Fiscal Year 2022 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship | NOAA OAR SG 2022 2006631

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2022 2006631

The Fiscal Year 2022 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is a competitive federal fellowship run through NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, an initiative originally established by Congress in 1966 (and later amended in 2008) to connect universities and research institutions with real-world coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes challenges. The fellowship is designed to place graduate students in policy settings where they can contribute their scientific and technical background to the decision-making process, while also gaining first-hand experience in how marine and coastal policy is shaped at the national level. In practice, it is a bridge between academic training and public service, aimed at developing future leaders who can operate comfortably at the intersection of science, management, and government.

For the 2022 cohort, Sea Grant anticipated supporting at least 35 fellows in total, with roughly 17 of those placements expected to be in the Legislative branch. Each application package proposes a total budget of $84,000, with the detailed cost breakdown referenced in the official announcement sections (Section II.A and Section III.F). The funding mechanism is listed as a cooperative agreement under a discretionary opportunity from the Department of Commerce, with the activity areas spanning environment, natural resources, science and technology, and broader research and development. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 11.417, and the funding opportunity number is NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2006631. The original closing date listed for this cycle was April 2, 2021.

Eligibility is intentionally broad in terms of citizenship: any student, regardless of citizenship status, may apply as long as they meet the program's academic timing and degree requirements. Specifically, applicants must have been enrolled in a graduate program at some point between the start of the Fall 2020 term and February 19, 2021, must be on track to receive a graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. territories, and must demonstrate an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources along with the national policy decisions that affect them. The emphasis is not only on subject-matter interest, but also on an interest in policy work and public-sector problem solving tied to these resources.

The application route is somewhat different from many federal grants because students do not apply directly to NOAA first; instead, they submit through the Sea Grant program in the state or territory where they are earning their degree. If the applicant is studying in a location without an established Sea Grant program, Sea Grant will assign an appropriate program to handle the application, as described in the announcement. Applicants are encouraged to contact their state or territorial Sea Grant program one to two months before the state deadline, both to get help navigating requirements and to signal their intent to apply. Sea Grant programs may also request interviews, so applicants are advised to build in enough time to schedule and complete that step. NOAA also points applicants to the Sea Grant General Application Guide, which provides practical instructions and tips for preparing a stronger submission.

A stated priority of the opportunity is advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the marine and coastal workforce. Sea Grant frames this as part of its broader mission to ensure that the people doing marine science, extension, communication, and education reflect and effectively serve the communities most affected by coastal and ocean issues. The announcement explicitly encourages applications from individuals across a wide range of backgrounds and identities, including variations in age, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, culture, religion, citizenship type, veteran status, socioeconomic background, and other personal and professional circumstances. The overall message is that the program is seeking talented graduate students who can bring different perspectives into national marine policy spaces, while being supported through a structured, state-connected application process and a defined fellowship funding level of $84,000 per selected applicant.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2022 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.417.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $84,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2022 2006631

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: