The University of West Georgia Scholarship provides a graduate teaching assistantship worth $18,000 per year to support selected students with tuition costs and living expenses.
This opportunity is ideal for students interested in wildlife ecology, biology, conservation science, and ecological research, with a focus on studying bat populations and habitat use.
In this post, we will discuss the scholarship details, eligibility requirements, benefits, required documents, and step-by-step application process.
University of West Georgia Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United States of America
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Master’s Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Fully Funded | $18,000 Stipend per year
- IELTS Required: No
- Deadline: July 4, 2026
University of West Georgia Masters Scholarship Details
The Edelman Research Lab at the University of West Georgia is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Master’s student to join their research team.
The selected student will work on a thesis research project focused on studying the distribution, habitat use, and seasonal activity patterns of bats, particularly the endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), in coastal Alabama.
The research project will involve acoustic monitoring and habitat assessments to measure bat activity across different seasons and habitats within the Gulf Coastal Plain.
The graduate student will gain experience in wildlife research, ecological fieldwork, acoustic data analysis, GIS applications, and conservation science.
Eligibility Requirements for University of West Georgia Scholarship 2026
To be considered for the University of West Georgia Masters Scholarship, applicants must:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Wildlife Ecology, or a related field.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Meet all eligibility requirements to work in the United States.
- Have strong experience in ecological or wildlife research at undergraduate or professional level.
- Possess excellent quantitative, writing, and communication skills.
- Be able to work independently and as part of a research team.
- Be willing to conduct fieldwork in remote locations.
- Have the ability to hike across rough terrain under different weather conditions while carrying equipment.
- Have basic navigation skills, including the use of maps, compass, and GPS.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and ability to operate a 4WD vehicle.
Preferred Qualifications
Applicants with the following experiences will have an advantage:
- Knowledge of GIS, R programming, and statistics.
- Experience with acoustic monitoring, bats, or bioacoustics research.
Benefits of University of West Georgia Scholarship 2026
The scholarship provides:
- $1,000 monthly stipend from August 2026 to May 2027 ($10,000 total).
- Tuition waiver for Fall and Spring semesters.
- $8,000 summer funding for 2027 and 2028 (subject to final grant approval).
- Research training and professional development opportunities.
- Practical experience in wildlife conservation and ecological research.
Medical insurance coverage is required. Students without private insurance can access coverage through United Healthcare at their own cost.
Graduate Assistant Responsibilities
The selected Master’s student will:
- Deploy and maintain acoustic detectors across remote field locations.
- Conduct field research in forest and coastal environments.
- Process and analyze bat acoustic recordings.
- Review and verify acoustic identification data.
- Manage large ecological datasets.
- Conduct vegetation and habitat assessments.
- Support GIS-based habitat analysis.
- Contribute to research reports, presentations, and scientific publications.
How to Apply for University of West Georgia Scholarship 2026 (Step by Step)
Interested and qualified candidates should:
- Prepare the required application documents.
- Combine the documents into a single PDF file.
- Email the PDF application to Dr. Andrew Edelman at aedelman@westga.edu.
- Include a short letter of interest, CV/Resume, unofficial transcript, and contact details of two professional references.
- Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled.
📋 Required Documents
- Unofficial Academic Transcripts
- Contact information for two professional references
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
- Short letter of interest