PELLSTON, Mich. — The University of Michigan Biological Station is growing its immersive community of practice that learns from the natural world.
Research scientists and graduate students from any institution are welcome to apply to conduct their research at the more than 10,000-acre research and teaching campus in northern Michigan. Fellowships also are available for scientists and graduate students.
The deadline is Feb. 1 to submit research proposals, renewals and fellowship applications for the 2025 field season.
“Our science is better when we have people who view the environment through different lenses — expanding broader than ecology and biology to include diverse intellectual communities such as public health, art and business,” said Dr. Aimée Classen, director of UMBS and a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Michigan. “The research opportunities are limitless in this special place that nurtures deep thought and discovery.”
Laboratories, cabins and classrooms are nestled along Douglas Lake at the remote field research station — the largest of U-M’s campuses — located about 20 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.
Students and scientists live and work as a community to learn from the place at UMBS, which is one of the nation’s largest and longest continuously operating field research stations.
Founded in 1909, UMBS leverages over a century of research and features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for data collection and analysis. For many research sites, long-term or historical data sets are available for baseline or reference points.
Review the project submission and review process and access the research application on the UMBS Researchers Project Proposal and Renewal Application website.
Alumni gifts and University sources have provided limited funding for UMBS to assist graduate students who are working toward their degree while in residence at the field station and research PIs starting research programs here or experiencing a gap in funding. Access the fellowship applications on the UMBS Research Fellowships website.
Questions regarding application processes, research equipment, facilities, and space requirements may be directed to umbsresearch@umich.edu.
Subscribe to the UMBS monthly e-newsletter and follow the field station on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Students: Explore 2025 field-based courses and scholarships at the U-M Biological Station and apply for the four-week spring and summer terms on the UMBS Courses website. Applications are open for the spring term, which is from May 20 through June 19, and the summer 2025 term, which is from July 1 through July 31. The priority application deadline is March 15, 2025. Student research fellowships are also available. See the UMBS Student Research Opportunities website for details.
Researchers: Submit new research proposals or renewals and fellowship applications on the UMBS Research Application website. The deadline for research and fellowships during the 2025 field season is Feb. 1, 2025.
