NOAA Office for Coastal Management

Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship

The Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship 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, where fieldwork, research, and community engagement come together to create scientific advances. Fellows develop meaningful cross-discipline research projects in conjunction with scientists, community leaders, and other organizations. The fellowship includes networking opportunities with the annual fellowship class and professionals across the reserve system, NOAA, and community partners. Fellows receive professional development and mentoring in disciplines including facilitation and communication, with quarterly career-readiness training. The program fosters research partnerships between universities and reserves. Students who participate can become eligible for a noncompetitive direct hiring authority at NOAA. This fellowship honors the legacy of NOAA's Margaret A. Davidson, a visionary in the coastal management world who defined excellence and worked to help coastal communities thrive.