The Gund Institute for Environment at UVM today announced fellowships and research awards for 10 new community members, including seven PhD students, one postdoctoral researcher, and two undergraduate researchers.

This outstanding cohort of new Gund Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients comes from 5 countries: India, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Brazil, and the U.S. Their research at UVM will target urgent environmental issues within five themes: climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, health and wellbeing, equity and justice, and resilient communities.

“Research should inspire action—and that’s why I am so excited to welcome this outstanding group to our global research community,” says Gund Institute Director Taylor Ricketts. “They will join a vibrant community that is mobilizing scholars and decision makers to understand and tackle the world’s most critical environmental issues.”

Gund PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowships are made possible by support from the Gund Family, the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Scholars Initiative, the Roger and Victoria Sant Trust, the Medina Fund, the Barrett Family, and research partnerships with Ben & Jerry’s, Johnson & Johnson, Philo Ridge Farm, and USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Gund PhD Fellowships  

Uyoyoghene Adeyemo (RSENR) will use remote sensing and machine learning techniques to map agricultural land use changes in Brazil and its impact on the environment. As deforestation for agriculture expands in Brazil’s Cerrado region, Adeyemo's research will help to improve management strategies to mitigate its impact on the environment and ensure sustainable agricultural development. Adeyemo will be mentored by Gund Fellow Gillian Galford. 

Vitória Aparecida Cardoso (CALS) will continue her research on small farms exploring how policies impact their development and successes. Aparecida Cardoso's research aims to address issues of sustainable agriculture and equity and justice. Her policy analysis will assess how information and resources can be spread so that farmers can receive the benefits they need while remaining competitive in the marketplace. Gund Fellow Dan Tobin will advise Aparecida Cardoso on her research.

After working with government agencies and with NGOs, Lizah Makombore (CALS) will explore sustainable agriculture, rainforest ecosystem services, water governance, and agroecology through research with advisor and Gund Fellow Josh Farley. Makombore’s research with Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) will investigate the complex rainforest and agroecological systems and how these systems can be altered for a more sustainable future.

Lara de Macedo Monteiro (RSENR) will investigate what drives ecosystem restoration initiatives and their economic and ecological impacts. Her research will be focused on the Cerrado, a vast savanna located in Brazil. Ecosystem restoration is a promising solution for landscape degradation, which can help address issues related to climate change and social inequities. Monteiro will be advised by Gund Fellows Brendan Fisher and Gillian Galford. 

Mandy Nix (RSENR) seeks to assess and amplify scientific literacy as a strategy for addressing social and environmental injustices. With over eight years of experience as an environmental educator, Nix will study pedagogies and pathways that provide equitable scientific education outcomes for underrepresented and disproportionately harmed communities, and will be mentored by Gund Fellow Leon Walls and Walter Poleman.

L'Dawn Olsen (RSENR) will explore how feminist Indigenous food sovereignty can impact health, well-living, and sustainable practices in relationship with the natural world. Olsen will use these findings to consider the innovative practices and insights that Indigenous methodologies can bring to the field of environmental humanities. Olsen will be mentored by Gund Fellow Luis Vivanco.

Leslie Spencer (Food Systems) will study the best ways to design farm landscapes to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services while also supporting sustainable agricultural economies and livelihoods. Spencer will use a mixed-methods approach, blending natural and social sciences to explore current and future land use systems, as well as help stakeholders understand the impact of agricultural practices in rural and urban settings. Spencer will be mentored by Gund Fellows Stephanie Hurley and Taylor Ricketts. 

Gund Undergraduate Fellowships  

The Institute is also excited to support two Gund Undergraduate Research Awards in partnership with the UVM Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR):  

Eamon Caffrey (RSENR) will study the effects of habitat and insect population on the successful nesting of the threatened Diamondback Turtle in Eastham, Massachusetts. This research will help guide wildlife biologists on circumstances and practices that can improve the stability of these turtle populations in Massachusetts and beyond. Caffrey will be mentored by Gund Fellow Jed Murdoch and Gund Affiliate Brittany Mosher.  

Jess Fish (RSENR) will study the impact of various tree species on the population and distribution of Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders. Based in UVM’s Jericho Research Forest, this research will help inform forest management practices to protect the health and biodiversity of these ecosystems and the salamanders that live there. Fish will be mentored by Gund Affiliate Brittany Mosher.  

Since launching five years ago, the Gund Institute for Environment has awarded 43 PhD and postdoctoral fellowships, and 10 undergraduate research awards. Recipients are mentored by Gund Fellows from across UVM in a range of disciplines.  

With over 250 scholars and leaders, the Gund community has tripled in size in five years. The Institute’s global network of researchers and partners hail from all 8 UVM colleges and schools, 28 departments, and 50 external organizations in 10 countries, including Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, and World Wildlife Fund.  

More news  

• The Gund Institute seeks proposals for the next round of Gund Catalyst Awards by October 12, 2022. Teams can apply for research seed grants from $10,000 to $200,000. Previous Catalyst projects can apply for additional funding, and applicants can request funding for a postdoctoral researcher.
• Applications for the next Gund Institute PhD Fellowships will open this fall.

About the Gund Institute  

The Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont 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.