The Future For Nature (FFN) Foundation launched the Field Fellows pilot program (2025–2028) to strengthen the link between academic research and field conservation. The initiative supports Master students, PhD, and final-year applied university students in conducting small-scale research projects that contribute to their academic and professional development while generating valuable evidence for the conservation work of FFN laureates.
Aims of Future For Nature’s Family Funding
Suzi Eszterhas 
JP Zegarra 
Proyecto Sebraba
Examples
Irina Lupascu and Anthony Waddle
Global amphibian populations are rapidly declining, largely due to chytrid fungus infection, a highly destructive wildlife disease responsible for the extinction of around 90 amphibian species and the decline of at least 500 more. Because the fungus spreads easily
through water and cannot be eradicated once established in the environment, traditional
conservation strategies are insufficient.
This project proposes using synthetic biology and gene-editing technologies to help amphibians develop heritable resistance to chytrid fungus, potentially providing a long-term conservation solution. The study will test three genetic knock-in methods in the endangered green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) for their future use in conservation strategies.
Research Goal
The ultimate aim is to develop frog populations with heritable resistance to chytrid fungus, supporting long-term conservation and potentially reducing the need for permanent captive breeding programs.
Research Question
Which gene-editing method is most efficient and reliable for introducing chytrid resistance while maintaining frog fitness?
Hunter Kosodo and Tiasa Adhya
Fishing cats are elusive feline predators in the Indian wetlands. They co-occur with other carnivores and their home ranges increasingly overlap with human settlement and activities. This project will use camera traps as a tool to answer questions about carnivore habitat use, density, and co-occurance in different habitats (deciduous forest, wetland, semi-arid landscape).
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