2020 Directorate Resource Assistant Fellows Program (DFP)

 

Application Deadline: January 10, 2020

The U.S Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) will collaborate with multiple conservation partner organizations to assist with recruitment and administration of over 100 fellowship opportunities for the Directorate Resource Assistant Fellows Program (DFP). The DFP is an 11-week fellowship working on projects that support FWS conservation priorities. The 11-week fellowships begin in mid-May/mid-June 2020 and end in August/September 2020. Eligible students who are pursuing degrees in biological science and/or natural resources management will possess the desired qualifications for the 2020 DFP.

DFP Eligibility Requirements:

• Student must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a rising senior or senior in undergraduate program or a graduate degree program, and will not complete their degree requirements prior to the completion of the 2020 DFP 11-week fellowship ending in August/September 2020
• US citizen or permanent resident
• Must be 17 years of age
• Males born after December 31, 1959, and are at least 18 years of age, must register with the Selective Service System, unless they meet certain exemptions
• Cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher
• Must be available for 12 weeks (1-week orientation plus 11-week fellowship)
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
• Demonstrated interest education and/or experience in fish and wildlife conservation

Benefits:

• Housing provided in select locations
• Living allowance– paid bi-weekly.
• Travel allowance.
• 1-week orientation at the FWS National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV
• Hands-on experience
• Fellows may be eligible for a permanent position in the FWS after successfully completing their fellowship and degree requirements.

How to Apply:

Review the list of states that you are interested in working, and apply at the partner organization(s) that is accepting applications for the state(s) you select. If you are eligible for the DFP, the respective partner organization(s) will instruct you on how to apply for specific DFP projects. The projects will be listed at a later date.

There is no limit on the number of DFP projects for which you may apply. This may require submitting an application at each partner’s website. For example, if you are interested in projects located in Connecticut, Alaska, and Alabama, you will need to apply through all 3 organizations, since each location of interest is administered by a different partner.  

• Student Conservation Association - (SCA) CLICK HERE to apply for DFP projects located in any of the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin.
• American Conservation Experience - (ACE) CLICK HERE to apply for DFP projects located in any of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
• Greening Youth Foundation - (GYF) - (CLICK HERE) to apply for DFP projects located in any of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.

Please follow all instructions provided by the partner organization when applying for this program. For general questions on the DFP, contact connect@fws.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Federal agencies must provide a reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.