Closes at: 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 19, 2025.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 National Sea Grant College Program John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship (Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship Program) from eligible graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program, matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, DC area, for a one-year paid fellowship.
This page provides guidance and information for graduate students at New York institutions. Please read this carefully and refer to the documents listed in the related links box to the left and linked to in the text below. The information provided here is a summary of the requirements. Prospective applicants should refer to the fellowship website and the 2026 Student Guide for complete information.
Graduate students are strongly encouraged to contact New York Sea Grant to discuss their interest in the Knauss Fellowship and learn more about the application process. Contact Rebecca L. Shuford, Ph.D., Director, Email: Rebecca.Shuford@stonybrook.edu and Lane Smith Fellowship and Research Program Coordinator, Email: Lane.Smith@stonybrook.edu.
Application Details
When you are ready to submit your application, return here and refer to the instructions below.
New York* students must submit applications through the New York Sea Grant portal.
2026 Knauss Fellowship Timeline
February 19, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. local time: Applications due to the State Programs. Graduate students at New York institutions should submit through the New York Sea Grant (NYSG) program (see below).
February-March 2024: NYSG reviews application packages, and interviews applicants.
April 16, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. EDT: NYSG can nominate UP TO 6 applications each to the national competition.
April/May 2025: National Level Review of Applicants.
June 2025: Sea Grant Programs and applicants notified of application status.
July 2025: Finalist welcome workshop. Finalist information/commitment due.
August 2025: NSGO begins recruiting 2026 Exec hosts. All alternates are notified.
October 2025: Executive Placement Week.
November 2025: Recruit for Legislative hosts.
January 2026: Legislative Placement Week.
February 1, 2026: Fellowship begins. Fellowship award dates are February 1, 2026-February 28, 2027.
Applicant Eligibility
Any student, regardless of citizenship**, is eligible to submit to this opportunity if:
1. The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program (Masters, Ph.D. or JD) at any point between the onset of the 2024 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 19, 2025.
2. The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories, and;
3. The student has an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
**Note that additional eligibility considerations apply to prospective international student applicants.
See pages 3 – 4 in the Student Guide for more details and other considerations and FAQs about eligibility.
Application Package Elements
The Application Package must consist of the following in the order listed (Review the 2026 Knauss Fellowship Student Guide and the Student Applicant Guide to Sea Grant Fellowships for more details, scoring information, and application preparation tips).
Applicants are strongly advised to use both Fellowship Student Guides to prepare their application. They provide specific details, tips, and review criteria for each of the four elements below and other helpful tips and tricks. Below is a brief outline with page numbers referring to the Student Guide. Applications missing any component will not be accepted.
1. Curriculum vitae (pg. 9):
• Do not exceed two pages
• Do not include personal contact information or web links to external resources (e.g. LinkedIn, articles, blogs, etc.)
2. Personal Education and Career Development Response (pgs. 10-12):
• The entire personal education and career development section should not exceed 1,530 words total; suggested word counts are included with each subsection in the Student Guide. Section headers do not count as part of the overall word count.
• Section One: Icebreaker – provide responses to the following:
a. Use one sentence to describe yourself (20 words).
b. List five adjectives that someone with a close personal connection (coworker, supervisor, etc.) would use to describe you (5 words MAX).
• Section Two: Career Path and Objectives – Provide responses to the three prompts (2a, 2b, 2c) provided in the Student Guide. The recommended word count for each prompt is 250 words. Each prompt should be answered separately using the section headers. Section headers will NOT count as part of the overall word count.
• Section Three: Career Path Experience – Provide responses to the three questions (3a, 3b, 3c) provided in the Student Guide. The recommended word count for each prompt is 250 words. Each prompt should be answered separately using the section headers. Section headers will NOT count as part of the overall word count.
3. Relevant Coursework and Future Year Plans (pg. 13):
• NOT to exceed one page single-spaced
• Discuss any relevant coursework and your future year activities.
a. Relevant Coursework: Discuss any completed or in-progress classes that are relevant to your success in the Knauss Fellowship Program.
b. Future year activities: Include a listing of classes and/or plans for spring 2025, summer 2025, and fall 2025.
4. Two Letters of Recommendation (pg. 14):
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have worked with you, including at least one from a faculty member with knowledge of your academic and research (when applicable) performance.
• Letters should not exceed two pages single-spaced.
• Refer to the “Recommendations for Your Letters of Recommendation” in the Student Application Guide.
Online Portal Application Submission Guidance
When your application materials are ready, click the "Apply Now" button below. On the form that opens:
• Check that the middle column says, “Fellowship Application”, otherwise select “Fellowship Application” from the drop-down list.
• Under “Applicant” provide all required contact information.
• Title should be in the format “2026 Knauss Fellowship application for…” followed by your last name.
• Current/Pending Support. Please list other fellowships, internships, scholarship applications, or current support.
• Browse and upload your application file then click the submit application button.
Note: Make sure your application file is complete, includes all required sections, and is your final version. Applications submitted that are missing sections will not be accepted.
Letters of recommendation can be either be provided to you to compile and upload with your other required application elements OR each letter writer can directly submit their letter through the portal separately by coming to this page, going to “Apply Now” and selecting “Letter of Recommendation” from the drop-down list in the form. They must provide their contact information on the form. For the title, they should use their last name followed by “letter of recommendation for” followed by your last name. We will combine the letters with the rest of your application before submission to the national competition.
*If you are not a student at a New York institution, please go to the Sea Grant program in the state of your institution, even if you’re a New York resident. If you are in a state without a Sea Grant program please contact the National Sea Grant Office at oar.sg.fellows@noaa.gov who will assign you to a program.
Note that the deadline time is based on the server clock displayed on the top right of the submission form, not your computer’s time. Note the time remaining displayed in red. The submission form deactivates once the deadline is reached even if you are on the submission page. Do not wait until the last minute to submit! Allow plenty of time. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Voluntary Demographics Survey
In accordance with OMB SPD 15, NOAA has a continuing commitment to monitor the operation of its review and award processes to identify and address any inequities based on gender, race, ethnicity, or disability of its proposed applicants. To gather information needed for this important task, applicants are asked to submit a voluntary demographics survey. Submitting the requested information is voluntary and not a precondition of selection. This survey is not part of the application and will not be a part of the review process. Any individual not wishing to submit some or all the information for a question should check the box provided for this purpose or skip the question. None of the questions are required. Data will be kept confidential.
If you agree to fill out the survey form, you can access it here.
