Internships, Fellowships, Scholarships
Undergraduate and graduate students can get involved in their sanctuary through annual internship opportunities. Internships are project specific to support research, communications, resource protection, or operations at the sanctuary. Contact our volunteer coordinator for more information about these opportunities. Internships can be accomplished remotely.
With the exception of the opportunities below, internships at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary are unpaid.
Georgia Sea Grant State Fellowship
Gray's Reef partners with the Georgia Sea Grant Program providing an annual fellowship opportunity each year for graduate-level students. Past fellows have supported developing sanctuary research plans, resource protection, and outreach and education.
Typical application deadline: June/July
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program
This marine policy fellowship offers a unique educational experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, and in national policies that affect those resources. Successful applicants are matched with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government for a one-year paid fellowship in the Washington D.C. area.
Typical application deadline: early-November.
NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to $9,500 per year) for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid ($700/week) internship at a NOAA facility during the summer.
Typical application deadline: late-January/early-February.
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master's and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology. Scholarship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research and career goals, and financial need.
Typical application deadline: early-December.
NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship
The NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship program matches postgraduate students with state coastal zone programs to work on projects proposed by the state and selected by the fellowship sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.
Typical application deadline: mid-January.
José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship
The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year, and two summer internship opportunities.
Typical application deadline: late-January/early-February.
Virtual Student Federal Service–Unpaid Opportunity
TThrough the U.S. State Department, undergraduate- and graduate-level students can gain experience working for government organizations. Gray's Reef has offered opportunities supporting the digital communications and data management teams.
Typical application deadline: early July.
National marine sanctuaries are federal offices, and therefore all interns must either be citizens of the United States or have a visa that allows them to work in the U.S.
- UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, visit their ‘Student Opportunities' webpage.
- Student opportunities across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
View more NOAA-wide student opportunities.