Fellowships

     The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship offers a unique educational experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches the students with hosts in the legislative or executive branch of the federal government for a one-year paid fellowship in the Washington, D.C., area.
     The fellowship program was established by Congress in 1979 and is named in honor of one of Sea Grant’s founders, former NOAA Administrator John A. Knauss. Students apply to become Knauss Fellows through one of the 31 Sea Grant programs, which select candidates to sponsor. Applications are due to Texas Sea Grant in February for the fellowships beginning in January of the following year. The final decision is made by a review panel convened by the National Sea Grant Office. While the number of fellowships offered varies with the availability of positions, Texas Sea Grant has had at least one accepted almost every year and multiple fellows accepted for the past five years.
     Knauss Fellows from Texas have served their fellowship year in legislative offices or at agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 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 Sea Grant also began a statewide fellowship program in 2000 modeled on the Knauss Fellow model. When funding is available, it provides a one-year fellowship for a graduate student to serve with one of the state’s natural resource agencies. There have been five Texas Fellows, the last in 2006.

2010 Knauss Fellow selected

Application information: Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

2009 Knauss Fellows from Texas

Past Knauss Fellows from Texas

Texas Fellows