Sea Grant is pleased to announce the 2019 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Finalists. These talented early career professionals will travel to Washington, D.C. in Fall 2018 to meet with prospective host offices in the Executive and Legislative branches of government for fellowship placement. In February 2019, they will begin a busy and challenging fellowship year that, for many, is a life changing experience. Meet the 2019 finalists below, and scroll down to learn more about the Knauss Fellowship. 

Download the list of 2019 Knauss Finalists (PDF)

Read the announcement

The Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The Fellowship, named after one of Sea Grant's founders, former NOAA Administrator, John A. Knauss, matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid fellowship.

Knauss Fellowship Overview 2018 (PDF download)

Tips on applying for the Knauss Fellowship (PDF download)

The application period for the 2019 fellowship has closed. Sea Grant anticipates opening the opportunity for the 2020 fellowship in Fall 2018 with applications due to Sea Grant programs in later winter 2019. Check this website for updates. 

Eligibility (2019 fellows)

An eligible applicant is any student, regardless of citizenship, who, on February 21, 2018, is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program that has an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The graduate degree must be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories. 

Application information may be found on Grants.gov, at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=298724. It may also be obtained from the eligible Sea Grant programs. Applicants from states not served by a Sea Grant program should obtain further information by contacting the Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship Program Manager at the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO).

Length of Assignment

The length of assignment is one-year (non-renewable). The dates of the official fellowship are February 1, 2019 - January 31, 2020.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted to the state Sea Grant program by February 23, 2018. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to the Sea Grant Program in their state one to two months prior to the state application deadline to receive application support and provide notification of an intent to apply. The applicant should allow sufficient time to schedule an interview with the eligible Sea Grant program at the program’s request.

Each Sea Grant program may select and forward to the national competition no more than six (6) applicants selected according to criteria listed in the federal funding opportunity.

Applications to the national competition must come from Sea Grant programs, not individual applicants and must be must be received and validated by Grants.gov by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on April 06, 2018. The competitive selection process and subsequent notification to the eligible Sea Grant Programs or Projects will be completed by June 2018.

More information for prospective fellows on Inside Sea Grant

A Knauss Host Office provides an educational opportunity to a fellow who in turn provides substantial and professional contributions to the office. The hosts provide opportunities for involvement in substantive issues that support the fellows’ professional and educational accomplishments and goals.

For examples of Host Offices that participate in the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program, as well as position descriptions, please review the 2017 Knauss Positions.

If you are a current host office, or are interested in Hosting a 2018 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, please see our Host Resources Page on Inside Sea Grant. 

More information for host offices on Inside Sea Grant

The 2018 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship began February 1, 2018 and will run through January 31, 2019. The class is comprised of 45 Executive Finalists and 12 Legislative Finalists placed in various executive and legislative offices in the DC metro area.

Read the 2018 Knauss finalist announcement

2018 Executive and Legislative Fellows - placements (PDF)

Please see below for more detailed information about our 2018 Fellows.

More information for current fellows on Inside Sea Grant