BIOTA AWARDS

FOR LEADERS IN BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE

The Biota Awards funds early-career researchers who seek to restore, protect and conserve biodiversity in the Chicago region and around the world.

Humans, animals and plants depend on healthy, thriving ecosystems. Yet, many human activities deplete our environment of the biodiversity that we need to survive. Understanding, protecting and restoring biodiversity is vital for clean air, fresh water, and fertile land for food.

Chicago is a densely populated city surrounded by diverse and rare ecosystems, including remnant prairie, wetlands, and one of the largest bodies of freshwater. While threats to biodiversity in our region are vast, the potential solutions are just as expansive. Through the Biota Awards, Walder Foundation funds creative thinkers to explore new solutions to restore and preserve our ecosystems. The Foundation promotes the long-term sustainability of the natural environment by addressing socio-environmental challenges such as climate, water, food, and health.

2025 Biota Award Postdoctoral Fellowships Application Open

The Biota Awards have previously focused on supporting Independent Investigators. In 2025, for the first time the Biota Awards will exclusively focus on providing support for postdocs. Biota Award Postdoctoral Fellowships aim to support emerging leaders in biodiversity and conservation science during the postdoctoral phase of their career at institutions and organizations in the Chicago region. Through this program we hope to attract and retain exceptional postdoctoral scientists in Chicago, encourage postdoctoral scientists to think creatively and independently about how their research can be applied to deliver on-the-ground results, and develop a more inclusive and equitable biodiversity research community by supporting fellows from a wide range of backgrounds.

Meet the 2023 Biota Awardees

In 2023, the Biota Awards expanded its funding to researchers based anywhere in Illinois, with a meaningful connection to Chicago. This connection might be through the work itself, or in how it engages Chicago region communities, or in how it elevates Chicago’s contributions to tackling the global biodiversity crisis.