Below are details on the application process and the timeline for applying to USC Sea Grant for the Knauss Fellowship. Applications for 2026 Knauss Fellowships are now open! Please contact Charlotte Stevenson (cnsteven@usc.edu) if you have questions while completing the application process.

We will also hold a Zoom “office hour” on Tuesday, January 14th from 12:30-1:30 pm PST to answer any questions about the application process.  Register here.

Application Details

    • View the official federal funding opportunity: 2026 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA-OAR-SG-2026-29505
    • Apply to USC Sea Grant by submitting all application materials (listed below) to USC Sea Grant’s online submission portal, eSeaGrant.
      • Note: to use USC Sea Grant’s eSeaGrant submission portal, you will need to register for an account.
      • Please make sure to use the suggested file name for each of the application documents below.
    • It is highly recommended to provide at least one to two months to reach out to USC Sea Grant and to complete the application process. 

    Apply through USC Sea Grant’s eSeaGrant website here 

    • February 19, 2025: Application materials due to USC Sea Grant by 5 pm PT.
    • February – March 2024: Interviews by USC Sea Grant staff to select up to six finalists.
    • April 16, 2025: USC Sea Grant notifies applicants if they will be nominated for the fellowship. Each Sea Grant program can only nominate six applicants.
    • June 2025: USC Sea Grant will notify selected finalists.
      • Note that finalists are called a “selected finalist”, not a Knauss Fellow, until after being placed in a position during Placement Week.
    • July 2025: Finalist welcome workshop
    • July 2025: Finalist information/commitment is due
    • August 2025: All alternates are notified
    • October 2025: Executive Placement Week; selected applicants will participate in a week filled with interviews, networking with potential hosts, and host-fellow pairings.
    • January 2026: Legislative Placement Week; selected applicants will participate in a week filled with interviews, networking with potential hosts, and host-fellow pairings.
    • February 1, 2026: Start of the fellowship

  • To apply for the 2026 Knauss Fellowship, please submit the following documents to USC Sea Grant’s online submission portal, eSeaGrant:

    Required Application Documents Suggested File Name 
    Two letters of recommendation, including one from a faculty member with the student’s current enrollment who has knowledge of the student’s academic and research (when applicable) performance (each 2 pages max) 1_LastName_RecLtr1.pdf and 1_LastName_RecLtr2.pdf
    A personal education and career development statement (3 sections with 3 separate titles) (1530 words or less) 2_LastName_Goal.pdf
    Curriculum Vitae (2 pages maximum) 3_LastName_CV.pdf
    Relevant coursework and future year plans for spring 2025, summer 2025, and fall 2025 (not to exceed one page single-spaced) 4_LastName_Plans.pdf
    Transcripts (unofficial; not part of scored application) 5_LastName_Transcripts.pdf
    Optional Demographics Form 6_LastName_Optional_Demog.pdf
    Out of State Letter of Recommendation (If applicable; not part of scored application) 7_LastName_OutofStateLetter.pdf

  • All applicants will be evaluated on their application package according to the content they submit. Evaluation Criteria used by the National Sea Grant Office may be found in the 2026 Knauss Student Guide.

     Evaluation Area  Component Points
     Relevant Experience Curriculum Vitae (CV) 10
    Personal education and career development response 65
    Relevant coursework and future year plans 10
    Transcripts N/A
     Recommendations  Letters of recommendation 10
    USCSG director letter of recommendation 5
    Out of state letter (if applicable) N/A
     Final Review Overall Application Cohesion 10
    Total points: 100

Application Resources