Sea Grant, APNEP Now Accepting Applications for Graduate Fellowship
For immediate release
Contact: Aman Kohli, akkohli@ncsu.edu
or Tim Ellis, tim.ellis@deq.nc.gov
North Carolina Sea Grant and the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) are accepting applications for the 2025 Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 EST.
This two-year fellowship provides funding for graduate students based in North Carolina or Virginia with an opportunity to conduct applied research within the APNEP management area located in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System.
“APNEP is science-based in its operations, relying on relevant basic and applied research to guide efforts in understanding, protecting, and restoring the Albemarle-Pamlico region’s natural resources,” says Tim Ellis, APNEP’s quantitative ecologist. “We’re excited to continue partnering with North Carolina Sea Grant on this research fellowship opportunity to support estuarine science in the region and to help connect that science to conservation and management.”
Graduate students must propose hypothesis-based research that addresses one or more of the following broad focus areas:
- Estuary Spatial Planning
- Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
- Coastal Water Quality
- Ecological Flows
- Wetlands
Proposed work should relate to the APNEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and to North Carolina Sea Grant’s Strategic Plan.
Aman Kohli, North Carolina Sea Grant’s research and program coordinator, notes that this fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity for students to engage in impactful research that supports the management of North Carolina’s and Virginia’s estuarine ecosystems.
“Enhancing the link between academia and real-world applications is a significant benefit of this fellowship for both funding partners,” says Kohli. “After 10 successful years of this partnership, we’re excited to see the fellowship continue to grow. It has now expanded from a one-year, $10,000 award to a two-year, $20,000 award, providing even greater support for student researchers.”
The fellowship strongly encourages proposals from graduate students of all backgrounds and abilities. Those in good academic standing, attending an accredited North Carolina or Virginia university or college, are eligible to apply.
Complete instructions, including more information on focus areas for these proposals, are available on the fellowship page. All applications must be completed by 5 p.m. on November 17 through the eSeaGrant portal: go.ncsu.edu/ncesg.
For more information, contact Aman Kohli, akkohli@ncsu.edu, or Tim Ellis, tim.ellis@deq.nc.gov.
