A recent analysis of the NOAA Fisheries/Sea Grant Fellowship Program shows the success of the program in placing highly qualified new employees in positions at NOAA and other federal agencies.

In 1999, NOAA established a Graduate Fellowship Program in two specialized areas: population dynamics and marine resource economics. These two specialized areas were chosen due to government’s high demand for Ph.D. scientists in these disciplines. Population dynamics is the study of fish populations as affected by fishing mortality, growth, recruitment and natural mortality. Marine resource economics involves investigating the social and economic implications of living marine resources’ conservation and management. Population dynamic fellows receive up to three years of funding, while marine resource economics fellows receive up to two years of funding.

The goals of the program are to: 1) encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in population dynamics and marine resource economics; 2) increase available expertise related to these disciplines; 3) foster closer relationships between academic scientists and NOAA Fisheries; and, 4) provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career development.

The fellowship program gives graduate students the opportunity to work closely with an expert (mentor) from NOAA Fisheries who also serves on the fellow’s committee. The mentor provides access to research data sources and to working/laboratory space in a NOAA Fisheries research facility and/or research vessel, if appropriate.

Since 1999, the program has awarded at least two new fellowships in each discipline every year (except 2002). A total of 31 fellows have been selected over the six-year period. So far, 15 students have completed their fellowship. Of the nine students who have completed fellowships in population dynamics, three graduates are currently employed by NOAA, and six are still in school. Of the six students who completed fellowships in marine resource economics, two graduates are employed by NOAA, one works for USDA, one student is still in school and one is a professor.

The demand for Ph.D. scientists in these two disciplines will remain high. NOAA Fisheries employs a significant proportion of all the doctorate-level assessment scientists in the U.S. NOAA is also committed to expanding opportunities for resource economists and other social scientists.

The 2006 competition for these fellowships is currently open. Applications are due February 10, 2006. At least two new fellows in each discipline are expected to be funded with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2006. The award for each fellowship will be a cooperative agreement of $38,000 per year.

For more information, please visit: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/fisheriesgradfellowship.html

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