Category Archives: fellowships

Oregon Sea Grant fellow studies effects of jellyfish off Oregon coast

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lanayafitzgerald2The numbers of jellyfish in the Pacific Ocean have been increasing dramatically over the past few years, and scientists are concerned. Why? Because jellyfish eat certain fish larvae—which not only reduces the numbers of those fish but puts jellyfish in direct competition with other predators. Further, jellyfish can thrive in low-oxygen (hypoxic) waters, giving them an added advantage for survival.

Oregon State University (OSU) student Lanaya Fitzgerald, a fellow in Oregon Sea Grant’s Undergraduate Marine Research Fellowship Program, has been conducting research to determine the effects of one particular species of jellyfish—the sea nettle—on fish larvae off the Oregon coast. Her research indicates that sea nettles do, indeed, have a voracious appetite for several commercially important fish species, including Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, and walleye pollock.

Fitzgerald’s work with jellyfish began in 2008, when she participated in a National Science Foundation-sponsored program called “Research Experience for Undergraduates” at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC), with mentors Ric Brodeur and Tom Hurst of NOAA. Co-mentor Bill Hanshumaker of HMSC helped supervise her Sea Grant fellowship. In early May of this year, Fitzgerald presented a poster highlighting some of the results of her research at OSU’s “Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence” symposium (see photo). On Saturday, June 27, her work will come full circle with a presentation (including some live jellyfish and fish larvae) at HMSC’s annual Seafest, in Newport, Oregon.

For more information, contact Ms. Fitzgerald at fitzgela@onid.orst.edu.

Natural Resources Fellowship open for applications

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Oregon Sea Grant is accepting applications through May 4 for its Natural Resource Policy Fellowship, which will place one  graduate student fellow in an Oregon state agency for one year beginning this July. This $30,000 fellowship is intended to give a student first-hand experience in natural resource policy at the state level. The student chosen for the fellowship will interview with Oregon state agencies to find the best fit for the student and the agency.

More information

Deadlines near for major fellowships

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Graduate students in marine science and resources have only a few weeks to apply for two major fellowships being offered by Oregon Sea Grant and/or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The opportunities include:

  • The National Marine Fisheries Service/Sea Grant NOAA’s Coastal Management Fellowship, which provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students and to provide project assistance to state coastal zone management programs. Application deadline: Jan. 28, 2008
  • The John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship , which matches highly qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative branch, the executive branch, or appropriate associations and institutions located in the Washington, D.C. area. Recipients spend one year working on substantive national policy issues related to marine issues; a stipend is provided. Application deadline: Feb. 29, 2008

For more information about these and other Sea Grant fellowhip opportunities for qualified graduate and undergraduate students, visit our Web site.

Melissa Feldberg
Fellowship Application
322 Kerr Admin.
Corvallis, OR 97331

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for information about either of these opportunities.

Undegraduate research fellowships available

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Oregon Sea Grant plans to support as many as four undergraduate students this year in conducting research related to ocean or coastal science, resources or public affairs, starting winter term of the 2007-2008 academic year.

Each fellowship will provide a resident tuition waiver (or partial tuition support for non-Oregon residents), a per-term stipend,  and modest travel and supply expenses, totalling a maximum of $9,000 per student for the academic year.   Fellows will be expected to work 10 hours/week on their research projects during winter and spring terms and 20 hours/week during the summer.  The deadline for applications is Oct 31, 2007.

More information is available here.