covers the U.S. states and unfortunately we are not considering applications for projects that take place in Canada, particularly because of the presence and activity of SER Western Canada (SERWC). We encourage students to connect with this chapter to ask about grant opportunities they provide or are aware of to support projects in the Canadian portion of the Cascadia bioregion.