Every year, we bring thousands of dollars of federal funding to support New York students in doing field-based, community-driven research. Our ability to connect students, funding, and places makes the Hudson River Research Reserve a hub for the next generation of New York’s environmental science workforce. With the help of our partners, high school, college, and graduate students from more than 90 institutions have conducted research on the Hudson over the past 35 years.
Student Research Opportunities at the Reserve
| Student Research Program | Number | Timeframe | Target grade level | Amount | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship | 1 | 2 academic years | Masters and Doctoral | $60,000/year | NOAA |
| Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program | 1 | 2 academic years | Undergraduate | $9,500/year | NOAA |
| Mark B. Bain Doctoral Fellowship | Up to 6 | 1 academic year | Doctoral | $19,000/year + research budget of up to $1,000 | Hudson River Foundation |
| The Institute Discovering Environmental Scientists (TIDES) | 15-18 | Summer | High School | Hourly rate | Hudson River Estuary Program |
| NOAA College-Supported Internship Please note, as of 2026 the College Internship is on hiatus. | 1 | Summer | Undergraduate | $3,800 | NOAA |
| Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship Please note, as of 2025 the Polgar Fellowship is on hiatus. | 8 | Summer | Undergraduate | $5,000 | Hudson River Foundation |
| Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program | ~30 | Summer | High School | $3,000 | American Fisheries Society |
| McKeon Student Research Grant | Not specified | Summer | High School and Undergraduate | Up to $1,000 | Hudson River Environmental Society |
College Internship
In partnership with NYS DEC, the Research team offers undergraduate internships to students each year. Interns assist with water quality monitoring, laboratory analyses, tidal wetland habitat research, and other environmental monitoring.
Due to the temporary closure of Norrie Point Environmental Center effective summer 2026, the College Internship program is on hiatus.
NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship
This two-year graduate research fellowship brings a student to the Hudson River Reserve to conduct collaborative research that addresses a key reserve management question. The work helps scientists and communities understand coastal challenges and impacts to influence future policy and management strategies.
Applications are now open for the 2027-2029 Cohort! Students must apply by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 7, 2026.
Hollings Scholarship
The Hollings Scholarship Program, funded by NOAA, provides undergraduate students with hands-on, practical experience in science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards include academic assistance for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship during the summer at a NOAA facility.
Mark B. Bain Doctoral Fellowship
This 1-year fellowship brings a doctoral student to do research on the Hudson River and Watershed, focused on topics related to the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the River, or address social, economic, or public policy issues, including issues related to environmental justice.
Polgar Fellowship
In cooperation with the Hudson River Foundation, the Polgar Fellowship provides funding for eight students each summer with small stipends for advisors. The program aims to broaden participation with the Hudson River’s diverse student population and facilitate mentorship and opportunity for students historically underrepresented in the environmental sciences.
Please note, as of 2025 the Polgar Fellowship is on hiatus.
past projects
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Corey Rundquist was a 2018 Polgar Fellowship recipient from Hamilton College. He collected data at Norrie Point for his project titled “Detecting Cyanobacteria in the Hudson River Using Fluorescent Sensors Suitable for Real-time Deployment.”
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Sophia Courtney was a 2019 Polgar Fellowship Recipient from Drexel University. She collected data from Piermont Marsh for her project titled “Is Sea Level Rise Altering Wetland Hydrology in Hudson River Valley Tidal Marshes?”
The Institute Discovering Environmental Scientists (TIDES)
TIDES is a paid summer field experience through the Reserve’s Education team where High School and College students conduct field research projects along the banks of the Hudson River and in local streams. Students will be introduced to research concepts and to field work.
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight week paid summer internship and mentoring program for high school students sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Our vision is to stimulate interest in fisheries and aquatic science among underrepresented groups in the profession today. Participating students receive a $3,000 stipend and an all expense paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit (University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff). Through the network of mentors, AFS can place students in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico within a 45 minute commute of the student’s home.
McKeon Student Research Grant
The 2027 McKeon Student Research Grant Program awards grants (up to $1,000) to encourage high school and undergraduate college students to undertake summer projects relating to environmental research topics in the Hudson Valley.
If you know of any Hudson Valley students who may be interested in applying for the McKeon grant, please let them know that their proposals must be sent to Dr. Lucy Johnson, the HRES Grant Committee Chair, by March 31, 2027.