Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship

opportunity for graduate students

An exciting research and professional development opportunity

The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is seeking Masters and PhD level applicants for an exciting two-year fellowship program. 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.

Take a look at Lake Superior Reserve’s fellowship research questions below, and APPLY NOW to be our next Margaret A. Davidson fellow! Applications due December 10, 2021.

Proposed research projects must address one of the following research priorities:

Analyzing forested wetlands for resilience

The invasive emerald ash borer has begun to impact black ash-dominated forested wetlands in the St. Louis River Estuary, and will likely cause shifts in species composition and wetland function, but the ecological impacts in the Lake Superior estuarine environment are unknown, especially in the context of daily, seasonal and long-term water level fluctuations and increasing flood events. Therefore, robust analysis of the extent and ecological function of these forested wetlands in Lake Superior estuaries may help inform future restoration and management efforts.

Reserve Contact:
Dustin Haines, Research Coordinator
dustin.haines@wisc.edu

Building robust community engagement

Decision-makers are concerned about meeting community needs when implementing St. Louis River Estuary restoration and conservation projects, and value community input as a critical component of successful projects, but seek guidance on how to authentically and effectively engage diverse users of the landscape when restoration projects arise. Therefore, local decision-makers would benefit from place-grounded inquiry that builds robust community engagement processes into project outcomes, culminating in recommendations and/or applied tools that can guide engagement efforts in the future.

Reserve Contact:
Deanna Erickson, Reserve Manager
deanna.erickson@wisc.edu

Researching sediment and nutrient dynamics

Through protection, remediation and restoration efforts, the St. Louis River Estuary is overcoming a legacy of contamination, however, a lack of suitable spatial and temporal water quality data inhibits the ability to understand how flood events and other climate change stressors may impact the long-term health of the estuary. Therefore, additional research that elucidates past and current sediment and nutrient dynamics is needed to identify future monitoring needs and tools that will help the reserve strengthen partner and community restoration and resilience efforts.

Reserve Contact:
Hannah Ramage, Monitoring (SWMP) Coordinator
hannah.ramage@wisc.edu

Illuminating coastal flooding solutions

Flood events and high water levels over the past decade have severely impacted regional communities and observing the impacts of these changes on the Lake Superior coast can motivate decision-makers to prioritize resilience, but the impacts and benefits of resilient coastal infrastructure solutions are not always clear to communities considering their implementation. Therefore, assessments of targeted policy or engineering options would help Lake Superior coastal communities understand how to take action in the context of increasing flood events and fluctuating water levels.

Reserve Contact:
Karina Heim, Coastal Training Program Coordinator
karina.heim@wisc.edu

Study impacts of climate change on individual and community well-being

Western Lake Superior is experiencing more precipitation, warmer winters and increasing storm events and these environmental changes impact human health and well-being in complex ways, but the myriad of impacts of climate change on place-based seasonal recreation and subsistence activities in communities surrounding Lake Superior estuaries are not well understood. Therefore, an analysis of the local impacts of climate change on individual and community well-being and identity related to these activities may help inform adaptation strategies, plan for transitions and integrate future recreation and subsistence needs in land management decisions.

Reserve Contact:
Deanna Erickson, Reserve Manager
deanna.erickson@wisc.edu

General Fellowship information
The research reserves represent the apex of estuary science. At these coastal sites, fieldwork, research, and community engagement come together to create the scientific advances that change our communities and our world.

Specific fellowship benefits include the following:

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 development 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

Pending congressional appropriations, NOAA anticipates an annual budget of up to $45,000 in direct costs. Direct costs should support the fellows and their research and may include stipend, supplies, travel, and tuition.

Applications due December 10, 2021.

Apply Now

Applications due December 10, 2021

Apply Now

Eligible applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of U.S. states or territories 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.