Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship

Information for prospective fellows

Eligibility

The WSG Keystone Fellowship currently is open to:

• Those who have graduated with an undergraduate degree as of June 30, 2025 and have a minimum of 4 years experience in a field related to [HOST OFFICE’s] Keystone Fellowship project and who currently reside in Washington state.
• Current and recent graduate students (i.e. those who have graduated January 2023 or later or who will graduate before the fellowship begins) who currently reside in Washington state.
• Exceptions may be made for continuing graduate students (e.g. PhD students) who can commit to work full-time (40 hours per week) for the duration of the fellowship.
• Applicants should be pursuing or have a degree in a marine-related field, including policy, governance, public health, law, social sciences, oceanography, and fishery sciences and marine related technical degrees OR have significant work experience in a related field.
• DACA students are eligible to apply.
• We encourage applications from individuals who bring unique experiences, perspectives, and skills that will enrich the marine policy and science workforce.
• Some eligibility requirements may change depending on the fellowship project, please read the current position description carefully.

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

If you have any questions about this statement or the ability of the program to accommodate disabilities please contact the WSG Fellowships Team at sgfellow@uw.edu.

Award

Each fellow will receive a stipend of $65,000 plus a $3,500 professional development budget administered by Washington Sea Grant.

NOTE: WSG Fellowships are non-benefits eligible positions and stipends are untaxed. Selected fellows are required to purchase health insurance and will need to independently manage their tax liability (e.g., pay quarterly taxes; consult a tax advisor, etc.).

Application requirements

All applications must include:

1. Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages; 12 pt. font)
2. Career and Goals Statement:
   • Part A: Describe your interest in the WSG Keystone Fellowship with a specific focus on how the Fellowship would support your career pathway and your further development as a professional (max 500 words).
   • Part B: Describe the transferable skills (skills that can be applied across a variety of disciplines) that you would bring to the Keystone Fellowship. Highlight experiences from your personal, professional and academic background (max 500 words).
3. Keystone Statement:Please describe how your educational, professional, community, or lived experiences have shaped your commitment to broadening participation in environmental work. How have these experiences informed your understanding of what it takes to create workplace cultures that are welcoming and prioritize dignity and respect for all people? You may include examples such as personal or family experiences, organizational involvement, or leadership roles. Additionally, explain how this understanding will influence your approach as a WSG Keystone Fellow and in your future career. (500 words or less, 12pt. font)
4. Two letters of recommendation
5. Demographics Form (optional)
6. Unofficial copies of all graduate and/or undergraduate transcripts

Finalist selection

Applications will be reviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Fellowships Team. Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship Review Panel which typically includes Washington Sea Grant staff, a host office mentor and a former Keystone Fellow.

Selection criteria

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

• Applicability of academic and professional background to the fellowship
• Lived experiences that will help the applicant contribute to the host office project and to the goals of the Keystone Fellowship program
• Relevance of professional and education goals
• Potential impact of the fellowship on future success, as well as personal characteristics such as initiative, leadership, adaptability, communication and analytical skills
• Support from two letters of recommendation

How to apply

Washington Sea Grant will be accepting all fellowship applications through our online submission portal, eSeaGrant. If you are new to eSeaGrant you must register for an account using the “Register” tab. Please give yourself plenty of time to complete your application and contact our office if you have questions.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to Washington Sea Grant in advance of the application deadline to receive application support and provide notification of their intent to apply: sgfellow@uw.edu

Information for prospective host offices

The Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship program welcomes participation by state, tribal and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, maritime and aquaculture industries in Washington State with programs in coastal or marine research, policy, or management.  Hosts of a WSG Fellow are expected to supervise, mentor, and provide opportunities for involvement in substantive issues that contribute to the fellow’s professional accomplishments and goals. Prospective host offices must demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and in the execution of their missions.

The fellow will be expected to participate at a full-time level within the host office and work on site and with other staff and/or agency leaders, as appropriate. Representatives of organizations that are interested in hosting a Keystone Fellows should contact sgfellow@uw.edu to discuss the opportunity. Prospective host offices will submit a host application to WSG.

Host applications

Host applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with accepted host opportunities advertised to prospective fellow in the next available fellowship cycle.

Each host application must include the following:

1. Host office location and contact information
2. Name and position of the official fellowship mentor/supervisor
3. Fellowship Position Description (not to exceed two pages, single spaced). If selected as a participating host, this description will be made available as submitted to prospective fellowship applicants.
4. Keystone Alignment Statement (not to exceed one page, single spaced) Tell us about how your organization or program is addressing mission specific issues related to environmental justice, racial justice, equity and inclusion and how a WSG Keystone Fellow, in addition to their primary project work, might contribute to relevant systemic change as part of your team. Possible areas for discussion in this statement include:
   • Organizational culture
   • Coalitions and partnerships
   • Education and outreach
   • Human resources
   • If your organization has an official DEI statement please include it in your application package.
5. Level of financial support. Hosts are asked to provide at least 50 percent of the entire cost of the 12-month fellowship ($75,000 which covers the fellow’s base, benefit, and tax stipends, professional development budget, and Sea Grant program support).

Acceptance of a host application will be based on the following criteria:

• The perceived quality of the fellowship opportunity, including mentorship and supervision
• The perceived existence of inclusive workplace environments that promote cultural competence and are welcoming to demographically diverse individuals.
• The level of educational benefit for the fellow
• The level of financial commitment

Please contact sgfellow@uw.edu to inquire about hosting a fellow.

Fellow selection criteria

Washington Sea Grant will promote fellowship positions and recruit prospective fellows specifically for each individual Keystone Fellowship opportunity. We conduct broad outreach to Washington institutions of higher education including a variety of departments, advisors, professors, as well as programs and affinity groups that serve diverse students.

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

• Applicability of academic and professional background to the fellowship
• Lived experiences that will help the applicant contribute to the host office project and to the equity and inclusion goals of the Keystone Fellowship
• Relevance of professional and education goals
• Potential impact of the fellowship on future success, as well as personal characteristics such as initiative, leadership, adaptability, communication and analytical skills
• Support from two letters of recommendation

Applications will be reviewed by the Washington Sea Grant fellowships team. Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellowship Review Panel. The panel will be convened and facilitated by Washington Sea Grant and made up of demographically and institutionally diverse program partners which may include representatives from Washington institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and tribal government, NGOs, industry, faculty and former fellows.

The Review Panel will select finalists who will sit for a second interview with Washington Sea Grant staff and the host office mentor who together will select the Keystone Fellow.

Fellowship expenses

The total cost of the fellowship is $75,000 and host offices are asked to cover as much of the full cost as possible. At a minimum each Keystone fellowship host office is expected to contribute at least $40,000 of the fellowship cost.

Costs for hosting a WSG Keystone Fellow are as follows:

Total cost of fellowship is $75,000:

• $55,000 base stipend
• $10,000 benefits stipend (e.g., to purchase health and dental insurance, pay quarterly taxes, hire a tax advisor etc.)
• $3,500 professional development budget
• $6,500 Sea Grant program support

Host cost share: $40,000 – $75,000

WSG will administer the fellow stipend and professional development funds. Once placement is confirmed, the host is expected to work with Washington Sea Grant and the University of Washington Office of Sponsored Programs to put into place a cooperative or interagency agreement for the fellowship award prior to the start of the fellowship. Fellows may not start work until the funding agreement is completed.

Contact Washington Sea Grant for information about hosting a WSG Keystone Fellow: sgfellow@uw.edu