FY20-21 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowships for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System

The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System’s Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship (Davidson Fellowship) from master’s and doctoral students actively enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited university. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a program of the Office for Coastal Management which has an interest in balancing the needs of the natural environment and coastal economies and is responsible for implementing the Coastal Zone Management Act. The goals of the Davidson Fellowship are to build the next generation of leaders in estuarine science and coastal management by affording qualified graduate students the opportunity to conduct collaborative science within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System; partake in professional development opportunities; and receive mentoring to support professional growth. All Davidson Fellowship projects must be conducted in a research reserve and should be designed to contribute to one of the reserve’s priority management areas, and thus enhance the scientific understanding of the natural or social science aspects of the research subject matter. One fellow will be selected for each of the 29 reserves for a two-year duration. Mentoring and professional development activities will be provided to build knowledge and skills needed to successfully contribute to the workforce responsible for the coast. These opportunities are also designed to create a strong network among the fellows during their tenure and into the early portion of their careers.

...

Typically awards will be made to the fellow's graduate institution through the use of a cooperative agreement. Funds are expected to be available on a competitive basis to qualified graduate students for research within a reserve(s) leading to a graduate degree. To be eligible, applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories, and admitted to or enrolled full-time in a master's or doctoral program at a U.S. accredited university. It is recommended that applicants should have completed a majority of their graduate coursework prior to the beginning of their fellowship in order to fully participate in the activities. Students in the final year of their graduate program are not advised to apply for this fellowship. Federal agencies and employees are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as project partners. If federal agencies are collaborators, applicants are expected to provide details on the planned level of federal engagement in the application. Examples might include, but are not limited to participating in an advisory capacity or providing facilities for research. National Estuarine Research Reserve staff are ineligible to submit an application for a fellowship under this announcement. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to this program. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages applications involving any of the above institutions to apply. The lead applicant on any proposal will be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of, and in a manner consistent with this program, including any funds awarded to an eligible sub-awardee.

Christopher Katalinas 843-740-1320 1305 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910