Coastal Services Center

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Fellow Eligibility and Selection

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Eligibility

Any student who will complete a master's, doctoral, or professional degree program in natural resource management or environmental-related studies at an accredited U.S. university between January 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009, is eligible. Students from a broad range of environmental programs are encouraged to apply. Students from non-U.S. institutions are not eligible.

Application Requirements

All applications must include:

1. Resume or curriculum vitae.
2. Statement of the applicant's goals with emphasis on what the applicant expects from and can contribute to the fellowship experience (500 words or less).
3. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant's principal professor. If no principal professor exists, the faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant's academic work may be substituted.
4. Unofficial copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts.

Selection Criteria

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

1. Academic performance and diversity of educational background, including extracurricular activities, awards, and honors.
2. Endorsement of the applicant's Sea Grant director.
3. Support from two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant's principal professor.
4. Content of the applicant's goal statement.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, sex, creed, marital status, national origin, lawful political affiliation, religious preference, or nondisqualifying physical handicap.

Finalist Selection

Twelve finalists will be selected from the endorsements submitted by Sea Grant by a selection panel made up of program partners including Sea Grant, the NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, state Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs, the Coastal States Organization, and current and former fellows. The selection panel will make its recommendation to the branch chief of Coastal Management Services at the NOAA Coastal Services Center, who will make the final decision.

Placement of Fellows

A workshop to match states with fellows will take place in Charleston, South Carolina in late April/early May. Of the finalists selected, six will be placed with a host state. Each of the selected host states will send the fellow mentor to the placement workshop. The finalists will be brought to the workshop at the expense of the NOAA Coastal Services Center. The workshop includes an orientation program, host state project proposal presentations, finalist presentations, finalist and host state interviews, and fellow matching. If a state does not find a suitable candidate during the workshop, it will be given the option to defer fellow placement for one year. States will only be allowed one deferment before they have to reapply. No contact between prospective hosts and finalists should be made before the placement workshop.

How to Apply

Application packages must be submitted to your nearest Sea Grant program office. Each Sea Grant program office can endorse up to three applications to the NOAA Coastal Services Center for review. Applicants from states not served by a Sea Grant program office should contact the fellowship coordinator for more information on submitting an application.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Fellowship Coordinator
NOAA Coastal Services Center
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
Tel: (843) 740-1273
E-mail: csc.fellowships@noaa.gov

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