Submission deadline: 5 p.m. local time (ET) June 3, 2026
The NOAA Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship application period is now open. The Knauss Fellowship, established in 1979, provides a unique educational experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean and coastal resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid fellowship. CTSG is now accepting applications from graduate students for the one-year period anticipated to begin between February 1 and June 1, 2027 and is completed by June 30, 2028. Each award will be $79,700, of which $74,700 is for salary/stipend and personnel expenses, and $5,000 can be used to cover allowable expenses which includes fellowship-related travel.

Students are eligible to submit an application if:

(1) The student is a U.S. Citizen (born or naturalized), a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card
holder), or a dual national with at least one citizenship as the U.S.;
(2) The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2025 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and June 3, 2026;
(3) The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories, and;
(4) The student has an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.

Applicant resources: 

• Applicant Webinar Slides
  A pdf of the slides can be found by clicking here.
• 2027 Summary for Applicants
  A Word version of the summary can be found here.
• 2027 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Student Guide 
  A pdf of the guide can be found by clicking here. 
• General Student Applicant Guide to Sea Grant Fellowships can be found by clicking here.
• FY 2027 NOFO Updates, References and Recommendations can be found by clicking here.

For more detailed information please look at the Knauss Fellowship website: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/communities/students/graduate-fellows/knauss-fellowship-program/. Interested students should discuss this fellowship with the Connecticut Sea Grant Director, Dr. Sylvain De Guise (sylvain.deguise@uconn.edu). A copy of the RFP can be obtained by clicking here.

For more information, contact the National Sea Grant Office, at: OAR.SG.Fellows@noaa.gov.
Those intending to apply should contact the CTSG Director (sylvain.deguise@uconn.edu) as early as possible in the application process.

Please contact Dr. Syma Ebbin at the CTSG office, (syma.ebbin@uconn.edu) for additional information.

 

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