Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006074
The FY20-21 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowships for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a competitive graduate fellowship opportunity run through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management under the Department of Commerce. It supports masters and doctoral students who want to do applied, collaborative research inside one of the National Estuarine Research Reserves, with the broader aim of strengthening the future workforce in estuarine science and coastal management. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is tied to implementation of the Coastal Zone Management Act and focuses on balancing coastal environmental protection with the realities of coastal economies, so the fellowship is designed to produce research that is not only academically strong but also directly useful for on-the-ground management needs.
A central requirement is that each fellowship project must be conducted in a designated research reserve and must align with that reserve's priority management areas. In practice, this means proposed work should address real questions a reserve is actively working on, and it can be framed in either natural science or social science terms as long as it advances understanding relevant to stewardship and decision-making in estuarine and coastal systems. The program emphasizes collaboration with reserve staff and partners, rather than a student working in isolation, and it is structured to connect research outputs to management applications.
The fellowship lasts two years, and the program intends to select one fellow for each of the 29 reserves in the system, for an anticipated total of 29 awards. Alongside research support, the Davidson Fellowship is explicitly built around mentoring and professional development. Fellows are expected to receive guidance that helps them build practical skills, understand the coastal management landscape, and grow professionally. Another stated goal is to form a cohort and professional network among fellows that continues beyond the fellowship period, supporting early-career development and long-term connections across the NERRS community.
Funding is typically awarded to the fellow's graduate institution through a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates NOAA expects active involvement and coordination during the project period rather than a purely hands-off grant. The posted award ceiling is $60,000, and the opportunity falls under a discretionary funding program in the areas of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development (CFDA 11.420). The opportunity number is NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006074, with a creation date of June 18, 2019, and an original closing date of December 20, 2019.
Eligibility is aimed at individual graduate students, with applications routed through the appropriate institutional process. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories and must be admitted to or enrolled full-time in a masters or doctoral program at an accredited U.S. university. The program also notes that minority students are encouraged to apply, reflecting an interest in broadening participation in coastal and estuarine science and management careers. More program background and fellowship details are provided by NOAA at https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/research/davidson-fellowship.html.Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006074
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY20-21 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowships for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 29 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY20-21 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowships (NERRS) - FAQs
1) What is the FY20-21 Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship?
It is a competitive graduate fellowship run through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management (Department of Commerce) that supports master's and doctoral students conducting applied, collaborative research within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). The program is designed to produce research that is academically strong and directly useful for coastal and estuarine management needs.
2) Who runs and administers this fellowship program?
The fellowship is run through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
3) What is the main purpose of the fellowship?
The fellowship aims to strengthen the future workforce in estuarine science and coastal management by supporting graduate students doing research that informs real-world stewardship and decision-making in estuarine and coastal systems.
4) How is this fellowship connected to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)?
Fellowship projects must take place within a designated National Estuarine Research Reserve. NERRS is tied to implementation of the Coastal Zone Management Act and focuses on balancing coastal environmental protection with the realities of coastal economies, which shapes the fellowship's emphasis on management-relevant research.
5) Where must the research be conducted?
Each fellowship project must be conducted in a designated National Estuarine Research Reserve.
6) Does the proposed research need to match a reserve's priorities?
Yes. A central requirement is that the project aligns with the selected reserve's priority management areas, meaning the work should address questions a reserve is actively working on and produce results that can be used for on-the-ground management.
7) What kinds of research topics are eligible (natural science vs. social science)?
Projects can be framed in natural science or social science terms as long as they advance understanding relevant to stewardship and decision-making in estuarine and coastal systems and align with the reserve's priority management areas.
8) Is collaboration required, or can a student work independently?
Collaboration is emphasized. The program is structured around working with reserve staff and partners rather than a student working in isolation, with the expectation that research outputs will connect to management applications.
9) How long does the fellowship last?
The fellowship lasts two years.
10) How many awards are expected?
The program intends to select one fellow for each of the 29 reserves in the system, for an anticipated total of 29 awards.
11) What is the maximum award amount?
The posted award ceiling is $60,000.
12) How is funding awarded (to the student or the university)?
Funding is typically awarded to the fellow's graduate institution through a cooperative agreement.
13) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates NOAA expects active involvement and coordination during the project period, rather than a purely hands-off grant arrangement.
14) What kinds of support does the fellowship provide beyond research funding?
The fellowship is explicitly built around mentoring and professional development. Fellows are expected to receive guidance that builds practical skills, helps them understand the coastal management landscape, and supports professional growth.
15) Does the fellowship include networking or cohort-building?
Yes. Another stated goal is to form a cohort and professional network among fellows that continues beyond the fellowship period, supporting early-career development and long-term connections across the NERRS community.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at individual graduate students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories and must be admitted to or enrolled full-time in a master's or doctoral program at an accredited U.S. university.
17) Are international students eligible?
Based on the stated eligibility requirements, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories.
18) Do applicants need to be enrolled full-time?
Yes. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled full-time in an eligible graduate program (master's or doctoral) at an accredited U.S. university.
19) Can both master's and doctoral students apply?
Yes. The fellowship supports both master's and doctoral students.
20) How are applications submitted?
Applications are routed through the appropriate institutional process, indicating the student's graduate institution plays a role in submitting or processing the application.
21) Are minority students encouraged to apply?
Yes. The program notes that minority students are encouraged to apply, reflecting an interest in broadening participation in coastal and estuarine science and management careers.
22) What are the program's broader focus areas (funding category)?
The opportunity falls under a discretionary funding program in the areas of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
23) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
CFDA 11.420.
24) What is the official opportunity number?
NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006074.
25) What were the key dates listed for this funding opportunity?
The creation date was June 18, 2019, and the original closing date was December 20, 2019.
26) Where can applicants find more official program details from NOAA?
NOAA provides additional background and fellowship details here: https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/research/davidson-fellowship.html.
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