South Atlantic Reef Fish Extension/Communication Fellowship Open Until September 15

August 20, 2025 Carrie Clower 2-min. read

a fisherman releasing a red snapper off the side of a boat with the aid of a descending device — Red snapper. Credit: Return ‘Em Right.

NC Sea Grant and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are now accepting applications for the South Atlantic Reef Fish Extension/Communication Fellowship.

The 2025 South Atlantic Reef Fish Extension/Communication Fellowship provides on-the-job education and training opportunities in reef fish extension and communication for an early-career professional in the southeast region.

“For this fellowship, we define reef fish as those species that comprise the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Unit under management of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council,” explains Scott Baker, a fisheries specialist with North Carolina Sea Grant and Chair of the SAFMC Outreach and Information Advisory Panel.

The fellow will work under the advisement and supervision of Sea Grant fisheries extension specialists and SAFMC staff. This six month opportunity offers a competitive stipend of $25,000, work-related travel expense reimbursement, and an opportunity for engagement in extension programming and communication. The fellowship can be extended to the completion of the project (approximately July 2026) with suitable performance and funding availability as determined by the supervisor and project team.

In particular, the fellow will work on projects that advance stakeholder understanding of reef fish issues and management, including the sharing of results from the soon-to-be-completed South Atlantic Red Snapper Research Program.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have obtained at least a 4-year, undergraduate degree, from an accredited, public, or private institution of higher education in the United States at the time of application.

Applicants also must have outreach or communications experience, as well as an interest in marine fisheries and natural resource management.

In addition, applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Applicants must reside in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida for the duration of the fellowship. Preference will be given to those applicants that are able to live in or around Charleston, South Carolina, to take advantage of peer mentorship, networking opportunities and office space at the SAFMC. (100% virtual engagement is not feasible for this type of work.)

Additional/Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate or advanced degree in fisheries, biology, communication, or a related field.
Experience as a science writer and communicator, with proficiency using a variety of traditional and/or web-based communication tools and techniques.
Public speaking experience.
Demonstrated understanding of current saltwater fisheries research and management issues in the Southeast United States.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit these materials via the North Carolina eSeaGrant web portal:

Resume (not to exceed two pages using 12-point font and 1-inch margins).
A career-goal statement that emphasizes the applicant’s expectations for the fellowship experience as it relates to future career endeavors (1,000 words or less, 12-point font, 1-inch margins).
Names and contact information from two professional or academic references, including one reference that can attest to applicant’s skills as a communicator.
Unofficial copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts. Official copies may be requested of finalist(s).