Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship

The next fellowship class will begin August 2027. Applications open Fall 2026.

About the fellowship

The Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship is a program through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management that will provide funding to graduate students admitted to or enrolled in a master’s or PhD program to conduct estuarine research within one of the 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.

One two-year fellowship opportunity will be available at the each of the 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves, including the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (NC NERR), which includes Currituck Banks, Rachel Carson, Masonboro Island, and Zeke’s Island reserve sites. 

Fellowship benefits include:

  • The ability to develop meaningful cross-discipline research projects in conjunction with scientists, community leaders, and other organizations.
  • Networking opportunities with the annual fellowship class of 29, plus the other professionals across the reserve system, NOAA, and community partners.
  • Professional guidance and mentoring in a variety of disciplines, including facilitation and communication. Fellows will also have quarterly career-readiness training.
  • The development of research partnerships between universities and reserves.

Current Fellow: Mina Surprenant (2024-2026, extended into 2027)

Interested students are encouraged to explore the management priorities (listed below) and discuss potential projects with Justin Ridge, the NCNERR research coordinator.

The next fellowship class begins in summer of 2027.

An Information Webinar is hosted by the N.C. Coastal Reserve during each application cycle.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens admitted to or enrolled in a full-time graduate program at a U.S. accredited college or university, working to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. Applicants must plan to be enrolled for all of the first year, and the majority of the second year, of funding.

Timeline

Fall 2026 Call for applications

Winter 2026-27 Applications due and review

Late Spring 2027 - Recommended students notified

August 2027 Fellowship Begins

Resources

About Margaret A. Davidson 

This fellowship honors the legacy of NOAA’s Margaret A. Davidson. Margaret was a true visionary in the coastal management world, someone who saw the future with clarity and knew how to push for innovation and, frankly—shake things up. She defined excellence in many categories, always raising the bar with the goal of helping coastal communities thrive. This approach is what NOAA and the research reserves are striving to achieve with the Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship program.

Daniel Bowling: 2022-2024 Davidson Fellow

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