The Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship Programs are not accepting new applications. This website will be updated when recruitment restarts. Additional fellowship opportunities are available, including the Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship and the NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship. If you have questions, please contact ocm.fellowships@noaa.gov.

Q: What degree program does someone need to complete to be eligible for the fellowship?

For the 2025 Coastal Management Fellowship, applicants must complete a master’s or other advanced degree between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2025, to be eligible. We encourage candidates from a broad range of degree programs to apply for the fellowship because the projects are new and different each year. Previous fellows have had degrees in environmental studies, natural resource management, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs, communications, and regional land management. The most important prerequisite is an interest in coastal issues.

Q: What criteria do the Sea Grant directors use when choosing to nominate a candidate?

The Sea Grant directors evaluate applicants based on a face-to-face or phone interview. They seek applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in coastal management through life experiences, internships, extracurricular activities, or jobs in coastal activities, and have a proven ability in interpersonal, oral, and written communication.

Q: What is the length of a fellowship project?

Fellowship projects are for two years. For instance, the 2025 fellowship will start in August 2025 and end in August 2027. Newly selected fellows are given the opportunity to visit their host organizations prior to the start of the fellowship to meet the staff at their host organization and to look for housing.

Q: Can the fellowship hosts nominate someone for a fellowship position?

Fellowship hosts cannot nominate anyone to be a fellow on their project. Hosts and fellows are selected independently of one another and then matched up through a mutual interview process. Contact between applicants and hosts is not allowed. Applicants are encouraged to read about the fellowship projects on the website or to contact current fellows and ask them questions about their position or experience.

Q: Does the place where applicants live or go to school determine what project they are eligible for?

Not at all. Applicants are eligible for any of the projects regardless of where they live or have studied.

Q: What is the salary for the Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship?

The current salary is $42,000 per year. In the second year of the fellowship, a locality pay factor may be added to the salary, depending on the location of the fellowship.

Q: How do fellows get paid?

All benefits, including salary, are administered by an outside contractor through a contract with NOAA.

Q: What other benefits, in addition to salary, are included as part of the fellowship?

Health insurance, workers’ compensation, relocation stipend, and travel reimbursement.

Q: How much relocation reimbursement do fellows receive?

Fellows will be reimbursed up to $1,000 to move to their fellowship location and up to $1,000 to move at the end of the two-year fellowship. If relocation is not required or the fellowship is not completed, relocation reimbursement will not be provided.

Q: How much travel reimbursement do fellows receive?

Coastal Management Fellows will be reimbursed up to $8,400 for professional development and travel over the two-year fellowship. A portion of this money must be used to travel to specific meetings and conferences required by the fellowship program. These include a summer fellowship meeting, the Social Coast Forum, and the Coastal GeoTools Conference. Fellows may use the remainder of these funds at their discretion to attend conferences, workshops, or trainings (prior approval from NOAA and their host organization is required). Any travel requested by the fellowship host, such as travel required to complete the fellowship project or travel to the host organization’s annual conference, must be covered by the host and should be considered when budgeting for hosting a fellow.

Q: Do fellows have contact with each other during the fellowship?

The fellows see each other in person at three events throughout their fellowships—the Social Coast Forum, the Coastal GeoTools Conference, and a fellowship meeting. Fellows also connect with each other through regularly scheduled virtual gatherings, including meetings, trainings, and social happy hours. The quarterly fellowship newsletter, Fellow News, also helps fellows learn more about each other and their work.