Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship Program

  • The Fellowship application is NOW CLOSED.

Overview

The goal of the Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship program is to broaden participation 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 recruiting, retaining and engaging students who are underrepresented in these fields. Black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) as well as representatives of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies are encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

This paid fellowship offers a unique educational opportunity by matching highly motivated and qualified individuals with host offices throughout Washington State.

  • Fellows are matched with hosts from state or local government, tribes, nonprofits and maritime industries.
  • Fellows work primarily on science, policy, and industry related projects with an additional emphasis on work related to the advancement of social justice, racial equity and inclusion in these professional spaces.
  • WSG Keystone fellows receive mentorship both through their host office and through participation in professional development activities with Washington Sea Grant.

The Fellowship offers first-hand experience working on projects that help us better understand, conserve and utilize Washington’s ocean and coastal resources while building pathways into marine related careers for individuals who are historically underrepresented in those fields.

In 2020 this one-year paid fellowship will place a Keystone Fellow with mentor, Nathalie Hamel of the Puget Sound Partnership. See the 2020 WSG Keystone Fellowship Project Description here.

For Prospective Fellows

Information for Prospective Fellows 

Eligibility

  • The WSG Keystone Fellowship currently is open to graduate students who have recently graduated from  Washington universities and those who will graduate before the fellowship begins.
  • Applicants should be pursuing or have a degree in a marine-related field, including policy, law, social sciences, oceanography, and fishery sciences and marine related technical degrees. 
  • DACA students are eligible to apply.

Black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) as well as representatives of the LGBTQ+ community, and allies are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. All applicants regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or other demographics should demonstrate awareness of diversity issues and a commitment to the advancement of equity and inclusion.

If you have any questions about this statement or the ability of the program to accommodate disabilities please contact the fellowship coordinator at sgfellow@uw.edu. 

Award

For a one year, graduate level fellowship, fellows will receive an award of $51,500 including a stipend of $48,000 to cover living costs and health care and $3,500 for conference attendance, professional development, and other non-commute work-related travel.

Application Requirements

All applications must include:

  1. Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages; 12 pt. font)
  2. Statement of the applicant’s goals with emphasis on interest in, contribution to, and expectations from the fellowship (1,000 words or less; 12 pt. font) 
  3. Statement of the applicant’s experience and commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the management and study of marine resources or related industries (500 words or less; 12 pt. font)
  4. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s major professor. If no major professor exists, the faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant’s academic work may be substituted
  5. Unofficial copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts

Go To eSeaGrant

Finalist Selection

Applications will be reviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Fellowships Team. Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship Review Panel. The panel will be convened and facilitated by Washington Sea Grant and made up of demographically and institutionally diverse program partners which may include representatives from Washington institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and tribal government, NGO’s, industry, faculty and former fellows. 

The Review Panel will select finalists who will sit for a second interview with the Washington Sea Grant Fellowship Coordinator and the host office mentor who together will select the WSG Keystone Fellow. 

Selection Criteria

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

  • Community and extracurricular activities, communication and analytical skills
  • Lived experiences that will help the applicant contribute to the host office project and to the equity and inclusion goals of the Keystone Fellowship 
  • Support from two letters of recommendation
  • Academic record, employment-based experience, career and education goals 

How to Apply

Washington Sea Grant will be accepting all fellowship applications through our online submission portal, eSeaGrant. If you are new to eSeaGrant you must register for an account using the “Register” tab. Please give yourself plenty of time to complete your application and contact our office if you have questions.

Go To eSeaGrant

For Hosts

Information for Prospective Host Offices

The Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship program welcomes participation by state, tribal and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, maritime and aquaculture industries in Washington State with programs in coastal or marine research, policy, or management.  Hosts of a WSG Fellow are expected to supervise, mentor, and provide opportunities for involvement in substantive issues that contribute to the fellow’s professional accomplishments and goals. Prospective host offices must demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and in the execution of their missions. 

The fellow will be expected to participate at a full-time level within the host office and work on site and with other staff and/or agency leaders, as appropriate.

Interested host offices are invited to submit an application to WSG.

Host Applications

Host applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with accepted host opportunities advertised to prospective fellow in the next available fellowship cycle. Please contact Deborah Purce (sgfellow@uw.edu) to inquire about hosting a fellow.

Each host application must include the following:

  1. Host office location and contact information
  2. Name and position of the official fellowship mentor/supervisor
  3. Fellowship Position Description (not to exceed two pages, single spaced). If selected as a participating host, this description will be made available as submitted to prospective fellowship applicants.
  4. Keystone Alignment Statement (not to exceed one page, single spaced) Tell us about how your organization or program is addressing mission specific issues related to environmental justice, racial justice, equity and inclusion and how a WSG Keystone Fellow, in addition to their primary project work, might contribute to relevant systemic change as part of your team. Possible areas for discussion in this statement include:
    • Organizational Culture
    • Coalitions and Partnerships
    • Education and Outreach
    • Human Resources
    • If your organization has an official DEI statement please include it in your application package.
  5. Level of financial support. Hosts are asked to provide at least 50 percent of the entire cost of the 12-month fellowship ($58,000 which covers stipend, travel and professional development, and Sea Grant program support)

Acceptance of a host application will be based on the following criteria:

  • The perceived quality of the fellowship opportunity, including mentorship and supervision
  • The perceived existence of inclusive workplace environments that promote cultural competence and are welcoming to demographically diverse individuals. 
  • The level of educational benefit for the fellow
  • The level of financial commitment

Fellow Selection Criteria

Washington Sea Grant will promote fellowship positions and recruit prospective fellows specifically for each individual Keystone Fellowship opportunity. We conduct broad outreach to Washington institutions of higher education including a variety of departments, advisors, professors, as well as programs and affinity groups that serve diverse students. 

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

  • Community and extracurricular activities, communication and analytical skills
  • Lived experiences that will help the applicant contribute to the host office project and to the equity and inclusion goals of the Keystone Fellowship 
  • Support from two letters of recommendation
  • Academic record, employment-based experience, career and education goals 

Applications will be reviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Fellowships Team. Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship Review Panel. The panel will be convened and facilitated by Washington Sea Grant and made up of demographically and institutionally diverse program partners which may include representatives from Washington institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and tribal government, NGO’s, industry, faculty and former fellows. 

The Review Panel will select finalists who will sit for a second interview with the Washington Sea Grant Fellowship Coordinator, the host office mentor who together will select the Keystone Fellow. 

2020-2021 Fellowship Expenses

Each host office is expected to contribute at least 50% percent of the total costs of the fellowship award (stipend, travel, other fellowship-related costs and administrative support.)

Costs for hosting a 2020-2021 WSG Keystone Fellow will be as follows:

  1. Fellowship award: Each fellow will receive an award of $51,500, including a stipend of $48,000 to cover living costs and health insurance and $3,500 for conference attendance, professional development, and other non-commute work-related travel.
  2. Sea Grant program support: $6,500
  3. Cost to Hosts: $29,000 – $58,000

WSG will administer the fellow stipend. Once placement is confirmed, the host is expected to work with Washington Sea Grant and the University of Washington Office of Sponsored Programs to put into place a cooperative or interagency agreement for the fellowship award prior to the start of the fellowship. Fellows may not start work until the funding agreement is completed.

Contact the Washington Sea Grant Fellowships Coordinator for information about hosting a WSG Keystone Fellow:

Deborah Purce
E-mail: sgfellow@uw.edu