NOAA’s National Knauss Program Selects Former Sea to Stars Fellow Colleen Brown
As the April 13 application deadline approaches for this year’s Sea to Stars Fellowship, former fellow Colleen Brown is about to begin federal service through a highly selective national program.
NOAA and the National Sea Grant Office have announced the 2026 class of the Sea Grant John A. Knauss Policy Fellowship Program, including two former graduate students from North Carolina, Colleen Brown and Louisa Pitney. Brown was a joint fellow with North Carolina’s Space Grant and Sea Grant programs
“North Carolina Sea Grant is extremely excited to have Colleen Brown and Louisa Pitney selected as Knauss finalists out of this year’s very competitive national competition,” says John Fear, deputy director of North Carolina Sea Grant. “We look forward to seeing their careers take off as they undertake their Knauss Fellowships.”
Selection for the fellowship is highly selective, and the year-long program offers graduate students professional and educational experience in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource management. Fellows serve in the legislative or executive branches of federal government, contributing scientific and technical expertise to the policymaking process.
Brown recently earned her Ph.D. in applied coastal and ocean sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. An aquatic ecologist and data scientist, Brown’s research applies interdisciplinary science to address water pollution and inform decision-makers. Her experience includes investigating ocean acidification in the Caribbean, studying land-based pollution impacts on coral growth in Hawai‘i, and conducting research that contributed to the world’s largest coral reef survey.
As a former joint fellow with North Carolina’s Space Grant and Sea Grant programs, Brown presented her research at UNCW to former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Brown had studied water pollution from large poultry farms in North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Space Grant and Sea Grant programs are currently accepting applications for Graduate Research Fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Two Sea to Stars fellowships of up to $10,000 may be awarded to students whose projects address a priority research need within the state’s nearshore environments, coastal areas, watersheds or human activities in these areas.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on April 13, 2026.
Apply for the NC Space Grant – NC Sea Grant Graduate Research Fellowship.
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