This is an exciting two-year fellowship program that provides the opportunity for graduate students to conduct collaborative research at one of the 30 national estuarine research reserves.
Through a research project, fellows address a key reserve management need to help scientists and communities understand coastal challenges that may influence future policy and management strategies.
The research reserves represent the apex of estuary science. At these coastal sites, fieldwork, research, and community engagement come together to create the scientific advances that change our communities and our world.
Specific fellowship benefits include the following:
The ability to develop meaningful cross-discipline research projects in conjunction with scientists, community leaders, and other organizations
Networking opportunities with the fellowship class, plus other professionals across the reserve system, NOAA, and community partners
Professional development and mentoring in a variety of disciplines, including facilitation and communication, and career-readiness training.
The development of research partnerships between universities and reserves
Students who participate in the Davidson Fellowship can become eligible for a noncompetitive direct hiring authority at NOAA. Visit this website for more information about what this means.
Pending congressional appropriations, NOAA anticipates an annual budget of up to $45,000 in direct costs, which should support the fellows and their research and may include stipend, supplies, travel, and tuition.
For Applicants
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories admitted to or enrolled in a full-time graduate program at a U.S. accredited college or university, working to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. Applicants must plan to be enrolled for all of the first year, and the majority of the second year, of funding.
When are applications due?
The request for applications will be due in late 2026. More information will be shared here when it is available. Please note that the prospective fellow’s institution of higher education is the applicant for the fellowship, so students are encouraged to work with their advisor and Office of Sponsored Programs, or equivalent, well in advance of the deadline to prepare the application package.
Check out this Guide to Collaborative Science for more information and resources to plan and implement a collaborative research project.
Meet the Fellows
The Margaret A. Davidson fellows work collaboratively with mentors, scientists, and the local communities on their identified projects during the two-year fellowship. Sign up for email updates and stay connected with the program by emailing OCM.DavidsonFellowship@noaa.gov.
Check out these resources to learn more about the major program elements, applicant eligibility and evaluation criteria, and tips for applying to this opportunity
This fellowship honors the legacy of NOAA’s Margaret A. Davidson. Margaret was a true visionary in the coastal management world, someone who saw the future with clarity and knew how to push for innovation and, frankly—shake things up. She defined excellence in many categories, always raising the bar with the goal of helping coastal communities thrive. This approach is what NOAA and the research reserves are striving to achieve with the Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship program.
