NTC Grad receives Princeton in Latin America Fellowship

2025 NTC Graduate Darbhi Durvasula has been awarded a Princeton in Latin America Fellowship (PiLA). The fellowship will take him to Costa Rica where he will build upon the environmental research he performed as an undergraduate at Tulane.

“I am passionate about environmental conservation and the way it can serve as a catalyst for sustainable human development. I have also really enjoyed my experiences abroad in Latin America throughout college and was eager to continue pursuing these interests in an international setting.” 

PiLA fellowships offer young professionals the opportunity to work with leading organizations across Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to projects in a variety of fields, including education, public health, environmental conservation, and microfinance, and more. 

Darbhi will be working on the Osa Peninsula of the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, contributing to conservation initiatives and deepening the knowledge of tropical rainforest ecology and the biodiversity of this region. 

“Working directly with Osa Conservation, a leading organization in tropical conservation, will allow me to gain a network and hands-on experience. This will serve as a platform for my career in environmental research.”

This desire to dive deep into ecosystem stewardship began through Darbhi’s research experience as an undergraduate. He spent two summers conducting tropical ecology research at Fundación para la Conservación de los Andes Tropicales (FCAT) in Ecuador through the Tulane Interdisciplinary Environmental Research & Action (TIERA) program. He also completed a Diplomacy Lab project in which he contributed to a Climate Risk Assessment for Montego Bay Jamaica. Back home in Seattle, he was also a summer research intern with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. 

“My research at FCAT through the TIERA program was the most instrumental, as it gave me highly relevant experience to the type of work I will be doing at Osa Conservation during this fellowship. Beyond the research, it also provided me with strong cultural competency skills and a proven ability to be adaptive and resilient in new environments. Also, my semester abroad in Buenos Aires greatly strengthened my Spanish language skills, which was critical to earning this award.” 

Darbhi took advantage of resources at Newcomb-Tulane College to assist with the fellowship process. 

“Thomas Spencer is the person who initially made me aware of this award, and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships helped me prepare for my interview.  I am incredibly grateful for their support.”

Throughout the application process, Darbhi was encouraged to reflect on the work he has completed so far. Receiving the award affirmed his future educational and professional goals.

“Earning this fellowship feels like the cumulation of my efforts and experiences over the past few years. The fellowship will also help me refine my specific research interests and contribute to scientific publications, preparing me for the PhD I plan to pursue in coming years.”

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To receive support with applying for opportunities like the Princeton in Latin America (PiLA), prospective applicants should contact fellowship advisors at the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. For more information about the Princeton in Latin America (PiLA), visit  https://pila-princeton.org/.