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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

70. NOAA - National Sea Grant College & National Marine Fisheries Service Joint Graduate Fellowship Programs in Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics

The National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGO) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have established a new Population Dynamics Fellowship Program and a new Marine Resource Economics Fellowship Program.

The goals of these fellowships are to (1) encourage qualified applicants to pursue careers in (a) population dynamics and stock assessment methodology or (b) marine resource economics; (2) increase available expertise related to (a) the population dynamics and assessment of stock status of living marine resources or (b) economic analysis of living marine resource conservation and management decisions; (3) foster closer relationships between academic scientists and NMFS; and (4) provide real-world experience to graduate students and accelerate their career development.

Beginning in the summer of 2000, each program will support two students interested in careers related to (1) the population dynamics of living marine resources and the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing their status, and (2) the economics of the conservation and management of living marine resources. Two additional students will be supported by each program in each subsequent year up to a maximum of six students per program at a given time.

The Population Dynamics Program will provide support for up to three years for two highly qualified graduate students working towards a PhD in population dynamics or related fields of study. The Marine Resource Economics Program will provide support for up to two years for two highly qualified graduate students working towards a PhD in marine resource economics, natural resource economics, or environmental economics.

In addition to their major professor, Fellows will be required to work closely with an expert (mentor) from NMFS who will provide data for their theses, serve on each Fellow's committee, and host an annual summer internship at the participating NMFS facility. Mentors will be from participating NMFS Science Centers, Laboratories, or Regional Offices. Each Fellow will be required to work as a summer intern at the participating NMFS facility either on his/her thesis or on appropriate related problems. Remuneration for the summer internship will be part of the annual award. Population Dynamics Fellows will also be expected to spend 10-20 days at sea per year learning about sampling techniques and problems, commercial fishing, fishery biology, and local and regional issues of importance to fisheries management. Fellows may also work, as necessary, at the participating NMFS facility during some or all of the academic year at the mutual discretion of mentor, major professor, and Fellow.

Any student may apply who is a United States citizen or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. At the time of application, prospective Population Dynamics Fellows must be admitted to a PhD degree program in population dynamics or a related field such as applied mathematics, statistics, or quantitative ecology at a university in the United States, and prospective Marine Resource Economics Fellows must be in the process of completing at least two years of course work in a PhD degree program in natural resource economics or a related field at a university in the United States.

The award for each fellowship will be in the form of a grant of $38,000 per year, 50% ($19,000) of which will be contributed by NMFS, 33 1/3 % ($12,667) by the NSGO, and 16 2/3 % ($6,333) by the university as the required 50% match of NSGO funds. The portion of the award provided to each Fellow for salary (stipend), living expenses (per diem), tuition, and travel necessary to carry out the proposed thesis research and to attend the annual Fellows meeting in Silver Spring, MD, will be determined and distributed by the state Sea Grant program/university in accordance with its guidelines.

Applications must be received by FEBRUARY 15, 2000, by the state Sea Grant Program (For Florida applicants: Florida Sea Grant College, Bldg. 803, PO Box 110400, University of Florida), and must be received by February 21, 2000, by the NSGO. Successful Fellows may expect to be notified by April 1, 2000. Fellowships, when initially awarded, will commence on or about June 1, 2000, pending completion of the Fellow's spring semester.