MDSG State Science Policy Fellowships

Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) is excited to announce its year-long State Science Policy Fellowship program partnering with state agencies and University System of Maryland (USM) leadership. This unique opportunity will place fellows in coastal sustainability, coastal management, and environmental policy positions within Maryland.

Modeled after the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, this program will increase graduates’ professional skills and provide critical experience working for state agencies at the science-policy interface. The Maryland Sea Grant State Science Policy Fellows will work closely with state agency and legislative leadership to provide science expertise to develop policy relevant to Maryland’s progressive program to address state challenges in sustainability and action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is an exciting opportunity for students interested in applying their research experience and critical thinking skills to advancing science-based, environmental decision-making and policy development in Maryland.

Fellowship Experience

This is a full-time, one-year, non-renewable position. During the fellowship year, MDSG will lead an orientation during which fellows will gain a deeper understanding of the goals and expectations of the fellowship, MDSG’s mission, their host institution’s role and goals, and Maryland government and legislative structure. Fellows will then be embedded in their host office and work with their mentor to understand their responsibilities and major projects and to develop their fellowship goals and a professional plan for the year.

Fellows will be offered professional development opportunities during the year to strengthen networking, build professional skills, and bring them together to discuss relevant issues across their respective organizations. Fellows will be part of a small cohort of MDSG supported fellows, including research, legal, and Knauss fellows. All MDSG fellows are expected to submit a professional development plan and final report. View host office info here.

Funding

Fellows will be employees of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science-MDSG classified as a Faculty Research Assistant or Assistant Research Scientist for a one-year term. The full-time annualized salary will be $56,000 plus access to a comprehensive fringe benefits package including health insurance and retirement options. Some funding is available for professional development travel. Fellows are jointly supported by both MDSG and the host office.

Eligibility

Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy for a Ph.D. or completed a M.S., Ph.D. or J.D. by the fall semester 2026. For graduates, degrees must have been awarded May 1, 2024, or later.

Applicants must be/have been students from an accredited graduate school in a field related to conservation, management, protection, stewardship, public policy, of marine, coastal, and/or watershed environments, or areas that impact those environments. J.D. applicants must be from an ABA-accredited school. Individuals from across the U.S. are welcome to apply, but some placements may be restricted to U.S. citizens or Maryland university graduates.

Positions are not remote; Fellows are expected to work out of their respective host office.

Sea Grant is committed to building research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, veteran status types, and income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity.

2026 Timeline

• Application review begins May 1 (but applications will continue to be accepted / reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled)
• Interviews in late Spring 2026
• Fellowship Period: One year from hire date 

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare and submit the following documents in the Workday application portal:

• Curriculum vitae (CV, not to exceed two pages).
• Personal education and career goal statement emphasizing the applicant's abilities and the applicant's expectations of the fellowship experience in terms of their career development (1000 words or less). The statement should be clear on what intrigued the applicant to apply for this position, discuss experiences of translating science to non-academic audiences, and convey how the student’s experiences within and beyond academia (e.g. critical thinking skills, writing experiences, talking and working with people from different backgrounds and experiences, intuition, cultural experiences) may have prepared them for this position. Strong writing and oral communication skills are important for these positions and we encourage applicants to speak to these skills and/or highlight them in the CV.
• Clear digital or scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts (unofficial are acceptable).
• A list of three references and their contact information. 

Applications will not be considered until all required documents are received. If you have questions, please contact Maryland Sea Grant well before the application due date.

Selection Process

We will seek to identify fellows who most closely identify with the mission of the host office and MDSG’s mission to support research, education, and outreach to advance understanding and sustainability of Maryland’s Chesapeake and coastal bays and watersheds. Qualified applicants will be selected to interview.

Application evaluation criteria include:

• Quality of the career goals statement
• Additional relevant experience related to diversity of education; extra-curricular activities; honors and awards; work and life experience; and interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• Academic Record

Maryland Sea Grant Contact

Dr. Michael Allen, Associate Director for Research and Administration
Maryland Sea Grant College
(301) 405-7500
e-mail: mallen@mdsg.umd.edu

Photograph credit: Lisa Tossey