Now Accepting Applications for the 2027-2029 Cohort
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 7, 2026.
The NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship is an exciting, two-year fellowship program that provides the opportunity for graduate students to conduct collaborative research at one of the 30 reserves within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
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. One fellow will be selected for each reserve for a two-year duration. Each fellow may request up to $60,000 per year ($120,000 total) for a 24-month project period. Funding is subject to the availability of annual federal appropriations.
Specific fellowship benefits include the following:
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- The ability to develop meaningful cross-discipline research projects in conjunction with scientists, community leaders, and other organizations
- Networking opportunities with the fellowship class, plus other professionals across the reserve system, NOAA, and community partners
- Professional development and mentoring in a variety of disciplines, including facilitation and communication, and career-readiness training.
- The development of research partnerships between universities and reserves
Hudson River Reserve (HRNERR) Management Needs
Fellowship projects must address at least one of the listed priorities for the selected reserve. Prior to proposal development, applicants should review the list of Reserve Management Needs, identify which needs align with their interests, and reach out to the reserve point of contact. Information learned from the reserve is critical for the applicant to discuss with their faculty advisor and develop a proposal for a project. Projects should directly relate to the reserve need and support the applicant’s graduate course of study. See Applicant Tips for Reserve Outreach.
Education Evaluation for Indigenous Engagement
Community Resilience and Adaptability
HRNERR conducts education programs that seek to reduce barriers to participation for all audiences. We are building relationships with members of the Lenape and Mohican-Munsee Nations who reside in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Canada, but need more work on pedagogy and methods for collaborative development of programs that ensure culturally appropriate approaches, incorporate Indigenous perspectives, and attempt to overcome the burden of tribal relocation on engagement. HRNERR staff and partner educators within the Hudson River Estuary need an evaluation tool or process to assess and collaboratively develop Indigenous engagement and to suggest adjustments to better serve all of our education program participants.
Reserve Contact: Chris Bowser, Education Coordinator, Chris.Bowser@nulldec.ny.gov.
Fish Use of SAV Habitat
Habitat Adaptability, Watershed Dynamics
HRNERR collects data on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat. State fisheries staff also have decades of data on fish abundance and distributions throughout the Hudson River Estuary. However, ecosystem services provided by native vs. invasive SAV (e.g., dissolved oxygen, predator avoidance, food supply), and how crucial they are to supporting fish life stages, have not been quantified. Identifying and quantifying SAV fish habitat functions across multiple life stages would enhance the management of both habitats and fisheries. Research and data are needed on current conditions to inform habitat restoration and provide a baseline for monitoring potential changes from climate stressors.
Reserve Contact: Brian DeGasperis, Stewardship Coordinator, Brian.DeGasperis@nulldec.ny.gov
Preparing for Large-scale SAV Restoration
Habitat Adaptability, Watershed Dynamics
There was a 90% loss of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Hudson during an extreme storm event in 2012. While SAV is recovering, it has not rebounded to pre-2012 abundance. The 2024 HRNERR Davidson Fellow investigated techniques for rearing and planting SAV for habitat restoration. To apply these techniques for large-scale restoration, areas with a high likelihood of restoration success need to be identified. This research will evaluate key SAV habitat characteristics, including flow, depth, light availability, contaminants, and sediment composition to provide regulatory staff and restoration practitioners with a vital tool for prioritizing locations for SAV restoration projects.
Reserve Contact: Brian DeGasperis, Stewardship Coordinator, Brian.DeGasperis@nulldec.ny.gov
Data Synthesis and Visualization Products for Hudson Monitoring Programs
Change Analysis
The Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System and other regional environmental monitoring efforts generate valuable long-term data, but stakeholders face challenges in accessing and using these datasets for analyses. A collaborative synthesis is needed to integrate relevant fisheries data, habitat maps, water quality and weather data into an accessible platform for analysis and visualization. Increasingly frequent extreme weather events threaten water quality and ecosystem health. Interdisciplinary research is needed to evaluate extreme weather impacts including salt front shifts that impact drinking water supplies. Outcomes of the analyses of weather impacts will be supported by curricula, a StoryMap, and training materials.
Reserve Contact: Chris Mitchell, Research Coordinator, Christopher.Mitchell@nulldec.ny.gov
Harmful Algal Blooms
Watershed Dynamics
The Hudson River Estuary experiences periodic harmful algal blooms (HABs), primarily of the cyanobacteria Microcystis, but experienced a widespread event in 2025. HRNERR and partners generate long-term datasets including continuous water quality data (EXO sondes), discrete nutrient samples, and seston throughout the estuary that provide context for understanding the drivers of such episodic events. An evaluation of additional monitoring parameters coupled with research to assess the accuracy and interoperability of methods used to detect cyanobacteria and their toxins will support the analysis of HABs drivers, development of monitoring decision tools, and response strategies specific to Hudson HABs and their impacts.
Reserve Contact: Chris Mitchell, Research Coordinator, Christopher.Mitchell@nulldec.ny.gov
Past Margaret A. Davidson Fellows
2020-2022 Davidson Fellow Clara Chang (Columbia University) conducted a project to investigate sediment accumulation processes in Piermont Marsh using sediment cores, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and other methods.