Program Summary

The Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship Program is a one-year, full-time, paid fellowship for current and recent graduate students. Fellows will be selected through a competitive process administered by Minnesota Sea Grant. During the fellowship, fellows will work full time with a host organization on water resource issues critical to Minnesotans.

Minnesota needs scientists skilled in navigating the interface of science and policy to address modern water resource challenges, including mitigating severe weather impacts, improving water quality, and managing invasive species. 

To address this need at the state level, we developed the Minnesota Sea Grant Science and Policy Fellowship program. The program aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and water resource policy development and implementation by placing current and recent graduate students (fellows) within host organizations to help those organizations tackle water resource issues critical to Minnesotans. 

The program is a one-year, full-time, paid fellowship for current and recent graduate students. 

MNSG Science and Policy Fellows will work with and receive mentorship from hosts such as state agencies, legislative committees, tribal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Fellows will receive training from the host, and Fellows will help support the host’s work on a project related to water resource science and/or policy. 

Our Science and Policy Fellowship program is one way MNSG seeks to help meet Minnesota’s science-policy workforce needs, support a pipeline of professionals ready to address complex environmental challenges, and contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of the state’s water resources.

Fellowship Information 

• 2026-2027 Fellowship Period: July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027
• Fellow Stipend: $55,000
• Professional Development Funds: $2,500
• Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled in, or have graduated after July 1, 2024, from a master’s, Ph.D., or J.D. program at an accredited U.S. institution. Preference will be given to Minnesota residents or applicants who attend(ed) a graduate program located in Minnesota. Foreign nationals are eligible to apply; however, some hosts may be unable to accept non-U.S. citizens as fellows. Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa that permits participation in the fellowship.
• 2026-2027 fellowship position descriptions will be announced in early December 2025.

2026-2027 Fellowship Application 

The fellowship application for the 2026-2027 cohort is now open. Fellowship should be submitted through eSeaGrant. Fellowship applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CT on February 5, 2026. 

All applications will be considered for placement with all prospective hosts, and applicants should prepare their materials accordingly. Applications should not be tailored to a single host.

Fellowship Application 

1. Curriculum Vitae: Maximum length of two pages, using 12-point font.
2. Personal and Career Statement (1,000 words or fewer). Describe the following:
   1. The applicant’s interest in applying science and policy to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s water resources.
   2. The technical skills and other attributes the applicant would contribute to the fellowship.
   3. How participation in the program would support the applicant’s career goals.
3. Letters of Recommendation: Two letters, including one from the applicant’s principal professor. If no principal professor exists, a faculty member most familiar with the applicant’s academic work may be substituted. Letters of recommendation should be requested via eSeaGrant.
4. Transcripts: Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

2025-2026 Fellowship Application Review 

1. Finalist Selection: Applications will be reviewed by Minnesota Sea Grant Staff and/or external reviewers. Applicants may be invited for short virtual interviews. Finalists will be chosen based on reviews of application materials and interviews. Review criteria are as follows:
   1. Application components will be reviewed on a scale from Significantly Below Expectations (1) to Exceeds Expectations (5).
   2. Curriculum Vitae (20%)
      1. The applicant demonstrates academic, professional, or personal experience relevant to the fellowship and to the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of Minnesota’s water resources.
   3. Statement (60%)
      1. Interest in science and policy (20%): The applicant clearly articulates their interest in applying science and policy to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s water resources.
      2. Technical skills and attributes (20%): The applicant demonstrates technical skills, abilities, and other attributes that would contribute to success in the fellowship.
      3. Career goals (20%): The applicant describes how participation in the program would support their short- and long-term career goals.
   4. Recommendation Letters (20%)
2. Finalist Matching: Finalists and hosts will be invited to a host–fellow matching workshop in spring 2026. During this workshop, finalists will interview with Fellowship host mentors for all positions and will also have opportunities for networking conversations with Minnesota Sea Grant staff. The goal of the workshop is to identify the best fit between hosts and finalists and to provide professional development and networking opportunities. After the workshop, each host and finalist will submit their matching preferences to Minnesota Sea Grant, which will then work to make the best matches possible across the program. Note that not all finalists may be matched with a host.

Fellowship Positions 

The available Fellowship positions will be selected through a competitive process detailed in Minnesota Sea Grant’s Call for Hosts. After hosts are selected, the fellowship position descriptions will be posted here. Interested applicants who submit the Minnesota Sea Grant Fellowship Interest Form will be notified when position descriptions are posted. 

Fellowship Host Information

Interested in becoming a host organization for an MNSG Science and Policy Fellow? Go to Call for Hosts: Minnesota Sea Grant Science & Policy Fellowship.

Funding

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.