Fiscal Year 2022 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics | NOAA OAR SG 2022 2007042

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2022 2007042

The Fiscal Year 2022 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics is a competitive federal fellowship opportunity run through the National Sea Grant College Program, which was created by Congress in 1966 and later amended in 2008 (Public Law 110-394). Sea Grant is designed to strengthen federal-state partnerships and leverage the research capacity of universities and related institutions to address real-world challenges and create opportunities in coastal communities. This particular notice invites applications for Ph.D.-level fellowships that connect advanced academic research directly to the mission needs of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce under NOAA.

The program supports doctoral students whose work aligns with NOAA's broader "healthy oceans" goal, especially the idea that marine fisheries, habitats, and biodiversity should be sustained through healthy and productive ecosystems. A central feature of the fellowship is that fellows do not work in isolation; they conduct dissertation research on topics considered relevant to NMFS and of public interest, and they do so with hands-on guidance from NMFS mentors based at participating NMFS Science Centers or NMFS Offices. In practice, this structure is meant to build a pipeline of scientists and economists who are ready to contribute to fisheries science, protected species science, and marine resource policy as soon as they enter the workforce.

Applicants must choose and clearly label one of two focus areas on the application title page: Population and Ecosystem Dynamics (PED) or Marine Resource Economics (MRE). That focus-area designation matters because the two tracks target different skill sets and research outcomes, even though both emphasize quantitative, decision-relevant methods. The PED track is aimed at students planning careers in marine ecosystem and population dynamics, with a strong emphasis on modeling and management of living marine resource systems. Research in this track is expected to center on developing and applying quantitative approaches used to assess marine ecosystems and determine the status of managed stocks such as fish and invertebrates, as well as to evaluate the status of protected species including marine mammals and seabirds. In other words, the PED fellowship is oriented toward the analytical tools behind stock assessments, ecosystem assessments, and related modeling frameworks that inform conservation and management decisions.

The MRE track is aimed at students interested in the economics side of living marine resource conservation and management. It focuses on the development and implementation of quantitative methods used to assess economic dimensions of marine resource decisions, such as conservation tradeoffs, management impacts, and the economic consequences of different regulatory or stewardship approaches. While the description does not list specific project types, the intent is clear: projects should be rigorous, quantitative, and directly relevant to NMFS decision-making and public policy needs.

For FY 2022, Sea Grant indicated it anticipated funding at least four new Ph.D. fellowships under the Population and Ecosystem Dynamics track, and one new Ph.D. fellowship under the Marine Resource Economics track. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, reflecting that recipients are expected to coordinate and collaborate closely with the federal partner rather than simply receive funding with minimal involvement. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is associated with CFDA number 11.417. The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR SG 2022 2007042. The notice lists an award ceiling of $162,000 and an expected number of awards of 4, with the original application closing date of February 24, 2022 (and a creation date of October 13, 2021). Eligibility is summarized in the listing as "Others," with the full specifics referenced in the opportunity's eligibility section.

Overall, this fellowship is best understood as a high-intensity Ph.D. training and workforce-development program for future leaders in fisheries science, ecosystem assessment, protected species assessment, and marine resource economics. It funds dissertation research that is not only academically strong but also built to be useful in the applied management context NMFS operates in, with direct mentoring embedded in NMFS science and policy environments.

• 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 "Fiscal Year 2022 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.417.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 13, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 24, 2022. (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 $162,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2022 2007042

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