Out of 3,000 applicants, only 50 exceptional students were selected for fellowships— including 2 CSP students!
The Quad Fellowship is an initiative of the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The first-of-its-kind scholarship program is designed to support early career scientists dedicated to innovation and research for positive social impact, as well as build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists.
The program is designed to support academic excellence and promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among participating countries. By bringing together students from different parts of the world, the fellowship creates a network of innovators who can address global challenges and drive technological advancements. The program also builds foundational understanding among Quad Fellows of one another’s societies and cultures through programming and networking opportunities with each country’s top scientists, technologists, and politicians. The fellowship awards are substantial, learn more at https://www.quadfellowship.org/
Chamonix Toledo, CSP Class of 2025
Chamonix Toledo is an ecologist and social-scientist, centering Indigenous communities’ questions and perspectives in climate research field studies. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) with a BS in Ecology & EvolutionaryBiology, she was accepted into the Coastal Science & Policy Program, an internationally competitive MS program at UCSC. In the coming year, she will continue working with island communities in the Federated States of Micronesia, collaborating with Indigenous leaders to co-develop culturally relevant environmental conservation and restoration solutions. Chamonix is passionate about mentorship and developing pathways into research for students of all backgrounds. She is on the board of directors for the Smith Society, a community that offers resources and support to students who grew up in non-traditional households, facing multiple adversities. She is an AAUS scientific SCUBA diver, an FAA drone pilot, and prioritizes building cross-cultural relationships in STEM research.
Gwendolyn Chow, incoming CSP Class of 2026
Gwendolyn is a marine conservationist with diverse experiences who believes in developing people-centric solutions to coastal challenges. Originally from Singapore, she holds a Bachelor in Environmental Studies with a specialized focus on coral ecology. She has conducted research on tropical reefs in Singapore and the Maldives through scientific diving, with some findings being utilized to inform species selection for Singapore’s coral restoration efforts. Beyond academia, Gwendolyn is passionate about fostering ocean stewardship, having initiated and facilitated several citizen science volunteer programs. Currently, she manages conservation projects locally and regionally across the Coral Triangle for WWF-Singapore’s Oceans Program, mobilizing resources for impactful initiatives that expand protected areas, restore degraded habitats, and empower communities. By pursuing her Master’s in Coastal Science and Policy at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Gwendolyn aims to enhance her interdisciplinary knowledge and advance inclusive conservation approaches that benefit both ecosystem biodiversity and coastal communities in Southeast Asia, all while building climate resilience. Outside of conservation, she enjoys freediving and rock climbing.