NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship and Digital Coast Fellowship

The Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship Competition is CLOSED

For more information, see the 2024 Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship Announcement.

About the Fellowships

• A fellowship established for postgraduate students to provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management, policy or coastal issues.
• A two-year opportunity that offers a competitive salary, medical benefits and relocation and travel expense reimbursement.
• The Coastal Management Fellowship: This program matches postgraduate students with state coastal resource agencies to work on coastal projects proposed by the state and selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. A broad range of degrees are applicable for the Coastal Management Fellowship because the state projects are new and different each year. Previous fellows have had degrees in environmental studies, natural resource management, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs and regional land management. The most important prerequisite is an interest in coastal issues.
• The Digital Coast Fellowship:  The program has the same requisites, policies and procedures as the Coastal Management Fellowship program. This program matches postgraduate students with an interest in coastal issues, with members of the Digital Coast Partnership. Digital Coast is a collection of data, tools, training, and information for those working to preserve our coastal communities and natural resources. A broad range of degrees are applicable to the Digital Coast Fellowship because the projects are new and different each year. Previous fellows have had degrees in environmental studies, natural resource management, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs and regional land management. The most important prerequisite is an interest in coastal issues.

Eligibility

Any U.S. citizen who will complete a master’s or other advanced degree at an accredited U.S. university between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2024, is eligible to apply for the Coastal Management Fellowships. Students from a broad range of programs are encouraged to apply. A variety of degrees are applicable to the fellowship because the projects are new and different each year.

How to Apply

This competition is currently closed.

Each Sea Grant program office may select and nominate up to four candidates from their state to the NOAA Office for Coastal Management for review. In order to support an increase in diversity in the Fellowship, the Sea Grant office may select one additional application from a candidate who attended a minority-serving institution, resulting in a total of four nominees. The fourth nomination spot is reserved solely for minority-serving institution candidates.

All application elements must be submitted in one combined PDF document in the exact order as noted below:

1. Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages using 12-point font).
2. Statement of the applicant’s goals with emphasis on what the applicant expects from and can contribute to the fellowship experience. This should also include how the fellowship can help reach goals that may be difficult to reach without the fellowship opportunity. Include any obstacles that have been overcome to reach this point in your academic career (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.

Any additional materials submitted will not be considered in the selection process. If after the NOAA National review process, you are selected as a finalist, an additional writing sample will be requested.

Review Criteria & Other Considerations

• The Sea Grant directors evaluate applicants based on a phone or virtual interview. Directors look for applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in coastal management, life experiences, internships, extracurricular activities, or jobs in coastal activities, and have a proven ability in interpersonal, oral and written communication.
• Applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions contained within the 2024 Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship Announcement linked above.

More Information

• NOAA Coastal Management website
• NOAA Digital Coast Fellowship website
• NOAA 2024 – 2026 Fellowship Timeline
• Access Partners and Their Roles