ST. PAUL and DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Sea Grant College Program seeks host organizations for its 2027-28 Science and Policy Fellowship. The program helps develop a skilled workforce capable of addressing Minnesota’s water resource challenges.
Minnesota Sea Grant invites applications from state, municipal and county agencies; legislative committees; tribal agencies; and other governmental entities in Minnesota. Host organizations will work with fellows as they apply their scientific and analytical skills to water resource science and policy.
The fellowship will place recent graduate students in full-time, one-year paid positions with host organizations, where they will apply their scientific expertise to water resource issues affecting Minnesotans. Minnesota Sea Grant aims to place at least four fellows in the 2027-28 cohort.
Quick Reference:
- Review the 2027-28 Call for Host Proposals.
- Complete the prospective host interest form to receive program updates.
- Submit a host application by 11:59 p.m. CT Nov. 18, 2026, via eSeaGrant.
- Attend the informational webinar for prospective hosts at 11 a.m. CT Oct. 27, 2026.
- Register for the October 27, 2026, 11 a.m. CT webinar.
- Host program webpage.
- Fellows program webpage.
The total cost to host a fellow for one year is $65,250. Minnesota Sea Grant has competitive funding available to cover up to half of that cost for selected hosts. Host applicants may also propose to cover the full cost.
Prospective hosts are encouraged to attend the informational webinar to learn more about the fellowship structure, application process and host responsibilities. Selected hosts and fellowship finalists will participate in interviews and an in-person matching workshop in Duluth in March or April 2027. Fellowships are scheduled to run from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.
The fellowship program aims to build a workforce prepared to address Minnesota’s science and policy needs and contribute to the long-term health of the state’s water resources. For more information on becoming a host, contact Minnesota Sea Grant Research and Fellowship Coordinator Alex Frie at [email protected].
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Funding acknowledgement. The 2027-28 Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship is supported by the Minnesota Sea Grant College Program using federal or matching funds under award NA24OARX417C0033-T1-01, project number M/2024-CROSS-OM24-Management, from the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The fellowship was founded with support from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
Minnesota Sea Grant is a system program of the University of Minnesota and one of 34 federal-university Sea Grant partnerships across the country supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Great Lakes and coastal states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, outreach, communication, education and technology transfer.
Find this and all past Minnesota Sea Grant news releases on our website.
CONTACT
Alex Frie, Research and Fellowship Coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].
Marie Thoms, Associate Director, Communications Director, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].