The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program is pleased to announce finalists for the 2024 class of the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program. The 84 early-career professionals selected will be placed in federal government offices throughout Washington, D.C., and join the over 1,600 people who have participated in the program since its inception in 1979.
The fellowship is a one-year paid opportunity for current and recent graduates from advanced degree programs to apply their scientific knowledge and experiences to lasting careers in the sciences, policy, and public administration.
“Knauss fellows over the years have consistently and thoughtfully applied their unique knowledge and skillsets to developing solutions to issues that affect people across the nation,” said Jonathan Pennock, Ph.D., National Sea Grant Office director. “We look forward to welcoming the incoming class of fellows and have no doubt that they will continue the tradition of serving through science.”
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is pleased to announce Samantha Garcia, a Masters candidate in the University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science as a 2024 Knauss finalist. Garcia will bringing her background in detecting environmental DNA for the invasive cattail species Typha domingensis, her previous fellowship experience in applied statistics, and her work bringing science and communications to marginalized communities to this fellowship.
“I am filled with excitement, pride, and gratitude upon receiving the opportunity to participate in the Knauss Fellowship because it represents the start of my career in environmental policy, but also represents the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to environmental science, stewardship, and sustainability,” said Garcia. “Although I have a passion for science and have enjoyed conducting research in the field of aquatic ecology, I look forward to applying my scientific background to environmental policy and management through this fellowship.”
IISG Director Tomas Hook commented, “We are super excited to have Samantha Garcia join us as a Knauss fellow this upcoming year. The Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship continues to be a great program; providing real-world policy and management training while having top-notch graduate students support federal agency and legislative office initiatives.”
This year’s class features students and recent graduates from 66 universities, including 12 minority-serving institutions. The 84 finalists represent 30 of the 34 Sea Grant programs across the country and have completed years of coursework in fields ranging from zoology, oceanography, and marine science to environmental management, public policy, and engineering. Among the 2024 Knauss Finalist class, 43 finalists are completing Ph.D. programs, 37 are completing master’s programs, and four are completing J.D. programs.
Curious about the Knauss fellowship? The Knauss blog features stories from former Knauss cohorts, sharing insights on fellowship experiences and their journeys to D.C. Information about the Knauss fellowship and other graduate student opportunities can be found on IISG’s fellowships page and also by contacting Angela Archer, campus engagement coordinator, at amcbride@purdue.edu.
