FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Fellowships

KNAUSS SEA GRANT MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIPS
Guidelines For Applications for 2008

Applications Due: March 2, 2007

Sea Grant's national marine policy fellowship program provides eligible graduate students a one-year work experience on the staff of the U.S. Congress or with a Federal agency dealing with marine issues.  It is open to all graduate students with marine science or policy backgrounds. The program offers a first-hand look at how science is used in the policy arena and how decisions are made.  The fellowship allows students to share their academic expertise with policy makers in Washington, D.C., and provides a unique experience that will contribute to the achievement of their long-term educational and career goals.  During the past 27 years, 59 students from Washington Sea Grant have been selected

Ten congressional positions and 20 or more agency positions (e.g. at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency) are available each year.  In order to be considered, students must be nominated to receive a Knauss fellowship by their local Sea Grant office.   Placement in specific positions occurs after the final selection of fellows at the national level.

Washington Sea Grant is limited to a maximum of six fellowship nominations.  Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted locally before nominations are forwarded to the National Sea Grant Office.

The National Sea Grant Office will make preliminary selections in May.  Final selection and placement occur in November or December, following a week of interviews with potential "hosts" in Washington, D.C. 

Terms of appointment:  The fellowships will be for a period of one year starting February 1, 2008. Total compensation is $41,500/year, which includes modest moving and travel expenses, an allowance for health insurance and $1,500 to cover interview week expenses.  (Applicants should seek competent advice concerning the income tax status of the stipend for their situation.  Both students and non-students should consider the desirability and availability of suitable health insurance).

Qualifications and application:  Students must be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application. Applications will be judged upon content, academic record, recommendations and relevance of prior studies and experience.  The fellowship must be a demonstrable continuation of the applicant's educational program.

Applicants should provide the following information to:

Nancy Reichley, Education Specialist
Washington Sea Grant Program
Box 355060
University of Washington
3716 Brooklyn Avenue NE
Seattle, Washington 98105

1. A personal statement (1000 words or less) describing your qualifications for the fellowship as well as outlining how the fellowship would support and enhance your long-term educational and career goals.  This statement is critical to the selection process.
2. An education and employment vita (not to exceed two pages).
3. A statement from your major professor or graduate committee supervisor describing your work and interests as well as the benefits expected from a fellowship appointment and one additional recommendation letter from someone who is familiar with your abilities.  A brief note of endorsement should accompany all applications from the appropriate department chairman or dean indicating that the candidate is a graduate student in good standing at the time of the application.
4. One official copy of each undergraduate and graduate student transcript. 
5. A list (not to exceed one page) of classes and/or plans for Spring, Summer and Fall 2007.
6. Applications should be professional in appearance and must be carefully checked for typographical, spelling and grammatical errors. Personal statement, vita, letters of recommendation and Spring-Fall 2007 plans are to be sent electronically to seagrant@u.washington.edu. All changes in schedule or procedure will be noted on the WSG website: http://wsg.washington.edu or on the National Sea Grant Office Web site at http://seagrant.noaa.gov/knauss.

Deadline:  Applications will be due in the National Sea Grant office in April 2007.  To permit timely review at the Washington state level, applications must be received in the Washington Sea Grant office no later than March 2, 2007.

For additional information:  Please contact Nancy Reichley, 206.865.8302, reichn@u.washington.edu.

All changes in schedule or procedure will be noted on this web site.

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