DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Sea Grant Program has selected four host organizations to participate in its 2026-2027 Science & Policy Fellowship Program.
The one-year, full-time, paid fellowship places current and recent graduate students with host organizations that address pressing water challenges, including drinking water protection, wetland management, water quality, habitat restoration, and the impacts of development on natural resources.
The topics and selected host organizations for the 2026-2027 fellowship year are listed below and full position descriptions are available on the Science & Policy Fellowship Program webpage.
- Minnesota Department of Health: Emerging Issues in Drinking Water.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Wetland Ecohydrology.
- Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy: Water Resources & Industrial Development.
- Anoka County: Impaired Waterbodies, Natural Resource Restoration, and Monarch Habitat.
Interested in applying to be a fellow? Go to the Minnesota Sea Grant Science & Policy Fellowship webpage for details. Application deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT February 5, 2026. Applicants are also encouraged to submit the Fellowship Interest Form to receive program updates.
Interested in hosting a future Science and Policy Fellow? Go to Call for Hosts: Minnesota Sea Grant Science & Policy Fellowship and fill out our Host Interest Form.
Fellows will be selected for the program and matched with hosts through a competitive process. Fellows will work full time with their host organizations where they will receive mentorship and training and support projects related to water resource science and policy.
The Minnesota Sea Grant Science & Policy Fellowship Program was developed to help meet Minnesota’s growing need for scientists skilled in navigating the science–policy interface. By bridging scientific research with policy development and implementation, the program supports a strong workforce pipeline while contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of the state’s water resources.
Minnesota Sea Grant thanks our host partners for their commitment to developing Minnesota’s future science–policy workforce.
Minnesota Sea Grant is a 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.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Host Support for the 2026-2027 cohort is provided by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
USEFUL LINKS:
Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship
Fellowship Interest Form
Call for Hosts: Minnesota Sea Grant Science & Policy Fellowship
Host Interest Form
CONTACTS:
Alex Frie, Research and Fellowship Coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].
John A. Downing, Director, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth, [email protected].
Marie Thoms, Communications Director, Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Duluth. [email protected].