An Investment in Florida's Future
| Public Funds | |
 Research AssistantshipsDean John A. KnaussMarine Policy Fellowships Sea Grant Industrial FellowshipsNational Marine Fisheries Service/Sea Grant Fellows ProgramNOAA Coastal ServicesCenter Coastal Mgt. Fellowships |
Research Assistantships Since 1986, a total of 275 students have completed a degree or other academic program while supported either fully or partially on Sea Grant federal funds. FIfty-six percent have been M.S. degrees, 18 percent Ph.D. degrees and 23 percent undergraduate and 3 percent post-doctoral fellowship work.
Students who completed degrees are now contributing directly to industry, non-governmental organizations and government agencies or are pursuing additional education. an equal number, (16-19% each), are now employed in either university teaching/research, in industry/non-governmental organizations or in local, state or federal government positions. Students in 35 different academic disciplines have been supported. These 35 include four within biology and 10 within engineering, where similar disciplines are organized under slightly varying themes, depending on the university. Biology, engineering, chemistry/biochemistry, fisheries and aquatic sciences, food science and human nutrition, and oceanography each have more than 20 students supported. A listing of completed students by university, department, major professor and thesis or dissertation is shown in Appendix Table 1.
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Learn more about the Knauss Fellowship |
Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships The Knauss Fellowship program allows outstanding graduate students and scientific scholars who have an interest in marine/ocean/Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources to spend one year in Washington, D.C., learning and honing the skills needed for active leadership and to work in their chosen career field. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative branch, the executive branch, or appropriate associations/ institutions located in the Washington, D.C. area. Named after one of Sea Grant’s founders and former NOAA administrator John A. Knauss, the Knauss Fellowship program was established in 1979 to fulfill one of the objectives of the National Sea Grant College Program Act. The program continues to be successful because so many marine and coastal resources are either part of the public trust or a common resource property subject to multiple usages and affected by policy, legal, and regulatory considerations. The program is intended to provide a unique educational experience to students in masters, doctoral, or professional programs in a marine or aquatic-related field or who have marine-related interests in their chosen field. It is not meant to be a training program or to just augment the legislative or executive branch workforce. Activities might include research for drafting legislation, liaison with other offices, writing policy papers, organizing hearings and witnesses, or interpreting scientific data for management issues. Many Fellows report a significant impact of this experience on their career plans. During May, each of the 32 Sea Grant Programs can nominate up to five candidates for the following year’s Class of Fellows. The nominees are reviewed, evaluated and ranked by a review panel organized by the National Sea Grant office. The top nominees are selected as finalists and in December spend a week of orientation and interviews in Washington, D.C. for placement with prospective hosts. Between 20 and 30 fellows are placed with executive branch hosts and 10 are placed in the offices of legislative hosts beginning the following February.
Florida Sea Grant has placed 32 students in the Knauss Fellows program. More comprehensive information on their current location is included in Appendix Table 3.The 2005 Class of Knauss Fellows is the 27th class. There have been 610 participants in this excellent program, with at least one from each of the 32 Sea Grant programs. Florida Sea Grant began participating in the program in 1982, the fourth year of the program, and has placed 32 students through 2005. This represents 5 percent of the nation’s total since 1982, and ranks sixth among all 32 Sea Grant programs. Eight Florida students served in legislative host offices and 24 in executive host offices (see Appendix Table 3). Seven different Florida institutions have had Fellows selected: Florida Institute of Technology (8); University of Florida (7); University of Miami (5); Florida State University (3); University of West Florida (2); Florida International University (1); and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (1). The 28 students who have completed the Fellows Program now work in industry/nongovernmental organizations, government, universities or are working on advanced degrees. Fifty-four percent are working in federal or state governments with 11 of them, or 39 percent, working for NOAA. They are working in 12 different states and in one foreign country. One Fellow is in the 2004 Class and three will be 2005 Fellows. |
  
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Following are excerpts of Florida Sea Grant Knauss fellow reflections: Wim J. van Teeffelen “This year on Capitol Hill proved to be one of the most valuable ones of my entire career. Although I left marine science, I have always been able to use my knowledge of how politics works, both in industry and government. The negotiating skills I learned have been invaluable.” Mark Eakin, Ph.D. “I applied for the 1991 Knauss Fellowship Class as I was completing my Ph.D. at the University of Miami. At that time, I was not certain that I wanted to pursue a career in academia and was looking for other career tracks that would allow me to apply my scientific background. My year as a Knauss Fellow in NOAA’s Office of Global Programs (OGP) allowed me to experience program management and to help me decide that this was a rewarding application of my training and experience. My experience at OGP as well as my subsequent work with the modern climate community prepared me for my current position. I would not have had those experiences if I had not received the Knauss Fellowship.” Peter Barile “The Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship was an opportunity to participate in the application of science to federal policy for the management of marine resources and ecosystems. I also gained considerable experience in being a part of the peer review process for federal grant proposal consideration in the marine sciences. These experiences have been critical to my career as a scientist as I now have a stronger aptitude for understanding how my work and that of my peers fits within the context of the ‘big picture’.” Sidney Thurston, Ph.D. “Being a Knauss Fellow allowed me the opportunity to view the workings of the U.S. government and NOAA from a very lofty perspective. I had open access to many high-level decision-makers and resources. I had the opportunity to explore how things worked, not being restricted just to get a job done. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I appreciated every single moment of it. Of course, this type of access and availability has been of great value in laying a solid foundation on which to build a very fruitful career.” Lynette Cardoch, Ph.D. “This fellowship was an excellent opportunity to see how marine science and policy are integrated at a headquarters level. I was fortunate to interact with some very accomplished, intelligent coworkers that served as excellent mentors. I also benefited immensely from the interactions with the other fellows that came from such diverse backgrounds. As a young professional, I was in an environment that afforded me broad opportunities to apply my knowledge to new situations and to apply both my science and policy background. It also served as my impetus to return to school and get my Ph.D.” Christopher Yates “I worked exclusively on issues related to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This involved formulating and coordinating U.S. policy on international whale issues; meeting with foreign delegations, NGO groups, and other U.S. officials; and representing the U.S. at IWC meetings. The Knauss Fellowship experience proved to be one of the most rewarding of my career. My goal upon applying for the program was to work on international marine issues, and that is exactly what I was able to do. I gained valuable experience and contacts during the year, which I believe will be of great benefit to my future career goals.” Martin B. Main, Ph.D. “During 1985, I was a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow and had the opportunity to work on the House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation. This was perhaps one of the most educational and beneficial opportunities of my lifetime. In addition to participating in development of environmental policy, I learned excellent lessons in team building and hard lessons regarding how to deal with obstacles and personal agendas. I later worked for the NOAA, and went on to obtain a Ph.D. in wildlife science.” Michael Devin “My year at the National Science Foundation gave me an appreciation for the funding process from grant writing to review system. I also learned how research priorities are developed and the avenues in which one can participate. I was exposed to all aspects of marine policy in the government by attending Senate and House hearings and visiting other agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Commerce. The experience that I gained during my year at NSF is invaluable and I believe that without it I would not be able to do what I am doing now.” Jennifer Rahn “My experience as Knauss Fellow was personally enjoyable and professionally valuable. I had the opportunity to interact with many federal coastal scientists in a wide variety of fields. I spent a considerable amount of time traveling, where I had the opportunity to network and learn new technologies and scientific techniques. Of the plethor of jobs and opportunities I have had in my career, I rank the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship at the very top of the list.” |
Learn more about the Sea Grant Industrial Fellowships  |
Sea Grant Industrial Fellowship This fellowship program is available to graduate students enrolled in either M.S. or Ph.D. degree programs in academic institutions in the U.S., with required matching funds from industrial sponsors. Industry Fellows work on research and development projects on topics of interest to a particular industry or company. The student, the faculty advisor, the Sea Grant Program and the industry representative work together, sharing research facilities and the cost of the activity. Fellowships are advertised nationally and are for two years. Up to about five are in place each year. Florida Sea Grant received one of four original Industry Fellowships awards in 1995. The post-doctoral student, Maria Sparsis, Florida Institute of Technology, completed the program in 1997. Two Industry Fellows were funded in 2002. They were Christopher Tilghman, University of Florida and Andrew Rhyne, Florida Institute of Technology.  |
| Learn more about the NMFS/Sea Grant Fellowship |
National Marine Fisheries Service
/ Sea Grant Fellows in Marine Economics and Population
Dynamics The National Marine Fisheries Service - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics was established in 1999. An annual national competition funds four to six fellowships. The goals of this program are to (1) encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in population dynamics and stock assessment methods or marine resource economics, (2) increase the available expertise in assessing living marine resource stocks or the economic analysis of conserving or managing them, (3) foster closer relationships between academic and NMFS scientists; and (4) provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career experience. Fellows spend summer internships at NMFS facilities. No Florida students have applied to this program to date. |
Learn more about the NOAA Coastal Services Center Fellowship |
NOAA Coastal Services Center Coastal Management Fellowship The NOAA Coastal Services Center Coastal Management Fellowship program was established in 1996 to provide professional on-the-job education and training opportunities for postgraduate students in coastal resource management and policy and to provide specific technical assistance to state coastal resource management programs. The program matches highly qualified, recently graduated masters, professional, and doctoral degree students with hosts around the U.S. in state coastal zone management programs. For two years, the recipients work on substantive state-level coastal resource management issues that pertain to federal management policies and regulations. Only a few Florida students have applied, with Christopher D. Cornelisen, Florida Institute of Technology winning a fellowship during the first year of the program. He worked in the Massachusetts Coastal Management Program.  |
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