Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship: Guidelines for 2010 Applications


Applications Due: February 20, 2009

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 31 years, 63 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 2009. Final selection and placement occur in December 2009, following a week of interviews with potential "hosts" in Washington, D.C. 

Terms of appointment:  The fellowship will be for a period of one year starting February 1, 2010. Total compensation is $44,000/year, which includes modest moving and travel expenses, an allowance for health insurance and up to $2,000 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 obtaining suitable health insurance.)

Qualifications and application:  Students must be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application. The fellowship must be a demonstrable continuation of the applicant's educational program.  Applications will be judged upon content, academic record, recommendations and relevance of prior studies and experience.  It is preferred that all components of the application be sent electronically to sgfellow@u.washington.edu.

Applicants should provide the following information:

  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. Two letters of recommendation, one from your major professor and one 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 2009.

Deadline:  Applications will be due in the National Sea Grant office in April 2009. To permit timely review at the Washington state level, applications must be received in the Washington Sea Grant office no later than February 20, 2009. All changes in schedule or procedure will be noted on the WSG Web site: http://wsg.washington.edu; or on the National Sea Grant Office Web site: http://seagrant.noaa.gov/knauss. 

For additional information: