SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA – A new endowed graduate fellowship has been established to support research in fisheries biology, water quality, and watershed management within the Iowa Great Lakes ecosystem. “The Edward Thelen Graduate Fellowship in Fisheries Biology and Water Science Research” will provide funding and field opportunities for graduate students to conduct research in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory located in Dickinson County, which is operated by the University of Iowa.

The initiative is designed to attract talented graduate students to the unique ecosystem. The research projects will focus on topics such as fish population dynamics, invasive species management, and water quality monitoring. The goal of the research is to inform conservation and management strategies for the Iowa Great Lakes and other freshwater systems in the Midwest.

Graduate students who are pursuing a Ph.D. at Iowa, Iowa State, or nearby universities are encouraged to apply.