Knauss legislative fellowships in Congress help build careers — and they're fun and educational. See our video and fact sheet for details.
Current Graduate Fellows
Competitive Graduate Research Fellowship
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Evolving Sediment and Vegetation Dynamics of Living ShorelinesCool Facts:
Anji Cooper is a PhD candidate at Horn Point Laboratory studying sediment dynamics in living shorelines to combat coastal erosion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, crafting, cooking and baking, and spending time with her two cats.
Fellowship at:
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Developing a habitat model for mysids, an important link in Chesapeake Bay food websCool Facts:
Nina Santos is a Ph.D. student at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. For her dissertation, she is focused on small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids – an understudied yet important part of many estuarine and coastal food webs.
Fellowship at:
University of Maryland, College ParkProject Title:
Tracking Watershed-Wide Sewage Biogeochemical Signatures and Practical Prediction of Water-Quality Risk in the Potomac RiverCool Facts:
Wes is a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park, interested in better understanding chemical continuity along river and stream flowpaths. In his free time, Wes loves canoeing, camping, and playing music.Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellowship
Fellowship at:
University of Maryland, Eastern ShoreProject Title:
Geochronology Study of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Deposition and Ecosystem Response in the Chesapeake & Maryland Coastal BaysCool Facts:
Monae Hancock is a master’s student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and being by the water.
Fellowship at:
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceProject Title:
Identifying potential chemical, microbial and viral causes of oyster hatchery crashes from hatchery source waterCool Facts:
Michael Kalinowski is a PhD student at Horn Point Laboratory and enjoys running, hiking, and skiing outside of work. He studies how biogeochemical cycles and microbes can impact oyster aquaculture sediment, Chesapeake Bay main channel sediment, and unexpected oyster larvae die-offs in oyster hatcheries.
Fellowship at:
Towson UniversityProject Title:
Advancing science and practice of tidal marsh restoration using runnelsCool Facts:
Delaney Mezan is a master's student at Towson University studying the natural process of pool drainage and revegetation in tidal marshes. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and providing a foster home for shelter pups.
Fellowship at:
Morgan State UniversityProject Title:
Baltimore BLUE-CORE - BLUEspace COllaborative REsearch for Urban Coastal Access and Climate Resilience in South BaltimoreCool Facts:
Ebram’s dissertation aims to elevate a conversation around designing with nature to engineer ease, particularly for people living along coastal urban cityscapes. When he has free time he loves to travel to beaches, read about world history, write poetry, and sketch.Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
Fellowship at:
NOAA OAR Ocean Acidification Program, NOAA OAR Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing ProgramCool Facts:
Her research experience spans freshwater systems and Arctic science, including work with an Arctic research lab and participation in an Arctic research cruise.
Fellowship at:
NOAA National Centers for Coastal and Ocean ScienceCool Facts:
She recently defended her PhD at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, where her research focused on harmful algal blooms.Program Announcements
News and Blogs
Featured Fellow
Nina Santos
Nina Santos is a Ph.D. student at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. For her dissertation, she is focused on small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids – an understudied yet important part of many estuarine and coastal food webs.
Featured Research Project
Geochronology Study of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Deposition and Ecosystem Response in the Chesapeake & Maryland Coastal Bays
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent contaminants linked to adverse health outcomes in humans and wildlife. In Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Bays, PFAS accumulation in sediments and biota, as well as their ecological impacts, remain poorly understood. This project will reconstruct multidecadal PFAS deposition histories using sediment cores, apply microbial community profiling to assess benthic ecosystem responses, and translate findings into practical guidance for aquaculture and environmental management.
