The Texas Sea Grant College Program at Texas A&M University, is accepting applications through Friday, Feb. 21 by 5 p.m. CST, for the National Sea Grant College Program 2021 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.

The Knauss Fellowship, established in 1979, pairs highly qualified graduate students interested in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, and the related national policy decisions, with host offices in the legislative and executive branches of government. The yearlong paid fellowship is named for one of Sea Grant’s founders, former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator John A. Knauss.

“The Knauss Fellowship is an outstanding opportunity for students to be involved and have a firsthand look at the development of policy that affects our nation’s marine resources, some of which, these days, are critical” said Mia Zwolinski, Texas Sea Grant’s assistant director of research and fiscal administration.

Past Knauss fellows from Texas have served in legislative offices or at agencies including NOAA, the National Science Foundation and NASA. The majority have gone on to careers in federal agencies, higher education or non-governmental organizations related to coastal or marine resources or policies.

Texas’ 2018 Knauss Fellows, Emily K. Cira from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and Andria Kay Salas from the University of Texas at Austin, worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Nutrient Criteria Program and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Restoration Center, respectively. Other previous Texas Knauss fellows described some of their experiences in the Texas Knauss Fellows blog.

Complete information about this opportunity, including a recording of a webinar for tips on developing a competitive application, is available at tx.ag/KnaussFellowship.

 

By Kimber De Salvo, Texas Sea Grant communications program assistant