Sea Grant Fellowship Can Put You in Washington D.C.

The United States Capitol building in Washington D.C.

Our February 2023 communications column is by Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) Communications Associate Hannah Cullen who introduces MNSG's 2023 Knauss Fellows. 

The Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship offers direct experience working on the latest issues in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes management and research. Knauss Fellows can turn their interest in coastal and marine issues into policy and management actions for the nation.

MNSG welcomed the most Knauss Fellows in the program’s history in July 2022. The five Knauss Fellows will begin their Washington, D.C., fellowship appointments in February.

Image credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr

What is a Knauss Fellowship?

The National Sea Grant John A. Knauss Fellowship places highly qualified graduate students with host offices in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, D.C., area, for a one-year paid fellowship.

  • How do fellows benefit: The Knauss Fellowship provides educational and professional experience to graduate students interested in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
  • How does the government benefit: The fellowship provides the host offices with a wide diversity of early-career professionals who bring different perspectives to national coastal and marine policy work and substantial contributions to their host offices.

A Brief Introduction to Minnesota Sea Grant's 2023 Knauss Fellows

Our fellows are all settling into life in Washington, D.C., and getting started in their new positions this month. Each month, starting in March, we will feature one of our 2023 Knauss fellows. For this month, we have a brief bio of each fellow to get us acquainted.

Brandon Barlow

Brandon Barlow

Host agency: NOAA National Ocean Service (NOAA-NOS)

Host office: U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office

M.S. - Natural Resource Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

B.A. - Marine Affairs and Instrumental Performance, University of Miami

Image credit: Brandon Barlow

Devin Burri

Devin Burri

Host agency: NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (NOAA-OAR)

Host office: NOAA Research International Activities Office

M.S. - Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

B.A. - Environmental Studies, Lawrence University

Image credit: Devin Burri

Mary Collins

Mary Collins

Host agency: NOAA Office of Atmospheric Research (NOAA-OAR)

Host office: National Sea Grant Office (NSGO)

M.C.L. - Conservation Leadership, Colorado State University

B.A. - Environmental Science, University of Virginia

Image credit: Mary Collins

 

 

Jackie Culotta

Jackie Culotta

Host agency: Department of Energy (DOE)

Host office: Water Power Technologies Office

M.S. - Integrated biosciences, University of Minnesota Duluth

B.A. - Biology, Carleton College

Image credit: Jackie Culotta

 

 

 

Celina Harris

Celina Harris

Host agency: NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (NOAA-OAR)

Host office: OAR Front Office

Ph.D. - Chemistry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

M.S. - Chemistry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

B.S. - Chemistry, Gettysburg College

Image credit: Celina Harris

 

 

Where Do Fellows Go?

Are you wondering where in the federal government fellows might have an opportunity to work? Below are just a handful of the placement locations of the 2023 fellows:

  • Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
  • Resilience, Risk Management Directorate, FEMA
  • Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, NOAA HQ
  • Midcontinent Regional Office - Great Lakes Program, USGS
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, DOI
  • Branch of Coastal and Marine Resources, Ecological Services - Headquarters, FWS
  • Division of Ocean Sciences, Office of the Division Director, NSF

Interested in Applying?

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