As the April 13 application deadline nears for the Sea to Stars joint fellowship with NC Space Grant and North Carolina Sea Grant, we caught up with former fellow Maya Hoon, who told us about her new role with the NC Department of Environmental Quality.

For the last several months, Hoon has served as the PFAS data analyst for the Public Water Supply section of NC DEQ’s Division of Water Resources. 

She graduated with her master’s in environmental sciences and engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her time as a joint fellow, she studied associations among heavy metals in waterways, antibiotic resistance, and several different environmental factors, including salinity and temperature. She later served with North Carolina’s Department of Transportation through Sea Grant’s NC STEM Policy Post-Graduate Fellowship. 

Could you tell us how your fellowships, research, and education helped prepare you for work in your field?

Maya Hoon: The STEM fellowship helped me become familiar with the different in-state agencies, how they interact, and furthermore, the different intricate layers of policy development.

I feel I have a better understanding of science communication and how science-backed research is integrated into the different layers of policy development. 

I’m proud I was able to support and contribute to meaningful statewide efforts that could sustainably enhance the lives of others in my home state of North Carolina. Ultimately, I’m proud to have started my journey into public service through this program, and I’m proud that I can continue serving the public today as a scientist. 

“While I’m still new to this position, I have felt invigorated and proud to be in it, because I feel I am able to apply my environmental toxicology and public health background, my research skills, and statistical and coding skills to pursue meaningful work in protecting public health — ensuring safe drinking water for the public.”

It was very eye-opening to learn about the different levels of enthusiasm and concerns in different parts of the state and was helpful for me to understand the different infrastructural needs and economic levels of particular areas of North Carolina.

I am a PFAS data analyst with the Public Water Supply section of NCDEQ’s Division of Water Resources. While I’m still new to this position, I have felt invigorated and proud to be in it, because I feel I am able to apply my environmental toxicology and public health background, my research skills, and statistical and coding skills to pursue meaningful work in protecting public health — ensuring safe drinking water for the public.

So far, I’ve found it quite cool to see how my different educational, research, and professional experiences have benefited me in understanding different public policies, rules and regulations, and the scientific work required for my current position. It is fulfilling to apply my skills to support meaningful work that will benefit the public.

Applications for the NC Space Grant – NC Sea Grant Graduate Research Fellowship are due by 5 p.m. ET on April 13, 2026. Apply here.