Sea Grant sponsors a variety of marine research, outreach and education projects, primarily through the 33 state Sea Grant Programs.

The National Sea Grant office offers several fellowship opportunities for graduate students with an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, including the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. In addition, there are often other federal and state-fellowships in the field of marine science. A student applicant guide to Sea Grant fellowships can be found here.

Current Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities

2024 Connecticut Sea Grant Undergraduate Research Fellowship Opportunity

The application deadline for the 2024 fellowship is closed. Please check back for the invitation to apply for the 2025 fellowship.

Read about the recipients of the 2024 fellowship here.

The goal of the Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG) Undergraduate Research Fellowship is to broaden participation of underrepresented/underserved students in marine and coastal professions by providing early career experience, training and mentorship to the next generation of scientists, decision makers, and marine industry professionals.

The program will do so by funding a research fellowship for up to two undergraduate students who represent the human social diversity of the communities of Connecticut. Underrepresented minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged students as well as students of color, indigenous students, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and students with disabilities are encouraged to seek an Academic Project Mentor with whom to apply for this opportunity.

Up to two fellowships, each with a $5,000 stipend, will be offered this summer to enable selected students to conduct independent research under the guidance of an Academic Project Mentor. The application process requires submission of a mentor-proposed natural or social science-based research project and a student nomination for the research fellowship. The project must be completed over the summer, and be focused on a coastal, marine or watershed issue relevant to the Connecticut Sea Grant Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, which can be accessed at: https://seagrant.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1985/2022/12/CTSG.Strategic.Plan_.2024-27.final_.pdf.

With this Call, Connecticut Sea Grant solicits project proposals and Student Nominees from Academic Project Mentors affiliated with a Connecticut-based college, university, or non-profit educational/research institution. The Academic Project Mentor will be responsible for providing the nominated student with resources, guidance and mentoring to undertake a meaningful natural or social science-based or policy-related fellowship project. Prospective Academic Project Mentors should nominate students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, students with disabilities, and/or Veterans of the US Armed Forces. Student Nominees must have completed at least one year at an accredited two- or four-year university or college in Connecticut and submit a statement of interest as part of the application process.

Timeline

Tuesday January 16: Call for submissions/Fellow Recruitment
Monday March 25: Submission deadline
May 1: Fellowship selections announced
June 3: Fellowship commences
August 23: Fellowship ends

Prospective Fellow Information

Eligibility

Academic Project Mentors: Connecticut Sea Grant proposes to select students by soliciting project proposals and Student Nominees from researchers at Connecticut-based academic or non-profit educational or research institutions. Submissions by and/or collaborative partnerships with one or more of the following are encouraged: Sponsoring faculty of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Community College systems.

The Academic Project Mentor must:

Be affiliated with a Connecticut college, university; formal or informal environmental- or marine-focused research, education or outreach organization;

Be engaged in natural or social science research relevant to the Connecticut Sea Grant mission and 2024-27 Strategic Plan objectives;

Nominate an eligible student who, if selected, you agree to mentor and engage in a learning opportunity on an independent project for the duration of a 9-week fellowship.

The Academic Project Mentor is responsible for providing the Student Fellow with:

the resources and guidance to undertake a proposed project which can be completed in 9-weeks;
guidance on the natural or social science-based research, outreach, or policy topic; day-to-day guidance of the Student Fellow as needed, office and/or lab space, and access to a computer, Internet and telephone as needed.

Nominated students: Recognizing that some groups have historically been underrepresented in the sciences, this program is for students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, students with disabilities, and/or Veterans of the US Armed Forces. Student Nominees must have completed at least one year at an accredited two- or four-year university or college in Connecticut. Students will be nominated for the fellowship by an academic advisor (“Academic Project Mentor”) who is willing to provide the student with adequate and relevant laboratory and office space and equipment, serve as the student’s mentor and oversee their independent project throughout the fellowship period. Student Fellows will engage in a 9-week learning opportunity within the period of June 3 through August 23, 2024, including at least 24-hours of effort per week, and be provided with a $5000 stipend.

Student Nominees must be:

enrolled undergraduate students at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university located in Connecticut;
U.S. citizens or residents and have completed at least one year of study towards a Bachelor’s or Associates degree;
pursuing or have a degree in a science or marine-related field, including social sciences, oceanography, environmental and fishery sciences and marine related technical degrees.

Inclusivity and Accessibility Statement

People of color, indigenous people, US Veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and/or individuals from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to seek an Academic Project Mentor with whom to apply. All Academic Project Mentors and Student Nominees, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or other demographics should demonstrate awareness of diversity issues and a commitment to the advancement of equity and inclusion.

It is the program’s intent to build as much flexibility as possible in making adjustments to the fellowship program to assure accessibility and a meaningful experience for the fellows.

Fellowship Program Application Guidelines

Application Deadline: 5 PM ET on March 25, 2024

Proposed Project: The proposed project must be natural or social science-based, focused on a watershed, coastal or marine issue within the state of Connecticut, or have relevance to Connecticut Sea Grant’s mission and objectives as outlined in the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, (https://seagrant.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1985/2022/12/CTSG.Strategic.Plan_.2024-27.final_.pdf). It must be able to completed within 9 weeks.

Application and Submission Information

A complete set of application materials must include:

A completed Application Summary Form: (https://seagrant.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1985/2024/01/undergraduate-summer-research-fellowship-cover-sheet-1.pdf)
From the Academic Project Mentor:
1. a) A maximum 3-page, single spaced, 12 pt font Project Statement which includes:
  i) a description of the proposed project, objectives and methodologies and explanation of how it relates to coastal and marine topics relevant to the Connecticut Sea Grant 2024-2027 Strategic Plan;
  ii) a statement identifying how the Student Nominee qualifies for this Fellowship;
  iii) a plan outlining how the Student Fellow will be mentored and what relevant research facilities and equipment will be available to them
  b) A letter of support regarding the nominated student’s motivations and interests relevant to the proposed project;
  c) A current biosketch (2-page maximum).From the Nominated Student:
  a) A maximum 2-page, single spaced, 12 pt font Statement of Interest which includes a description of:
  i) how the proposed project relates to the student’s future career goals;
  ii) the experiences and training that the students expects to receive from this fellowship opportunity;
  b) Unofficial copies of all college transcripts/evidence of college enrollment
  c) A current biosketch (2-page maximum).

How to Apply

Applicants (Academic Project Mentors) should send their compiled fellowship applications (including all of the requested Academic Project Mentor and Student Nominee materials) as one file in PDF or MS WORD format by 5 PM ET on March 25, 2024 by email to SeaGrantResearch@uconn.edu.

Finalist Selection

Applications will be reviewed by the Connecticut Sea Grant Fellowship Review Panel. The Review Panel will select up to 2 fellowship proposals for funding for summer 2024.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of Sea Grant staff members that may include representation from the program Senior Advisory Board members, on the basis of:

1) Proposed project:

Relevance to the Connecticut Sea Grant mission and strategic plan objectives (20%);
Opportunity for student to engage in meaningful science (20%);
Quality of mentoring plan (20%);
Ability to be completed in 9 weeks (20%)

2) Student Nominee application materials including:

Statement of professional and academic motivations and interests (20%).

Selection Criteria

1) Programmatic factors that might influence selection after the technical evaluation include the diversity of institutions from which the fellows will be selected.

Tax Implications

The Sea Grant Undergraduate Research Fellowship is considered a fellowship for income tax purposes. The recipients may have an obligation to self-report the fellowship on your income tax return. Consistent with IRS guidelines, the University does not withhold income taxes from the award, or report the fellowship award to the IRS, except in limited circumstances involving nonresident aliens.

For More Information:

Refer to:

https://seagrant.uconn.edu/funding/fellowships/,

Or contact:

Dr. Syma A. Ebbin, Research Coordinator
Connecticut Sea Grant College Program
The University of Connecticut
1080 Shennecossett Road
Groton, CT 06340-6048
E-mail: syma.ebbin@uconn.edu

2025 National Sea Grant College Program John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

The application period is closed. Please check back for the 2026 program.

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 on Feb. 1, 2025. Each award will be $71,400 for salary/stipend and personnel expenses as well as additional funding for allowable expenses and office-related travel. For more detailed information please look at the Knauss Fellowship website: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/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 here.

A student guide to the Knauss Fellowship can be found here.

For more information, contact the National Sea Grant Office, at: OAR.SG.Fellows@noaa.gov. Complete applications must be submitted to the CTSG office no later than 5:00 pm (ET) local time February 15, 2024. 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.

2024 NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships

The application period is closed. Please check back for the 2025 program.

The NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship and NOAA Digital Coast Fellowship provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students. The two-year paid fellowships start in August with coastal programs in Connecticut, Maine, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, and with the Coastal States Organization. Apply through the Sea Grant program in the state where you received your degree.

https://www.coast.noaa.gov/fellowship/coastalmanagement.html
https://coast.noaa.gov/fellowship/digitalcoast.html

Eligibility

Any U.S. citizen who will complete a master’s or other advanced degree at an accredited U.S. university between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2024, is eligible to apply for the Coastal Management and Digital Coast fellowships. Students from a broad range of programs are encouraged to apply. A variety of degrees are applicable to the fellowship because the projects are new and different each year.

To read about the 2024 projects, visit Coastal Management Fellowship projects and Digital Coast Fellowship projects in early December 2023. Previous fellows have had degrees in environmental studies, natural resource management, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs, communications, social sciences, and regional land management. The most important prerequisite is an interest in coastal issues. Students who are not U.S. citizens or who attend non-U.S. institutions are not eligible. Summaries of projects by previous and current fellows can be found here.

A fact sheet on the Coastal Management Fellowship and the Digital Coast Fellowship can be found here.

All applications must include the following items:

Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages using 12 point font).
Statement of the applicant’s goals with emphasis on what the applicant expects from and can contribute to the fellowship experience. This should also include how the fellowship can help reach goals that may be difficult to reach without the fellowship opportunity. Include any obstacles that have been overcome to reach this point in your academic career (500 words or less).
Two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s principal professor. If no principal professor exists, the faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant’s academic work may be substituted.
Unofficial copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts.

Any additional materials submitted will not be considered in the selection process. If you are selected as a finalist, an additional writing sample will be requested.

How to Apply

Application packages must be submitted to the Sea Grant program office in the state where you earned your degree by January 26, 2024. Each Sea Grant program office may select and forward up to four applications to NOAA for review. In order to increase diversity in the fellowship, Sea Grant may submit one additional application from a candidate who attended a minority serving institution, for a total of five. The fifth nomination spot is reserved solely for minority serving institution candidates.

Applicants from states not served by a Sea Grant program office should contact the fellowship coordinator for more information on submitting an application.

Selection of Finalists

From the nominations submitted by Sea Grant directors, 20 finalists will be selected by a panel. Final decisions will be made by March 22, 2024, and all applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of the following week.

Finalists will be selected using the following criteria:

Statement of the applicant’s goals. How well does it emphasize what the applicant expects from and can contribute to the fellowship experience? Does it address how the fellowship can help reach goals that may be difficult to reach without the fellowship opportunity? Consider any obstacles the candidate may have overcome.
Diversity of educational background and quality of academic performance
Candidate experience, including life experience, internships, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, and jobs
Scholarships, awards, honors, and acknowledgements
Endorsement letter from the applicant’s Sea Grant director
Support from two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s principal professor. The letters should demonstrate knowledge of the applicant and their abilities.

Placement of Fellows

The Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship matching process will take place in two parts in late April 2024. First, program orientation by NOAA, project presentations by the hosts, and presentations by the finalists will be conducted virtually the week before the in-person portion of the matching workshop. Sessions will be live but will also be recorded for those that may miss a session.

The following week, in-person interviews will take place in Charleston, South Carolina. The finalists will be brought to the in-person portion at the expense of NOAA. Before the workshop begins, each of the finalists will be able to review the fellowship projects on the fellowship website. Each of the selected host organizations will send the fellow mentor to the placement workshop. No contact between prospective hosts and finalists should be made prior to the placement workshop. Candidates and hosts will submit their top choices of placement to NOAA, and NOAA will match fellows with hosts.

Of the finalists selected in 2024, up to seven will be placed with a state coastal program and up to three will be placed with a Digital Coast partner. If a host does not find a suitable candidate during the matching process, it will be given the option to defer fellow placement for one year. Hosts will only be allowed one deferment before they have to reapply.

For more information on the 2023 state projects, please visit the Coastal Management Fellowship website. For more information on the 2022 Digital Coast projects, please visit the Digital Coast Fellowship website. 2024 projects will be posted in early December. Contact the fellowship coordinator with any questions at ocm.fellowships@noaa.gov or Syma Ebbin, CT Sea Grant research coordinator, at: syma.ebbin@uconn.edu.

2024 NMFS-Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship Program in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics

The application period is closed. Please check back for the 25 program.

The 2024 Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics is open for submissions by interested students. The fellowships are available to U.S. citizens who are graduate students enrolled in PhD degree programs at an accredited university in the United States or its territories in population dynamics, ecosystem dynamics, resource or environmental economics, or a related field such as wildlife biology, fishery biology, natural resource management, marine biology, quantitative ecology, applied mathematics, applied statistics, or simulation modeling.

Alternatively, a prospective fellow may submit a signed letter from the institution indicating provisional acceptance to a Ph.D. degree program conditional on obtaining financial support such as this fellowship.

Sea Grant and the National Marine Fisheries Service expect to support up to four new fellows in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and at least one new fellow in Marine Resource Economics, both commencing Aug. 1, 2024. Fellows will work on thesis problems of public interest and relevance to NMFS and will be required to work closely with an expert (mentor) from participating NMFS Science Centers or offices. Mentors may provide data for the fellow’s thesis, serve on the fellow’s committee, and/or host an annual summer internship at the participating NMFS facility.

Eligible interested students must submit application materials to their local state Sea Grant program (Connecticut Sea Grant if you are a student in Connecticut) by January 25, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. ET. Those intending to apply should reach out at least one to two months prior to this deadline and contact the Connecticut Sea Grant Research Coordinator, Dr. Syma Ebbin (syma.ebbin@uconn.edu).

Download the NOFO for the Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics HERE. Additional Information for students is available HERE and HERE. (You need the free Adobe Reader to read these documents.)

Pdf of the NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship & Notice of Funding Opportunity 2024 for students can be found here.

Review criteria for the fellowship can be found here.

For more information, contact Dr. Syma Ebbin at syma.ebbin@uconn.edu at the CTSG office or the NMFS Sea Grant Fellowship Program Manager by email at oar.sg.fellows@noaa.gov; by phone at: 240-507-3712 or refer to: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/NMFS-SG-Fellowship.