A Simplified Look at the Knauss Fellowship Application Timeline

Federal fellowships are a great way to transition into your career after graduate school, but the applications for these programs can feel really intimidating. If you’re considering the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship, this blog post will help break down the application timeline.

A note before we begin: This blog post outlines the application cycle for the 2026 fellowship season. However, it should give you a general idea of the standard process and time commitment for Knauss Fellowships.

For more on specific application requirements, refer to the National Sea Grant Office’s guide and Maryland Sea Grant’s webpage for Knauss applicants.

Fall 2024: Application Opens

The application typically opens to the public on grants.gov (search “Knauss”) in mid-to-late November but may be released earlier or later in fall. To be notified when the application opens, sign up for Maryland Sea Grant’s fellowship email list.

Between the release of the application and the due date, you should be preparing your application! You can find details on Maryland Sea Grant’s Knauss applicants webpage, but here’s a breakdown of what I recommend based on my own experience:

• November: Review the notice of funding and the National Sea Grant Office’s application guide.
• December: Speak to your references to ensure they can commit to submitting a reference letter by the due date. Begin to clean up your resume and draft your application narrative.
• January: Share your resume, draft application narrative, and additional talking points with your references to aid in their letter writing. You can also meet with Maryland Sea Grant to review your application. Ensure all your application materials are ready and meet the criteria.
• February: Give all your materials and your application package a final review to ensure they meet the criteria. Submit your application!

February 19, 2025: Application Due

Applications are due at 5 p.m. local time February 19. There are no exceptions if you miss this deadline. To be safe, aim to apply a few days before the deadline.

You will have an interview with Maryland Sea Grant shortly after applying, which will help determine your candidacy and qualifications. Maryland Sea Grant will conduct a peer-review panel to select six applicants each for Maryland. Those candidates will be considered for the National Sea Grant Office’s national competition.

Summer 2025: Finalists Chosen

Once Maryland Sea Grant submits their selected applicants, the National Sea Grant Office conducts a peer-review panel for all applicants from across the country. They announce the finalists for the Knauss fellowship in early summer.

You will hear from Maryland Sea Grant if you are selected as a finalist or an alternative. As an alternative, you’re on a waitlist for the fellowship program and still have a chance to become a finalist.

If you’re a finalist, you have until the end of summer (typically August 31) to accept and commit to the program. This is also when you decide if you’d like to have a placement within the executive or legislative branch of the government. Both are great opportunities!

Fall 2025 or Winter 2026: Placement Week

If you accept the fellowship and choose the executive branch, you will participate in placement week in fall. If you choose the legislative branch, you will typically participate in placement week in January.

Executive and legislative placement weeks both comprise:

1. Placement Descriptions: Typically, in early fall, you’ll receive a packet outlining all the executive placement positions. This document will have more placements than finalists, so don’t worry–you will get a placement. Take time to review the document and highlight positions you find interesting. Legislative placement descriptions are available immediately before placement week in January.
2. Get to Know the Offices: About a week before executive interviews, you will hear directly from the offices that are looking for fellows. Most often, the mentor for the role will share details of the position. Usually, another colleague or current fellow supports the recruitment effort. This happens online, and I encourage you to ask questions.
3. Interviews: After learning about the different roles, executive finalists interview with up to 20 host offices. Most finalists interview with 18 offices. Legislative finalists typically interview with all host offices. Interviews all happen in the same week, and each interview is 30 minutes long. The National Sea Grant Office will share more details on how this process works when you get to this stage.

After your respective placement week as an executive or legislative finalist, you can chill until February 1, 2026.

February 1, 2026: Fellowship Begins

You are officially a Knauss Fellow! Your first day will be in person at NOAA headquarters, where you will participate in a multi-day orientation and meet the other fellows. You’ll then go on your merry way and do all the amazing things fellows do in their Knauss year.

January 31, 2027: Fellowship Ends

Congratulations! You completed your year as a Knauss Fellow and are preparing to begin your next chapter. It’s almost hard to believe that this whole process took three years!