Graduate Fellowships

Maryland Sea Grant offers fellowships in research, natural resource management, and marine policy that allow graduate students to explore their interests and broaden their experience. Our former fellows have advanced to careers in academia, nonprofits, and state and federal government agencies. Meet our current graduate fellows, or view a list of our past graduate fellows.

Competitive Graduate Research Fellowship

This two-year fellowship provides graduate students with a stipend, fringe benefits, and a tuition remission allowance. Students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at a Maryland academic institution and engaged in research that is relevant to Maryland and our Strategic Plan. This fellowship also provides professional development opportunities in science communication, the science-to-management process, proposal and grant writing, and other relevant skills.

Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellowship

Research fellowships are awarded to graduate students whose research is linked to a Maryland Sea Grant-funded project through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program provides full academic support for up to four years and the opportunity to conduct research alongside an established marine scientist. Consistent with Maryland Sea Grant's mission to integrate research, outreach, and education, fellows also participate in several Sea Grant-supported programs to develop their communication and writing skills. Faculty members may apply for funds to support fellows immediately following Maryland Sea Grant's biennial Request for Proposals.

Chesapeake Bay Commission Fellowship

The Chesapeake Bay Commission seeks a graduate-level fellow for a one-year placement in its Annapolis, Maryland, office. The fellow will work under the guidance of the Commission’s executive director and administrative officer, with opportunities to support the Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania directors. This position offers the opportunity to be at the intersection of science and policy, at the state, regional, and federal levels, on issues of concern to the Commission’s member jurisdictions when it comes to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

Recipients of these one-year fellowships work in marine policy-related positions in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. Past fellows have worked in the offices of U.S. senators and representatives, on Congressional subcommittees, and at agencies such as the National Science Foundation and NOAA. The fellowship is funded by the National Sea Grant Office and administered through individual state Sea Grant programs. The annual application deadline for this program is in February.

Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics Fellowship

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics is designed to help Sea Grant fulfill its broad educational responsibilities and to strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant and the NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NOAA annually supports a total of four such fellows nationwide. The fellows work on thesis problems of public interest and relevance to NMFS. They have summer internships at participating NMFS science centers or laboratories under the guidance of NMFS mentors. The annual deadline for this program is in January.

Sea Grant Spark Award

We offer small awards to support graduate student expenses relevant to career advancement, including professional development, conference travel, research materials and supplies, analytic services, and travel expenses. Students must be enrolled at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science or in the University System of Maryland’s Marine Environmental Estuarine Science graduate program and engaged in research relevant to Maryland and our Strategic Plan.

Graduate Research Support Grants

We offer support for small graduate research initiatives through our Program Development awards process. These grants support student research expenses, such as materials and supplies, analytic services, and research travel expenses. Students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at a Maryland academic institution and engaged in research that is relevant to Maryland and our Strategic Plan.