Fiscal Year 2027 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The Department of Commerce NOAA, via the National Sea Grant College Program, is seeking applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. The program provides graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources with a 13-month educational and employment opportunity in marine policy. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or dual nationals enrolled in a graduate program between Fall 2025 and June 3, 2026. The fellowship begins June 1, 2027, and offers $97,200 per award, which includes a $74,700 stipend, $5,000 for allowable expenses, and $17,500 for travel. Students must submit application materials to their state Sea Grant program by July 1, 2026, and Sea Grant programs must submit final proposals via Grants.gov by August 26, 2026.
Eligible Applicants
A student is eligible to submit application materials listed in Section IV.B.3.b.1-4 of this NOFO to an eligible Sea Grant program if: Page 3 of 21 NOAA NOFO (1) 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.; (2) The student is enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2025 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and June 3, 2026; (3) The graduate degree will be awarded through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories, and; (4) The student has an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Student application submission is through an application to the Sea Grant program in the state in which the student is earning their degree. If there is no Sea Grant program in a student’s state, a Sea Grant program will be assigned (see Section IV.D.). A written statement from the National Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship Program Manager referring the student to the most appropriate eligible Sea Grant program will be provided to the student and must be submitted to the State Sea Grant program through which they are applying. Students are not eligible to submit full application materials to Grants.gov. The following entities are eligible to submit full proposals to this NOFO opportunity via Grants.gov: Sea Grant College Programs, Sea Grant Institutional Programs, and Sea Grant Coherent Area Programs. To be eligible to apply or receive an award, applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations: SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. For each, the complete registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants must begin this activity as soon as possible and well before the proposal due date. For more information on how to meet these registration and application submission requirements without errors, we advise all to carefully review relevant Applicant and Grantee Training modules: https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training. Additionally, we advise that all carefully read ‘Additional Application Package Forms’ within the ‘Full Proposal Required Elements’ section below.