Office for Coastal Management Offers Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowships for Estuarine Science and Coastal Management

Federal agencies and employees are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as project partners. If federal agencies are collaborators, applicants are expected to provide details on the planned level of federal engagement in the application. Examples might include, but are not limited to participating in an advisory capacity or providing facilities for research.

National Estuarine Research Reserve staff are ineligible to submit an application for a fellowship under this announcement.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System’s Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship (Davidson Fellowship) from master’s and doctoral students admitted to or enrolled full-time in a graduate program at an accredited university. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a program of the Office for Coastal Management and authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act. The program aims to balance the needs of the natural environment and coastal communities. The goals of the Davidson Fellowship are to build the next generation of leaders in estuarine science and coastal management by affording qualified graduate students the opportunity to conduct collaborative science within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System; partake in professional development opportunities; and receive mentoring to support professional growth.

All Davidson Fellowship projects must be conducted in coordination with a research reserve, specified in the application, and designed to address one of the reserve’s priority management questions. Approaches to these questions may be from a variety of disciplines spanning the range of natural and social sciences; cross-discipline approaches are encouraged. Mentoring and professional development activities will be provided to build the knowledge and skills needed to successfully contribute to the workforce responsible for the coast. These opportunities are also designed to create a strong network among the fellows during their tenure and into the early portion of their careers.

One fellow will be selected for each of the 29 reserves for a two-year duration. Total anticipated funding for all awards is approximately $1,740,000 per year and is subject to the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2022 and FY 2023 appropriations. The federal funding award should not exceed $60,000 per year (direct and indirect) with a 24-month project period (multi-year awards). Direct costs should not exceed $45,000 per year. Direct costs may include stipend, supplies, travel, or tuition to support the student. Awards will be made to the fellow’s graduate institution through the use of a cooperative agreement. Funds are expected to be available on a competitive basis. To be eligible, applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories, and admitted to or enrolled full-time in a master’s or doctoral program at a U.S. accredited university. Minority students are encouraged to apply. Office for Coastal Management Fellowships are committed to being accessible to all interested and eligible candidates, allowing all fellows to be comfortable in their identities and participate fully in their fellowships, and removing barriers to becoming part of the next generation of coastal leaders. Additional information about the fellowship may be found at https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/research/davidson-fellowship.html.