Information for prospective fellows
Fellow eligibility
- Residence: The WSG Coastal Resilience Fellowship will require fellows to live in or close to the host communities where they are placed in western Washington. Accordingly, eligibility is limited to:
- (1) applicants who reside in the Sea Grant Pacific region (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, or Guam) at the time of application, or
- (2) graduated from a high school, community college, technical college, or university in Washington State.
- (3) In limited cases, exceptions may be considered for applicants who do not meet the above criteria but who demonstrate extensive professional, academic, or lived experience working with coastal communities in the Sea Grant Pacific region (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, or Guam). This experience should be clearly described in the application materials.
- Education: At minimum, the Coastal Resilience Fellowship requires an Associate Degree. Please review each position description for specific additional education requirements. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest and/or some experience in coastal resilience or related topics.
- Career Stage: Like other WSG fellowships, the WSG Coastal Resilience Fellowship aims to support individuals seeking a catalyst for a career in the fields of coastal resilience, marine policy, or coastal management. The spirit of the fellowship is to support individuals who have not yet had significant work experience in these fields nor has already participated in a similar fellowship program.
Who is encouraged to apply?
Individuals who…
- Have experience on Washington’s Pacific Coast and/or have coastal resilience experience from other coastal regions.
- Are early or shifting in their career and looking to develop professionally in coastal resilience.
- Are looking to contribute their capacity, skills, and experience to coastal communities on coastal resilience projects.
- DACA students are eligible to apply.
- WSG fellowship programs do not consider personal identity factors in evaluation or selection. At the same time, we recognize that historic barriers have limited access for many communities. Our programs are committed to creating supportive, and welcoming experiences that help all eligible applicants thrive, and we warmly encourage everyone to apply.
Award
*For 25-27 and 26-28 fellows
Each fellow will receive a total award of $80,000, including a stipend of $75,000 to cover living expenses, required health care coverage in accordance with federal law, and tax related expenses (e.g. paying taxes, tax preparation services, etc.) and a $5,000 professional development budget (e.g. trainings, online courses, conferences, and related travel expenses) administered by Washington Sea Grant. Washington Sea Grant is committed to providing any resources we can as well as facilitating connections with fellow alumni as applicable.
In the second year, each fellow will receive an award of $83,000, including a stipend of $78,000 and a $5,000 professional development budget.
2026 – 2028 Host offices, position descriptions, presentation recordings
2025 – 2027 Host offices and position descriptions
Application requirements
Applications are submitted via the eSeaGrant online submission portal.
- Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages; 12 pt. font)
- Personal Statement (500 words or less, 12 pt. font)
- Position Preference Statement(s) (350 words or less) and Ranking (if applicable)
- Two Reference Forms – Applicants must submit two reference forms using the template provided.
- One form should be from someone who has supervised the applicant in either a professional or academic role (e.g. employer, work manager, academic advisor, research mentor, or similar).
- The other form should come from someone who knows the candidate well and can speak to their qualifications for this position, this can be someone who was a supervisor or does not have to be.
- Transcripts – Copies of all undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate student transcripts (unofficial transcripts are welcome). While required to confirm eligibility, details of student transcripts are not factored into the selection process.
Interviews & finalist selection
- May 18-20: First round interviews
- June 18, 22-25: Final interviews with host organizations
- Late June: Selected fellows announced
Selection criteria
Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:
- How the fellowship would support applicant’s career pathway and further their development as a professional
- How the applicant’s experience will support coastal communities
- How the applicant has experience or shown interest in working with a variety of stakeholders
- An understanding and/or willingness to learn of varied governance structures and relevant policies
- Strong communication skills
- Relevant employment, volunteer, extracurricular activities, and/or experience to the fellowship
- Alignment and relevance of skills and experience to preferred positions
- Support from two references
WSG is dedicated to expanding opportunities and increasing access to coastal careers for individuals from all backgrounds. By fostering collaboration, building relationships, and sharing knowledge, WSG works to ensure that Washington’s coastal communities, industries, and ecosystems benefit from a wide range of perspectives and expertise. Guided by a culture of respect, trust, and accountability, WSG supports an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that values long-term engagement and meaningful participation.
The Washington Sea Grant Coastal Resilience Fellowship is open to all qualified individuals and is committed to broadening participation in coastal resilience work, including for those who have faced systemic barriers to education and career advancement in marine, ocean and coastal fields.
Orientation & learning institute
Washington Sea Grant strongly encourages all Coastal Resilience Fellows, along with other fellows, to attend a orientation and learning institute the beginning of their fellowship. Details of this experience will be shared upon selection into the program.
How to apply
Washington Sea Grant will be accepting all fellowship applications through our online submission portal, eSeaGrant. eSeaGrant will open to applicants in May. If you are new to eSeaGrant please give yourself plenty of time to complete your application and contact our office if you have questions.
See tips for writing personal statements, CV’s, and interviewing for Sea Grant fellowships on the Fellowships page.
For further information contact Becky Bronstein, Resilience Fellowship Specialist, at beckyb23@uw.edu.
Information for prospective host organizations
WSG Coastal Resilience Fellows are teamed with mentors in a host office for two years, working on coastal resilience projects. Prospective hosts are expected to mentor, supervise and provide opportunities for fellows to be involved in substantive issues that support their professional and educational goals. The experience provides fellows with a unique perspective on coastal resilience and allows them to share their lived, learned, and work experience with their host offices. In their application, hosts are welcome to share if their capacity better suits working with a fellow part-time across their two-year fellowship, as well as their preferred work set-up with their fellow (in-person, hybrid, remote).
Host eligibility
Tribes, local nonprofits, municipalities, special districts, conservation districts, and other local entities working on projects focused on coastal resilience along WA’s coastlines. State and federal entities are not eligible for this fellowship.
Host application
- Applications are CLOSED for the 26-28 cycle. Please feel free to share your interest via the below interest form if you’d like to learn about the next cycle.
Host/mentor expectations
- Matching process – Hosts will have the opportunity to review finalists’ applications and participate in interviews. Host involvement may be adjusted based on capacity.
- Onboarding – WSG will support general onboarding of the fellows, including an overview of Washington Sea Grant, logistical items regarding their award, and orientation to general systems and practices to support their fellowship. The host/mentors will provide onboarding regarding their organization, as well as on the ground support for coastal resilience projects. Note: Depending on the project and experience, expect several months of onboarding until the fellow can move from knowledge gathering to contribution for a given project.
- Ongoing check-ins/project(s) support – Hosts/mentors will be encouraged to solidify regular check-ins (ex. weekly) with fellows depending on project scope and workflow.
- Professional development support – Hosts/mentors are encouraged to identify professional development opportunities for fellows and co-create a professional learning plan with their fellow. The WSG Resilience Fellowship Specialist will support solidifying this plan. The fellow will have professional development funds to support professional development opportunities.
- Reflection – Hosts/mentors are encouraged to support fellows in ongoing reflection. Additionally, hosts/mentors are encouraged to share ideas for improving the fellowship at any time. Towards the end of the two-year fellowship, fellows and hosts/mentors will dedicate additional time to process and reflect on their experience.
Host application includes the following elements:
- Host organization information + Mentor/Co-mentor information: Organization name and address (where fellow’s office space would be located, if in-person), mentor name, title, and contact information for the individual who would serve as the fellow’s primary mentor and supervisor.
- The mentor will take the lead on fellow onboarding, supervision of work, and will provide essential fellowship related mentorship (coaching, professional development). Additionally, provide the name, title and contact information for any other key fellowship co-mentors.
- Capacity need: This fellowship focuses on building capacity to address coastal resilience issues. Host applicants are asked to share how a fellow could address capacity challenges.
- Proposed scope: Project scope including title, details about the project, expected length until completion and which phase the fellow will work on, and intended outcomes. Additionally, summary of the fellow’s day-to-day activities, how the project specifically relates to coastal resilience and organization values.
- Projects should be specific however, it is okay to include descriptions of more than one potential project if applicable. For all projects we encourage hosts to build in some amount of flexibility to align project activities with your fellow’s individual skills and interests. Please note that some former fellows have felt that their host organization provided too many options/possibilities and a lack of clear direction or well defined project goals presented challenges.
- Fellow candidate preferences & support: Work set-up, preferred fellow education level, preferred fellow skills/experience, host candidate’s mentorship experience, networking and professional development opportunities
- Additional information: Equipment, need for background checks or security clearances, and anything else the host candidate wants to share. Please note, responses within this section are considerations for host selection, not requirements. We aim to create a supportive network for hosts and fellows to be successful so it’s okay if not all aspects of these questions are determined.
Acceptance of a host application will be based on the following criteria:
- Clear capacity need to support coastal resilience challenges
- Proposed project(s)/areas of work is/are clear (or has potential for further coping conversations for clarity)
- Proposed project(s) focus on local coastal resilience efforts
- We recognize and respect that coastal communities interpret coastal resilience in different ways, and we encourage potential hosts to articulate their vision for resilience projects in alignment with their community’s vision/priorities. For the purposes of this fellowship, coastal resilience can include engagement, planning, and preparing for, designing, or implementing projects that help to address coastal hazards like sea level rise, flooding, erosion, and tsunami. Projects may encompass topics related to coastal hazards and climate adaptations, including, but not limited to, relocation efforts, vulnerability assessments, feasibility studies, community engagement plans and outreach, resilience strategies, planning and policy development, communications and education, and community cultural climate resilience efforts. We encourage hosts to think about coastal resilience holistically – for example, a project that addresses immediate or emerging hazards in a manner that also benefits community members, local economies, and the environment.
- Please note that any projects that include ground disturbance and are not also part of projects funded through the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge may be subject to project scoping adjustments or additional federal environmental review procedures. Please reach out to Becky Bronstein at beckyb23@uw.edu with any questions.
- Organization showcases welcoming environment and clear outcomes for the fellowship
- Proposed project(s) offers valuable growth opportunities for the fellow
- Alignment of project with WSG goals and values
The WSG CRF Review Panel will evaluate all information available and make final selection decisions. Host organizations are selected based on the criteria above, along with considerations to build a well-rounded host cohort. This includes consideration of factors such as the types of organizations, prior hosting or mentorship experience, and the range and themes of proposed projects, with the goal of encouraging connections and shared learning across host projects.
Fellow selection
Fellowship applications will be submitted to WSG, and a review panel will recommend finalists based on an evaluation of academic and professional background, career and education goals, community and extracurricular activities, potential impact of the fellowship on future success, as well as personal characteristics such as initiative, leadership, adaptability, communication and analytical skills. WSG selects up to five WSG Coastal Resilience Fellows (depending on size of candidate pool and number of host offerings).
WSG is collaborating with the UW Climate Impacts Group for a learning institute for all fellows in Fall 2026. Details will be shared in early 2026.
The length of a fellowship assignment is two years and is not renewable. WSG will administer monthly stipend payments and will manage a discretionary professional development budget for each fellow. Once selected, hosts will need to work with Washington Sea Grant to put in place a host agreement for each fellowship award prior to the start of fellowships in September. The fellowship contracts will begin in mid September. Fellows may not start work until the contract is in place.
Prospective host FAQs
How much does it cost to host a fellow?
It’s at no cost to the host organization to host a fellow. If a host organization may have funds available to support equipment, travel, or professional development opportunities, they are always welcome, but not required.
How is WSG defining coastal resilience for this fellowship?
We recognize and respect that coastal communities interpret coastal resilience in different ways, and we encourage potential hosts to articulate their vision for resilience projects in alignment with their community’s vision/priorities. For the purposes of this fellowship, coastal resilience can include engagement, planning, and preparing for, designing, or implementing projects that help to address coastal hazards like sea level rise, flooding, erosion, and tsunami. Projects may encompass topics related to coastal hazards and climate adaptations, including, but not limited to, relocation efforts, vulnerability assessments, feasibility studies, community engagement plans and outreach, resilience strategies, planning and policy development, communications and education, and community cultural climate resilience efforts. We encourage hosts to think about coastal resilience holistically – for example, a project that addresses immediate or emerging hazards in a manner that also benefits community members, local economies, and the environment.
Who is eligible to participate as host?
Tribes, local nonprofits, municipalities, special districts, conservation districts, and other local entities working on projects focused on coastal resilience along WA’s coastlines. State and federal entities are not eligible for this fellowship.
Is it possible to co-host?
Yes, non-US citizens are welcome to apply to the fellowship. However, please keep the residence eligibility in mind as described below. Additionally, Washington Sea Grant is not able to sponsor a visa.
As a fellow applicant, do I need to be affiliated with a university to be eligible to apply?
No, you do not need to be currently affiliated with a university to be eligible to apply. Please review the host position descriptions for what education level is preferred.
