Columbus, Ohio Ohio Sea Grant is now accepting applications for 2017 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships, a federal program sponsored by NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program. The program offers a unique fellowship experience to graduate students interested in marine, ocean and Great Lakes resources and the national policy decisions affecting them.
Ohio Sea Grant asks that all applications are submitted by February 5, 2016. This allows our staff to assist applicants with any suggested edits before the final submission deadline on February 12, 2016.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for graduate students to get exposure to how the federal government operates and how policy decisions are made,” said Ohio Sea Grant Interim Director Dr. Chris Winslow. “Historically, the most competitive candidates have a diverse background that includes some policy exposure.”
Knauss fellows are matched with hosts throughout the Washington, D.C. area, such as legislative and executive offices and other appropriate organizations, where they are involved in both daily operations and special projects assigned based on their areas of interest. Fellows get the opportunity to network throughout many branches of government and often continue to work in similar fields after graduation.
“I have known these specific fellowship positions to be life changing experiences,” said Winslow. “Fairly frequently the fellows stay on with the legislative or executive offices or federal agencies to which they are assigned.”
Former Knauss Fellows from Ohio include Mark Monaco, director of NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment; and Sarah Opfer Lowe, NOAA Marine Debris Program Great Lakes regional coordinator.
2012 Ohio Knauss Fellow Erin Sams Cooper, now program director at nonprofit Teens4Oceans, shared her experience with Ohio Sea Grant earlier this year. The interview is available at ohioseagrant.osu.edu/news/2015/offmc.
The one-year fellowship provides a stipend and living expenses of $45,000. An additional $9,000 will be used to cover mandatory health insurance costs, moving expenses, academic degree-related and fellowship-related travel; an additional $2,500 is available for Placement Week costs.
For detailed information about host offerings, the selection process and Placement Week, visit the National Sea Grant Knauss website at seagrant.noaa.gov/FundingFellowships/KnaussFellowship.aspx.
Applicants apply through the Sea Grant program in their state, or the state closest to them. See seagrant.noaa.gov/WhereWeWork/SeaGrantPrograms.aspx for locations of Sea Grant programs and contact information.
To apply through Ohio Sea Grant, please contact Ohio Sea Grant Interim Director Dr. Chris Winslow at winslow.33@osu.edu or 614.247.6684 for more information about the application process and to set up a preliminary interview.