Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program

Applications for 2026 fellows and hosts are due February 5, 2026 at 5pm Alaska Time. The eSeaGrant application portal is now open.

A unique professional opportunity for soon-to-graduate or recently finished graduate students interested in the science and policy needed to keep our marine, coastal, and watershed resources healthy.

Modeled after the highly successful Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, the state fellowship program provides an opportunity to acquire on-the-job experience in planning and implementing natural resource policies and programs in Alaska. The program matches highly motivated graduate students and recent graduates with hosts in Alaska-based agencies and non-profit organizations for a 12-month paid fellowship. See the profiles of our State Fellows for examples of hosts from previous years.

See profiles of our State Fellows

Download the fellowship flyer

General timeline

December: Call for fellows and hosts.
February: Fellow and host applications due.
February-March: Eligible applicants interviewed.
April: Match fellows with hosts. Applicants are notified of placements.
August 1 or September 1: 12-month fellowships begin.

View the Handbook for State Fellows

Recorded webinar for prospective fellows

Alaska Sea Grant Associate Director Molly Cain discusses the Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship and the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship to help prospective applicants navigate the process. Joining Molly to share perspectives are Sea Grant Knauss Fellow Kit Cunningham and Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow Jake Cohen.

You can view the recording from the 2025 webinar below.

group of Alaska Sea Grant State fellows smiling in front of the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Raven statue in background.

(left to right): 2024 State Fellows (back) Alyssa Sanchez, Rachel French, Jenna Schlener, Noah Meyer, Mack Hughes, Jenna Kennedy, Maddi McArthur, Angela Korabik, and Alice van Veenendaal. (front) Michelle Dutro, Devanie White, Alaina Plauché, Addie Norgaard, and Krystal Renta. Photo by Molly Cain/Alaska Sea Grant.

For Prospective Fellows For Hosts

For Prospective Fellows

Apply to be a fellow

Alaska Sea Grant uses eSeaGrant for fellowship application submissions, including letters of recommendation. To access eSeaGrant and the fellowship application, register an account in eSeaGrant, and select the option to add/edit the Fellow Application for Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship. If you have previously created an account, or have been a student on a Sea Grant–funded research project, do not create a second account. Instead contact us to help you access your existing account. You can review the application and instructions prior to submitting the application; you do not have to complete it in one sitting, and your progress will be saved.

We are here to provide assistance as needed; however, please do not wait until the last minute to apply.

You will submit the following materials with your application:

Personal and academic curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages using 12 pt font).
A personal education and career goal statement that emphasizes the applicant’s abilities and expectations for the fellowship experience in the way of career development (1000 words or less).
Two letters of recommendation, including one from the student’s major professor. If no major professor exists, a letter from the faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant’s academic work may be substituted.
Copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Eligibility

Graduate students who are close to completing their degree or those who have earned a graduate degree within 2 years of the application deadline in a relevant discipline can apply. Applicants must be in good academic standing while completing their degree at an academic institution. Alaska residents and students completing their degrees at Alaska institutions will be given preference. Fellows are required to be based in Alaska during the fellowship.

Foreign nationals are eligible to apply for the State Fellowship. However, many host offices are unable to accept foreign nationals as fellows, which may reduce the number of placement opportunities. Non-U.S. Citizens are responsible for obtaining the appropriate Visa to allow them to work in Alaska. The most common Visa type is a graduate-optional practical training (OPT extension).

Stipend and expenses

For fellowships starting in 2025, each fellow will receive $60,000 in stipend for the twelve-month assignment (~$5,000/month). Additional funds will be available to cover domestic travel and trainings for fellowship-related activity. Fellowship income is taxable; please contact your tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service for current information.

Length of assignment

The length of assignment is 12 months. The fellowship begins August–September.

Selection process

Successful applicants will interview with Alaska Sea Grant representatives via video conferencing. Finalists will be chosen and matched with several of the host offices for final interviews. After all interviews are completed, placements will be determined. The number of fellows placed each year is dependent upon available funding. Not all finalists receive placements, and not all hosts receive fellows.

Application resources

The Student Applicant Guide to Sea Grant Fellowships has general tips on how to create competitive fellowship applications.

Questions

If you have questions about the fellowship structure, positions, or the application process or documents, contact Molly Cain, Alaska Sea Grant Associate Director. For eSeaGrant technical issues or questions, contact Dave Partee.

For Hosts

You are invited to apply to be a host for a 2025 Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow.

We are entering the 11th year of the popular and successful Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship program. Many of the over 60 fellows to date have gone on to gainful employment in service of Alaska.

The Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship program aims to build and strengthen the future workforce dedicated to a healthy coastal environment and resources by encouraging enthusiastic, bright new professionals to launch their careers in Alaska. This program matches highly motivated soon-to-graduate or recently-finished graduate students with Alaska-based state, federal, tribal agencies or nonprofits for a 12-month paid fellowship.

The cost to host a fellow is $66,500 ($65,000 in direct costs and $1,500 in indirect costs). Alaska Sea Grant intends to cost-share a subset of fellowships to help support a diversity of hosts and fellowship opportunities. Historically there have been more host applicants than fellow finalists selected. Note that applying to be a host does not guarantee your organization a fellow.

Host expectations include

Interview 5–7 applicants and get matched with a fellow in partnership with Alaska Sea Grant
A host commitment of $66,500; a subset will be cost-shared (if you are unable to meet the full financial contribution, please contact Molly Cain to discuss cost-share opportunities)
Engage the fellow in your work important to marine, coastal, or watershed science or policy
Mentor and supervise the fellow; promote growth towards the fellow’s professional goals

Alaska Sea Grant expectations include

Recruit applicants from soon-to-be or recently-completed graduate students studying relevant disciplines
Set up fellow stipend payments and coordinate fellowship-related travel
Support and mentor the fellow cohort
Cost-share the fellowship with a subset of hosts

Fellow expectations include

Participate as a full-time, professional staff with the host for 12 months
Create a professional development plan and track accomplishments
Attend monthly Alaska Sea Grant-led meetings
Be based in Alaska

Host applications

Prospective hosts should use eSeaGrant to submit an application to host a State Fellow. To access eSeaGrant and the host application, register an account in eSeaGrant, and select the option to add/edit the Host Application for Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship. If you have previously created an account, do not create a second account. Instead if you cannot access your account, contact us to help you access your existing account. You can review the application prior to submitting it; you do not have to complete it in one sitting, and your progress will be saved.

You will be asked the following questions in the application:

Is your organization interested in hosting a 2025 Alaska Sea Grant fellow and committed to meeting the financial contribution of $66,500 ($65,000 in direct costs and $1,500 in indirect costs) for a fellow?
Host organization name and specific office where the fellow would work:
Short description of the goals of this office:
Name of host supervisor for the fellow:
Host supervisor email:
Host supervisor phone:
Physical location where the fellow would be based:
Are foreign national applicants eligible to be hosted by your office?
One to two paragraph description of the fellow's anticipated position/role, responsibilities, and projects:

Fellowship funding

For fellowships starting in 2025, each fellow will receive a $60,000 stipend for the twelve-month assignment (~$5,000/month) plus $5,000 in fellowship travel/training funds. Additional funds for travel/training associated with the fellowship may be added by the host office.

Once hosts are confirmed, they are expected to work with Alaska Sea Grant and UAF’s Office of Grants and Contracts Administration to put into place a cooperative or interagency agreement for each fellowship award in summer 2025, at least 2 months prior to the start of fellowship,

For questions or more information, please contact Molly Cain, Alaska Sea Grant Associate Director.