2026 Montana State University Scholarship in USA | Fully Funded
Montana State University Scholarship: The Wildlife Habitat Ecology Laboratory is running a Master’s-level research assistantship built specifically to untangle that feedback loop, studying how fire severity, fire frequency, and grazing practices interact to shape soil health, vegetation, and wildlife habitat together, not as separate problems.
The assistantship pays approximately $30,000 a year for a minimum of 30 hours a week of research and academic work, based at Montana State University in Bozeman. The listing shows some conflicting deadline information — a stated cutoff of September 30, 2025, alongside a note that applications would stay open on a rolling basis until the position was filled — and given nearly a year has passed since either date, this position has very likely already been filled. Still, if you’re building toward a career in rangeland ecology, fire ecology, or wildlife biology, this post walks through exactly what the role required and what a similar opening might look like in the future.
Montana State University Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Montana State University Scholarship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United States of America |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full Scholarship starting at $30,000 per year, Health Insurance, and many more |
| Funded By ⇒ | Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All Countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not Specified |
About the Scholarship
The Graduate Research Assistantship is based in the Wildlife Habitat Ecology Laboratory at Montana State University. The project examines how wildfire and livestock grazing jointly affect ecological and agricultural resilience in rangelands across the Intermountain West. The research will explore how fire severity and frequency interact with grazing practices to influence:
- Soil health
- Vegetation composition and productivity
- Wildlife habitat and biodiversity
This work aims to inform sustainable land management strategies that balance agricultural productivity with ecological integrity in an era of shifting fire regimes and climate variability.
Eligibility Requirements for the Montana State University Scholarship
Applicants must meet the following:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in rangeland ecology, fire ecology, wildlife biology, natural resource management, or a closely related field.
- Have at least two years of experience, preferably in field research.
- Practical experience in field data collection related to vegetation, soils, or wildlife.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
- Familiarity with GIS or remote sensing is considered an advantage.
- Ability to work independently in remote field conditions as well as in a collaborative team setting.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
Montana State University Scholarship Benefits
- Annual salary of approximately $30,000.
- Minimum of 30 hours per week dedicated to research and academic work.
- Professional development through hands-on fieldwork, data analysis, and research collaborations.
- Opportunity to contribute to real-world solutions in sustainable land management and ecological resilience.
- Experience that builds pathways for careers in academia, government agencies, or conservation organizations.
Required Documents for the Montana State University Scholarship
Applicants must prepare the following materials in a single PDF file:
- A letter of interest outlining qualifications and fit for the position.
- A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
- Contact information for three professional references.
Montana State University Scholarship – Step-by-Step Application Process
- Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements.
- Prepare your application materials (letter of interest, CV, references).
- Combine all documents into a single PDF file.
- Send the PDF to Dr. Lance McNew via email at [email protected].
- Applications will be reviewed beginning September 1, 2025, and will remain open until the position is filled.
- If selected, you will be invited to submit an official application to the Graduate School at Montana State University.
Application Deadline
A stated deadline of September 30, 2025, but there is a mention that this would continue on a rolling basis until the position was filled. If you’re genuinely interested in this kind of fire-and-grazing rangeland research, the more reliable move is emailing Dr. Lance McNew directly to ask whether a similar opening exists, rather than assuming this listing is still live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Graduate Research Assistantship still open?
Almost certainly not. The listing gives two different dates — a September 30, 2025 deadline and a rolling review that started September 1, 2025 and continued until the position was filled — and given how much time has passed since either point, this specific opening has very likely already been filled. Contact Dr. Lance McNew directly to confirm before preparing an application.
Do I need two years of professional experience to qualify, even for a Master’s-level position?
Yes, based on the listing’s stated requirements. Unlike many entry-level graduate assistantships, this one specifically asked for at least two years of experience, preferably in field research, alongside a relevant Bachelor’s degree — so this wasn’t designed for applicants moving straight from undergraduate study with no fieldwork background.
Do I need GIS or remote sensing skills to apply?
Not strictly. GIS and remote sensing familiarity was listed as an advantage, not a requirement. The core requirements centered on hands-on field data collection experience related to vegetation, soils, or wildlife, plus strong quantitative and communication skills.
Is this assistantship open to international applicants, including Nigerian or other African students?
Yes, based on the eligibility criteria given — the listing states eligibility open to all countries, with no nationality restriction specified. International applicants would still need to meet the same academic and field-experience requirements as any other candidate, and should confirm visa and international student admission details directly with Montana State University’s Graduate School.
What happens after I send my application to Dr. McNew?
If selected, you’d be invited to submit a separate, official application to the Graduate School at Montana State University. Sending your letter of interest, CV, and references directly to Dr. McNew was described as the first step, not the complete application process.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Montana State University website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Montana State University.
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