Fellowship Opportunities

The application period for the Knauss 2027 cohort is CLOSED.

We hope to open applications again, pending funding, in the winter/spring of 2027. Please use the links to review eligibility criteria and return to this site for more information at that time.

The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C.  Past fellowships have generally run June 1 through May 31.

Getting Started

Prospective applicants should begin by carefully reviewing the comprehensive resources and application guidance available on the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) Knauss Fellowship website. These materials provide essential information on the fellowship structure, placement process, and application components.

After reviewing these materials along with the eligibility requirements below, applicants from Massachusetts are strongly encouraged to contact WHOI Sea Grant Director Matt Charette to express their interest and request additional information about the WHOI Sea Grant application process. Initial inquiries are encouraged at least one month prior to the application deadline.

Eligibility

Current eligibility requirements for the Knauss Fellowship are as follows:

• The student is a U.S. Citizen (born or naturalized), a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card
  holder), or a dual national with at least one citizenship as the U.S.;
• The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the fall term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and June 1 of the spring application date;
• The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the
  United States or U.S. Territories, and;
• Applicants must have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy
  decisions affecting those resources.