2026 Biota Awardees

Walder Foundation’s 2026 Biota Awards were given to postdoctoral fellows to support important and formative biodiversity research experiences at a time of increasing uncertainty amongst traditional funding partners and sources. Each Biota Awardee receives two years of salary and research funding to pursue conservation solutions. This year’s awardees are working on addressing biodiversity opportunities and challenges in Chicago and around the world. From researching corals in Mozambique, landscapes in Guyana, and endangered impatiens plants in Tanzania, to researching post-industrial wetland complexes and rat populations in Chicago, five exceptional scientists are leading the way, using rigorous science to protect biodiversity for a more resilient planet for generations to come.