Washington Sea Grant Hershman Fellowship

Information for prospective fellows

Eligibility

• The WSG Hershman Fellowship currently is open to graduate students who have recently graduated (within the past two years) from Washington universities and those who will graduate before the fellowship begins.
• Applicants should be pursuing or have a degree in a marine-related field, including policy, law, social sciences, oceanography, and fishery sciences and marine related technical degrees. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest and/or some experience in marine science and public policy.
• 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

In 2024 each fellow will receive an award of $68,500, including an untaxed stipend of $65,000 (to cover living costs, health related benefits, and tax related expenses) and a $3,500 professional development budget administered by Washington Sea Grant.

Application requirements

Applications are submitted via the eSeaGrant online submission portal.

1. Resume or curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages; 12 pt font)
2. Statement of the applicant’s goals with emphasis on interest in, contribution to, and expectations from the fellowship (1,000 words or less; 12 pt font)
3. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s major professor. If no major professor exists, the faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant’s academic work may be substituted
4. Unofficial copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts

See below for how to apply.

Finalist selection

Finalists will be interviewed and selected by the Washington Sea Grant Hershman Fellowship Review Panel. All candidates will be notified in early June regarding the outcome of the panel’s selection process. Finalist are required to attend a two-day, in-person Matching Workshop in Seattle in mid June (finalists traveling from further than 50 miles away in Washington state can request reimbursement for mileage and one night of lodging in Seattle). More finalists are selected than there are host office positions, therefore not all finalists will match as fellows.

Selection criteria

Finalists are selected based on the following criteria:

1. Applicability of academic and professional background to the fellowship
2. Relevance of professional and education goals
3. Potential impact of the fellowship on future success, as well as personal characteristics such as initiative, leadership, adaptability, communication and analytical skills
4. Support from two letters of recommendation

While required to confirm eligibility, details of student transcripts are not factored into the selection process.

Placement of fellows

A mandatory, in-person workshop to match host offices with fellows will take place in Seattle, WA in mid June. The workshop includes an orientation, host office presentations, finalist presentations, interviews and fellow matching. There will be more finalists than host office positions, therefore not all finalists will match as fellows.

How to apply

Washington Sea Grant will be accepting all fellowship applications through our online submission portal, eSeaGrant. eSeaGrant will open to applicants in early April. If you are new to eSeaGrant please give yourself plenty of time to complete your application and contact our office if you have questions.

Contact

For further information please contact the WSG Fellowships Team at sgfellow@uw.edu.

Information for prospective hosts

The WSG Hershman Fellowship program welcomes participation by state, tribal and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations based in Washington State. Host offices with programs that address coastal or marine issues through natural and social science research, local and traditional knowledge, policy, management, environmental justice, and/or equity-centered work are encouraged to participate. Interested host offices are invited to submit an application to WSG.

WSG Hershman Fellows are teamed with mentors in a host office for one year, working on ocean and coastal science and management issues. Prospective hosts are expected to 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 creating marine policy and allows them to share their academic expertise with their host offices. Fellows are expected to work full-time, on site and with other staff or leadership, as appropriate.

Application requirements

Host application must include the following elements:

1. Host organization information: Provide your organizations the name and address (where fellow’s office space would be located)
2. Mentor and co-mentor information: Provide the name, title, and contact information for the individual who would serve as the fellow’s primary mentor and supervisor. This individual 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.
3. Project title: Provide a brief and descriptive fellowship project title (10 words max)
4. Project description (two pages max):
   • Project overview including any specific tasks, timelines, partners or major project components. Projects should be specific however, it is ok to include descriptions of more than one potential project if applicable*. For all projects we encourage you 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.
   • Mentorship, Professional Development and Networking: Describe the key mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities that will be available to the fellow through your organization or external partners
5. Organizational values: Describe how your organization, program, or department works to create a welcoming environment for all and what practices you put in place to broaden participation in marine and coastal professions by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
6. Level of financial support: How much of the cost of hosting a fellow will your organization be able to provide? Hosts are required to provide at least $68,500 of the $75,000 total cost of the 12-month fellowship (stipend, benefits stipend, tax stipend, professional development funds and WSG program support).* Details below.
7. Onboarding and workplace considerations
   • Where will the fellow be working (in office, remote, hybrid)?
   • Please confirm that a workspace and equipment (laptop, software, etc.) will be made available for the fellow’s use.
   • Travel and transportation: Describe the types of travel the fellow will need to participate in (site visits, field world, off sites, etc.) including (1) whether the fellow will need access to a personal vehicle (2) whether agency motor pool vehicles will be available for the fellow’s use, and (3) whether the fellow will need any specific licensing or certification to operate special vehicles or machinery.
   • Briefly describe any onboarding or training that will be provided to the fellow.
   • Briefly describe how the fellow will receive performance feedback.
   • Please indicate whether the fellow will require any additional background checks or security clearances and whether these may affect a fellow’s ability to start work on time.

Please review the WSG Fellowships Handbook before submitting your host application. While the main audience of the handbook is fellows, it’s helpful for prospective hosts to be familiar with the expectations and policies conveyed there.

Please submit host applications to sgfellow@uw.edu.

*See exception for first-time hosts (not available in 2025)

Host selection

• The perceived quality of the fellowship project and mentorship opportunity.
• The level of educational and professional development benefit for the fellow.
• Alignment of project with WSG goals and values including:
  • promotion of science-based solutions to marine and coastal issues;
  • partnerships that value and engage the priorities, expertise, capabilities, and participation of diverse partners;
  • culture of inclusion, accessibility, respect, long-term engagement and accountability;
  • perceived existence of inclusive work space environments that promote cultural competency and is welcoming to demographically diverse individuals.
• The level of financial commitment.

Review the timeline for key dates.

Fellow selection

Each year, WSG selects up to six WSG Hershman Fellows (depending on size of candidate pool and number of host offerings). Fellowship applications will be submitted to WSG, and a review panel will be convened to 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 plans to hold a mandatory matching workshop in Seattle in mid-June, that will serve as the basis for placement of fellows in host offices. During the two-day workshop, hosts and finalists will participate in interviews and presentations. Final host placement assignments will be based on ranking of preferences by both the hosts and selected finalists with possible subsequent discussion as necessary.

The length of a fellowship assignment is 12 months and is not renewable. WSG will administer monthly stipend payments and will manage a discretionary professional development and fellowship related travel budget for each fellow. Once selected, hosts will need to work with Washington Sea Grant to put in place an interagency agreement (i.e. a funding contract) for each fellowship award prior to the start of fellowships in September. The fellowship contracts will begin on or around mid September. Fellows may not start work until the contract is in place.

Fellowship expenses

The total cost of the fellowship is $68,500-$75,000 and host offices are encouraged to cover the full cost of the fellowship whenever possible. At a minimum each host office is required to contribute $68,500 of the fellowship award (covers the fellow’s base, benefits, and tax stipends).*

Costs for hosting a WSG Hershman Fellow are as follows:

Total Cost of Fellowship $75,000:

• $65,000 base stipend
• $3,500 professional development budget
• $6,500 Sea Grant program support

Host cost share: $68,500-$75,000

*First-time host incentive (not available for 2025)

WSG offers a first-time host incentive option. The goal of this incentive option is to allow new fellowship hosts from diverse sectors to join the fellowship program with a lower financial commitment. Under the first-time host incentive option, first-time hosts will be expected to pay at least:

• $45,000 in year 1 ($30K discount)
• $55,000 in year 2 ($20K discount)
• $65,000 in year 3 and beyond ($10K discount)

We hope that this reduced cost option will allow first-time hosts the chance to build a case for additional funding based on the high caliber and proven success of the fellows. Participation in the host office incentive program is not guaranteed and is contingent upon funding availability.

How to apply

Please submit host applications to sgfellow@uw.edu.

Contact

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