Sea Grant Community Engaged Fellowship

Alaska Sea Grant is accepting applications for the Alaska Sea Grant Community Engaged Fellowship (CEF) program beginning in January 2024. If you have any questions, please reach out to the CEF coordination committee at seagrant.fellowships@alaska.edu.

The Sea Grant CEF program seeks students interested in marine and coastal science, policy or related fields as well as science communication and education. The program’s goal is to broaden participation in coastal and marine sciences and related fields in order to make them inclusive and representative of the many cultures, ethnicities and identities of students in Alaska by providing training and mentorship to early-stage university and community college students as well as recent graduates from high school or college. We specifically encourage students to apply who identify as indigenous, non-traditional students, as a minoritized or underrepresented group, and/or from a rural community.

Alaska Sea Grant Community Engaged Fellows gain job experience as they support Alaska Sea Grant’s work to enhance the sustainable use and conservation of marine, coastal and watershed resources. Students may be based at an Alaska Sea Grant office or a partner organization. Sea Grant’s CEF experiences last for 10 weeks during the summer.

Opportunity details

CEF Fellows receive a $7,500 stipend and participate in a customized 10-week summer fellowship with on-the-ground learning that includes:

• pairing with a mentor who shares your professional interests to collaboratively design a project 
• completing a project that pairs community involvement with addressing a coastal or marine issue of environmental, economic, cultural or social importance
• joining a national cohort of CEF students who are completing projects around the country
• participating in professional development and training opportunities
• additional opportunities for mentoring by Sea Grant professionals, researchers, partners and Sea Grant-supported students

Award and eligibility

Selected fellows will be awarded a $7,500 stipend. Any undergraduate college student who will have completed the equivalent of one semester of full-time study by the conclusion of the spring semester or who will be enrolled in any accredited U.S. college or university in the coming fall may apply. Students who will have graduated with an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university during an academic year are eligible for the fellowship that following summer. Recent high school graduates with plans to attend community college or university may also apply. Students applying for the Alaska Sea Grant CEF program must have an affiliation with Alaska, either through attending an Alaska college or university, or their home community.

To apply, please provide the following written information to Alaska Sea Grant, seagrant.fellowships@alaska.edu, by March 1 of the year you would like to participate as a CEF student. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Application review starts March 1. Final deadline to apply is April 1.

1. A written statement of interest, no more than two pages and proofread ahead of submission, that includes
   • your professional interests and career goals
   • how you and your interests contribute to the goals of the CEF program
   • why the CEF program interests you
   • if you have an idea for a project or an organization you would like to work with, let us know
   • your current degree or certificate program and how this fellowship will help you fulfill your degree requirements, a thesis or project for your degree, and/or career goals
   • any other information you think will help us match you for a project
2. A short resume or CV, up to two pages, that describes your education, work and volunteer experience, activities, skills, goals, publications, presentations, and/or any other information that will help us match you for a project.

Your application materials will be reviewed by the Alaska Sea Grant CEF coordination committee. Once we have reviewed your application, we will contact you to discuss your application and potential projects for your CEF experience. CEF placements are dependent on a satisfactory application as well as available funding and mentors.

Alaska Sea Grant faculty and staff are available for questions and coaching as you consider this opportunity and develop your application.

Questions?

For more information contact Alaska Sea Grant’s CEF coordination team at seagrant.fellowships@alaska.edu.

CEF is a national program. Visit the Community Engaged (Internship) Fellowship for Undergraduate Students website to learn more.