New York Sea Grant is inviting graduate students to apply for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, a national program that offers year-long opportunities in Washington, D.C., according to an April 20 announcement. The application deadline for the 2027 fellowships is June 3.
The fellowship provides hands-on experience working in federal executive and legislative offices on marine policy issues. Organizers say participants will gain practical skills and develop a national professional network while contributing scientific perspectives to decision-making processes related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
Kate Blackwell, a PhD candidate at Stony Brook University’s Department of Ecology and Evolution, will begin her own Knauss Fellowship in a legislative office later this year. Blackwell said being selected aligns with her long-term goal of building a career “at the interface of marine science and policy” at agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or Environmental Protection Agency. She added that she is interested in “learning how agencies balance scientific recommendations with economic, diplomatic, and community considerations.”
Blackwell also described her eagerness to explore science communication at the federal level: “I’m excited by the opportunity to delve more deeply into how scientific findings are evaluated, communicated and ultimately integrated into federal decision-making,” she said. “Because my background has focused on Antarctic and broader marine ecosystem research, I’m especially eager to see how issues such as ecosystem monitoring, conservation planning and resource management are handled within federal agencies.”
Alyson Lowell recently completed her Knauss Fellowship working in Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office. Lowell said: “As a fellow, I learned the intricacies of federal policy — from drafting bill text to negotiating bipartisan legislation. Most importantly, I learned the power of committed advocacy from the dedication of the Alaskan constituency. I most valued learning how to integrate needs across multiple user groups to support federal oceans and fishery policy initiatives, while simultaneously balancing real world constraints.”
Lowell studies seagrasses at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences with an interest in restoration programs for coastal sustainability. Her work includes documenting environmental impacts both locally in New York’s Shinnecock Bay and internationally through projects like reef restoration in Colombia.
Lowell added: “I plan to apply freely shared knowledge to accelerate our understanding of ecosystem resiliency in the face of environmental variability.”
New York Sea Grant operates out of Stony Brook University as part of Cornell University and State University of New York’s cooperative program under NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program.
