NHSG Graduate Research Fellowship

two researchers stand on a boat wearing life jackets in front of a view of water and tree-lined shoreline with fall foliage

The New Hampshire Sea Grant (NHSG) Graduate Research Fellowship provides fellowship funding to support graduate students from New Hampshire institutions working in areas related to NHSG's mission, vision, and approaches. Projects should address identified needs for the state of New Hampshire in support of our four Focus Areas:

  1. Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
  2. Resilient Communities and Economies
  3. Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development
  4. Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

NHSG encourages applicants to carefully review our Strategic Plan and also consider how their work addresses NHSG Core Values and Cross-cutting Principles and how the applicant can integrate justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility into their projects through their approaches, collaborations, topics, and engagement efforts. 

Fellowship questions?
Contact:

Lindsey Williams, Ph.D.
Fellowships Program Leader
NH Sea Grant
lindsey.williams@unh.edu

What does the fellowship entail? 

Selected NHSG Graduate Research Fellows receive up to $20,000** in funding to support their graduate education (see below for details on funding).  NHSG Graduate Fellows benefit from the support and outreach capabilities of NHSG staff and broader community of partners. Graduate Fellows are encouraged to remain in regular contact with NHSG staff throughout their fellowship and are encouraged to participate in professional development and public outreach opportunities through NHSG.  Fellows are expected to communicate their research through opportunities such as the biennial NHSG Research Symposium and will be required to submit a final report upon completion. NHSG expects to fund two to four Graduate Research Fellows in the 2023-2024 cycle. 

Who's eligible?

  • Applicants and their faculty advisors / Principal Investigators (PIs) must be affiliated with an institution of higher learning or other research institution in New Hampshire with relevant research or educational capability during the award period. 
  • Applicants who have been accepted but have not yet enrolled in graduate study in New Hampshire may apply but are not eligible for funding support until they have enrolled. 
  • Graduate students in any discipline relevant to NHSG Focus Areas are eligible, this includes but is not limited to biology, ecology, engineering (ocean, civil, environmental, etc.), sociology, economics, environmental education, public policy, etc..  
  • NHSG encourages fellowship proposals from diverse applicants with regard to age, race, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, education levels, job classifications, veteran status types, income, and socioeconomic status. 

Length of Fellowship

1-year fellowship (June 1 - May 31 annually)


This Graduate Fellowship opportunity is independent from NHSG’s Biennial Research Grant Program RFPs. 

Applicants are eligible regardless of citizenship status, this includes but is not limited to: U.S. citizens, permanent residents of U.S. states or territories, international students enrolled at U.S. institutions, etc.  

Applicants must plan to be continuously enrolled during the full window of their planned use of funds.   

Priority will be given to student applicants who have not previously received NHSG Graduate Research Fellowship funding. 

Application Process

Timeline for 2023-2024: 

  • Application Deadline: February 27, 2023 by 5:00 pm, Eastern Time
  • Submitted by email by the proposing graduate student
  • One PDF packet, maximum 6 pages
  • E-mail to NHSG.Fellowships@unh.edu
  • If you do not receive an email confirmation within one business day, please follow-up to confirm receipt. 

Application requirements:

  1. Application cover sheet including (Download Word documentDownload PDF document.):
    • Name and contact information for graduate student applicant
    • Name and contact information for faculty advisor / PI
    • Research project title
    • Total budget request
    • Checklist question responses
  2. Proposal narrative (3-page limit) including the following sections:
    • Concise summary of the subject of the graduate student’s overall research, and statement of the additional capacity and value the Graduate Research Fellowship funding will provide 
    • Brief explanation of how the proposed work addresses one or more of NHSG’s Strategic Plan Focus Areas and where possible how it links to NHSG Core Values and Cross-cutting Principles 
    • Description of proposed graduate student work (project design and methods) 
    • Vision for how the proposed work advances justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the applicant’s area of study or community (applicants are welcome to contact NHSG to discuss ideas for integration of these concepts) 
    • Expected outcomes and deliverables from the Fellowship 
    • Connections to community or user group identified needs or questions  
    • Description of the connection to existing NHSG staff projects and/or NHSG funded researchers (if applicable) 
  3. One-page timetable for proposed work with anticipated deliverables and/or milestones (~June 2023 – ~May 2024)
  4. One-page proposed budget with summary table and budget justification text with a maximum request of $20,000** in direct costs.  Allowable budget items include expenses directly relevant to the advancement of the applicants graduate study and research.  This includes summer or semester graduate student stipend or tuition, travel, supplies, etc.  The table and justification should include sufficient budget detail for reviewers to determine the appropriateness of the proposed expenses.  
    **Proposals up to $25,000 will be considered in cases where the higher amount is needed to cover required minimum stipend rates. Undergraduate support is not an allowable expense in this Fellowship as NHSG separately supports the Doyle Undergraduate Fellowship.  Please contact NHSG prior to submission if you have any questions about allowable expenses.   

If selected for funding, additional budget and environmental compliance documentation will need to be submitted by the applicant and advisor/ PI prior to the release of funds. 


FOSTERING A SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY: NHSG is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people from diverse backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, age, disability and/or health status, ethnicity, gender identity, geographic origin, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and/or veteran status among others. NHSG does not tolerate any form of misconduct, discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct (e.g. sexual assault within its organization, at awardee organizations, field sites, meetings, or anywhere NHSG-funded research, outreach and education are conducted).