FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Aman Kohli, akkohli@ncsu.edu 

North Carolina Sea Grant is accepting applications from NC graduate students for the 2027 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. The deadline is Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers the prestigious fellowship through the National Sea Grant Office in honor of John A. Knauss, who was a Sea Grant founder, NOAA administrator, and dean of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. The program places graduate students in Washington, D.C. to work on federal policies and processes that affect ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues

“We are seeking a wide pool of applicants, with experience in a range of disciplines,” says Susan White, executive director of North Carolina Sea Grant. “The Knauss Fellowship provides professional development in marine and coastal policy that is key to assuring strong, continued leadership for coastal communities.”

More than 100 graduate students from North Carolina have served as Knauss fellows throughout the program’s 40-year history.

“The Knauss Fellowship offers an incredible opportunity for graduate students to engage at the intersection of marine science and policy at the national level,” says Aman Kohli, Research and Program Coordinator at North Carolina Sea Grant. “Fellows gain first-hand experience working in government offices while applying their scientific expertise to real-world decision-making.”

Application Details

The anticipated start date for the 12-month fellowship is between February 1 and June 1, 2027. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2025 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and June 3, 2026. The student’s graduate degree program must be through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories.

A student is eligible to submit an application for the 2027 fellowship if they are a U.S. Citizen (born or naturalized), a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), or a dual national with at least one citizenship as the U.S. Students must also have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.

North Carolina Sea Grant will invite the state’s top candidates for interviews between late June and early July and then nominate a small handful for consideration at the national level.

All students from North Carolina must submit their applications through the eSeaGrant online portal, which includes detailed instructions and requirements: https://eseagrant.ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/ 

“We’ve also seen growing interest in the fellowship from students across North Carolina,” Kohli adds. “Application numbers have increased year over year, and our applicants have performed very well in the national competition. We encourage students to start their applications early and to reach out to us with any questions along the way.”

NC Sea Grant will also be hosting a virtual info session detailing the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship and the current application cycle on Tuesday, April 23 at 2 p.m. ET to highlight critical components of the application, share available student resources, and provide a roadmap for a successful submission. Register for the Zoom session: ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/oIZFvLesQLK5j6HLOgxuNw

Additional information also is available in the 2027 Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Student Guide and on the National Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship website, which includes biographies of current fellows, a video, and suggestions for preparing a strong application.

Questions? Contact Aman Kohli at akkohli@ncsu.edu