This post is part of the Early Career Scientist Policy Subcommittee’s series on science policy fellowships.

Tara Borland

The Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program is an opportunity for recent graduate students to spend a year working at a state or federal agency in Alaska on projects at the intersection of marine science and policy. Fellows are matched with agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) or the United States Geological Survey (USGS), where they pursue impactful projects ranging from drafting fisheries regulations to monitoring beluga whales.

I spoke with Tara Borland, Program Manager of Alaska Sea Grant, about the application and selection process and the types of projects that fellows take on.

What makes for a successful application?

We’re mostly looking for people who either have strong backgrounds in policy or marine science. It’s nice to have a wide pool of backgrounds to draw from. We gravitate towards folks who are interested in multiple options for their career and are open to any of the positions that we have available. The fellow might end up in Juneau, Anchorage, or Fairbanks, so we like to see that potential candidates are willing to live in any of these locations. We’re looking for strong candidates who’ve done well in school, who have a good work record, good references, and in their personal statement show some passion for being a part of this fellowship.

Q: How many applications are received each year?

This year, we had 25 applications—that’s our largest pool ever. We interviewed ten candidates and out of those, we had six finalists. Each potential candidate tells us which agencies they rate the highest. Using their ranking and background, we decide where they’re going to interview. We like to have each agency interview multiple candidates and each candidate interview at multiple agencies. After all the interviews are done, the fellows reevaluate their rankings. Nine times out of ten, they change, because candidates get a better feel for what each position offers. We also have the agencies rank the candidates that they met. From those two ranking systems, we find the best possible matches and then start offering the fellowships to candidates.

Q: Do you provide financial support for fellows to relocate?

It’s mostly their responsibility. Alaska Sea Grant provides some fellowship funds, but most of it comes from the agency in which the fellow is placed. In each budget, there’s $3,000 for travel. It’s up to the agency whether they’re going to need all of that money for the fellow to travel to different locations or whether they can use some of it to relocate.

Q: How many of the applicants already live in Alaska?

When we first started the fellowship program, it was only open to Alaskan students and residents. In our third year, we decided to open it up to other students throughout the country because we wanted to broaden our candidate pool. Of our current fellows, three of them are from out of state.

Q: What are some projects that fellows have taken on?

This is a marine policy fellowship, so it’s a blend between marine science and policy. A lot of the positions involve quite a bit of both because the science will drive the policy in the end. We have fellows every year that are in NOAA positions. This year we also have fellows with Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), the North Pacific Research Board, the Alaska Ocean Observing System, and the USGS. Our current AFSC fellow is doing a genetics project on juvenile chum, as well as an Arctic ecosystem monitoring project. Her first week on her fellowship, she went out on a research vessel to collect samples. Another fellow is working with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in the climate adaptation group. A fellow with the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council is reading through fisheries regulations and guidelines and helping write new regulations. Another fellow is working with volunteers on a beluga whale monitoring project.

Q: How does this fellowship prepare fellows to transition into policy careers?

One of the great things our fellowships offer is the networking and the connections that fellows can make. They’re going to meetings, working with professionals, and being interviewed by the media. It’s not an entry-level job or an internship where they’re just doing busy work. They’re actually working on meaningful projects, and they’re treated as professionals. They get to be a part of the team.

We also require a professional development plan from each fellow. It’s something that they create with the agency when they start. They update it after six months and then at the end. It has their personal goals, career goals, what the agency’s goals were for this fellowship, and then shows how they progress, how those goals have changed, and what goals they’ve met. We found that a lot of our fellows are recruited directly out of this fellowship either into the same agency or into a different job working on a similar project.

Q: How do alumni interact with current fellows?

We do monthly or bimonthly teleconference calls with the cohort of fellows around the state and we talk about what everybody has been up to and any questions they might have. I have had previous fellows join us on some of those calls. The new fellows coming in can talk to some of the ones finishing up. They meet up with each other, and because they’re connected with similar agencies, they also bump into each other when they’re at meetings.

Q: What are some of the alumni doing now?

One of the fellows was with the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and is now working with the Bristol Bay Native Corporation on fisheries quotas. One had a NOAA fellowship and now is managing fisheries with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Another was working with the national parks and has remained with them as an employee. One of our current fellows is working with the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and they are trying to hire her immediately. This is all about providing opportunity and bringing great folks to Alaska and retaining them to work here.

About the author:

Emily Lescak is co-chair of the Early Career Scientist Policy Committee and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her goal is to increase diversity and inclusion in the sciences while pursuing a career focused on science education and outreach.

 

, , , ,

Graduate student and postdoctoral leaders from the Early Career Scientist Committees of the GSA.

View all posts by Early Career Scientist Committees »

Read more in

  • Collage of 2021 Rosalind Franklin Award recipients

    Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research

    Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.

  • University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species

    The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.

  • Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!

    GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…

  • Carolyn Damilola headshot

    Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more

    Carolyn Damilola is an NFS Rising Scientist from Nigeria doing respiratory system research and paving the way for scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship.

  • Text over a blue background image: Apply for up to $2,000 for your project from the Starter Culture Microgrant Program.

    What does a good microgrant proposal look like?

    Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.

  • A blurred image of a human face is shown against a dark background.

    The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle

    New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.

  • New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Genome Integrity and Transmission section. We’re excited to welcome Amy MacQueen to the editorial team.

  • Close up of an adult zebrafish with blue and white stripes in an aquarium with red lighting.

    Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome

    Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.

  • Lemna Minor, the common duckweed

    Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza

    Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.

  • Luciano Marraffini headshot

    A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense

    2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.

  • Elaine Ostrander headshot

    Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs

    2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.

  • NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS Grant to Support Culture Change in Genetics

    GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics 

    We are thrilled to announce that the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is collaborating with the Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED) based in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and the Reclaiming STEM Institute (RSI) on a Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) grant from the U.S. National Science…

  • Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India

    In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Care­er Scientist…

  • Deborah Andrew headshot

    A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development

    2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.

  • Małgorzata Gazda's headshot

    Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job

    Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…

  • Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Statistical Genetics and Genomics section. We’re excited to welcome Hongyu Zhao to the editorial team.

  • Julio Molina Pineda at TAGC 2024

    GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024 

    “At any career stage, the GSA membership is an amazing investment for any genetics professional!” Julio Molina Pineda is a PhD Candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas, and a Doctoral Academy Fellow at the Lewis Lab. In 2023, Julio was awarded the DeLill Nasser Award for…

  • Ed Grell at his dissecting microscope using ether to anesthetize his flies.

    In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation

    Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…

  • Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!

    We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…

  • Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024

    You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…

  • Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience 

    A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…

  • TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners

    GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity…

  • Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards

    In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…

  • Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research

    In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026

    We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…

  • The Fly Meeting is one-of-a-kind! Dros 2025 organizers share their excitement

    The 66th Annual Drosophila Research Conference promises to be a meeting rich with the latest in Drosophila research as well as opportunities to advance your career and connect with a global community of 1,400+ scientists. The organizers Todd Nystul, Michelle Bland, Leila Rieder, Amanda Crocker, and Justin Crocker are hard at work, planning a conference…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Olufemi Osonowo

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Olufemi Adekunle OsonowoCareer Development SubcommitteeDalhousie University Research Interest Metabolomics and genomics are two distinct but complimentary approaches that offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of complex traits, such…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Hector Mendoza

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Hector MendozaCommunication and Outreach SubcommitteeUniversity of Michigan Research Interest My research goals converge around the evolution of sexual reproduction. During my doctoral program, I investigated mitochondrial inheritance, a mechanism…