Graduate Student Support
Delta will consider research proposals submitted by any student currently enrolled in a recognized graduate school program. Delta may occasionally consider proposals from individuals that have not yet been accepted into a graduate program provided that a letter accompanies these proposals from the student’s prospective supervisor indicating that acceptance into a formal graduate program is forthcoming. Delta does not fund amateur, post-doctoral, or faculty research, although research facilities are sometimes made available provided that research objectives are consistent and compatible with Delta’s overall mission.
The Delta Waterfowl Foundation is a privately supported research and education organization. Delta’s primary mission is to help conserve North American waterfowl and wetland resources by assisting in the graduate education of future resource professionals. Delta began in 1938 when University of Wisconsin student H. Albert Hochbaum and his supervisor Aldo Leopold first arrived at Delta Marsh to begin studies that would culminate in the publication of The Canvasback on a Prairie Marsh. Since 1938, Delta has helped graduate students produce 219 master’s theses, 126 Ph.D. dissertations, and over 700 scientific publications.
The Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station (DWWRS), Delta’s main research station, is located at the Delta Marsh, on the south shore of Lake Manitoba in south central Manitoba. Previous studies at the main station have focused on captive waterfowl research, marsh ecology and management, and field studies of waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Delta also maintains a permanent field station in the Minnedosa Parklands of southwestern Manitoba. Many previous studies at Minnedosa have focused on the ecology or management of waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Delta also supports studies in other locations, provided they have relevance to North American waterfowl or wetland resources. Delta students have conducted studies in North Dakota, Alaska, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Hawaii, Wyoming, Sinaloa, Venezuela and even Latvia!
Do not exceed 20 double-spaced pages (excluding title page, abstract, tables, figures, and literature cited). Proposals should demonstrate a command of the relevant literature, sound experimental design, adherence to appropriate animal care guidelines, and good scientific writing skills. Your proposal must include the following:
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Cover Page: MUST include your name, the degree you hope to obtain (M.S. or Ph. D.), your advisors name, your school and current contact information for yourself and your advisor(s) (mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address).
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Abstract: 1-page description of proposed research, including brief description of issues addressed, hypotheses and objectives and methods.
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Introduction: Should include a description of the problem, a review of relevant literature, and a list of the specific objectives or hypotheses.
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Methods: Be sure to include a section on statistical design. A power analysis or some other justification of proposed sample size is also recommended.
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Timeline: Include a monthly time schedule for proposed research activities.
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Literature Cited: Use a consistent format
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Budget: See the following section “Budget Guidelinesâ€Â
Delta will reimburse up to $400 each way for travel to your field site. Any non-expendable equipment purchased with Delta funds becomes the property of Delta; however, such equipment remains the student’s responsibility until the study is completed. Housing expenses should be included in your budget. All students living at remote field sites are responsible for providing housing for themselves and their assistants out of their project budget. All students living at the Minnedosa Field Station and Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Station are responsible for paying rent for themselves and their assistants out of their project budget. Rent at the Field Station is $75 per person per month.
Students must specify any other sources of funding that have been received or applied for, including teaching or research assistantships, scholarships, fellowships. Delta can rarely cover the full cost of a graduate student. Funds are normally advanced directly to the student, who is then responsible for record-keeping and detailed accounting of all expenditures. Delta will not pay overhead, so funds can be advanced to universities only after assurance that all funds will be directed towards the student project.