Virginia Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship Program (US)

The fellowship has two tracks open to full-time graduate students at any Virginia academic institution engaged in coastal and marine research and other evidence based inquiry relevant to Virginia communities and the VASG Strategic Plan.

The VASG Graduate Fellowship invests in people and supports graduate students in education, evidence-based inquiry, and community engagement that further the goals of VASG and show potential for:

• Long-term professional success in academic, government, non-profit, or private sectors;
• Highly collaborative, team-oriented research and problem-solving that integrates diverse perspectives, and produces innovation to address the most challenging coastal and marine problems; and
• Effective transfer of knowledge to practice and interest in ensuring their research results are useful to and used by stakeholders.

Funding Information

• Track One: The fellowship provides an award of up to $40,000 per year to support the student’s academic expenses. One-year proposals may request up to $40,000.
• Track Two: The fellowship provides an award of up to $40,000 per year to support the student’s academic expenses.

Eligible Costs 

• Student stipend
• Graduate research assistantships
• Fringe benefits
• Tuition
• Enrollment, university and graduate program fees
• Health insurance
• Indirect costs
• VASG events and conference fees, expenses and travel
• Professional development training and travel

Ineligible Costs

• Research and lab supplies
• Research and field work travel
• Sample processing
• Research-related service fees
• Laboratory and field equipment (expendable supplies and permanent equipment)
• Other expenses needed to conduct research activities. Students who graduate before the end date of their fellowship award will not be permitted to use the remaining funds to support post-graduation expenditures

Responsibilities

• Selected fellows will:
  • Collaborate with a Professional Mentor: Select and work with a professional end-user mentor, including identifying opportunities to execute their professional development plan (see VASG’s Guidance on Fellow-Mentor Relationships).
  • Work with VASG’s Professional Development Coordinator: To develop and launch an individual professional development plan, based on their short- and long-term professional goals.
  • Collaborate with VASG’s Communication Center: To publicize their scholarship and fellowship activities, including submitting blog posts and sharing story ideas.
  • Attend and participate in VASG Events: Including the fellowship orientation meeting; presentation of study findings; community engagement activities; and appropriate professional development offerings.
  • Engage in VASG Relevant Inquiry: Fellows must be conducting rigorous inquiry and evidence-based knowledge generation or other research that is coastal- or marine-related.
  • Share Milestones: Including defense and graduation dates; at the conclusion of the graduate program. Fellows are required to notify VASG of their graduation dates and submit a digital copy of the final project, thesis, or dissertation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Track One: Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time Master’s or professional degree (ex. JD) at a Virginia academic institution prior to the award of the fellowship, no later than Fall 2024.
• Track Two: Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time Ph.D. or a doctoral track program at a Virginia academic institution prior to the award of the fellowship, no later than Fall 2024.
• All applicants for both tracks must remain in good standing at their academic institution and in compliance with the terms and conditions of the VASG award. Failure to stay in good standing with the student’s academic institution, or an interruption in progress towards your degree (i.e. taking a semester off) may lead to termination of the fellowship. Students may be working toward a degree in any discipline as long as they are engaged in rigorous inquiry and evidencebased knowledge generation or research that is coastal- or marine-related and relevant to VASG’s mission and strategic plan. Previous recipients of a VASG Graduate Fellowship are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit VASG.