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Coastal Policy Analyst Fellowship Opportunity

Applications due March 31, 2021

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The University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions (CSS) and Florida Sea Grant (FSG) are pleased to announce a new year-long (12-month) coastal policy analyst opportunity to advance the development and implementation of science-based coastal policy in Florida. The position will support the mission of Florida Sea Grant through the new Center for Coastal Solutions in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. The Florida Sea Grant CSS Analyst Fellow position is designed to provide a recent graduate or early career professional an opportunity to acquire experience in researching, developing, and implementing coastal and marine policy in Florida and beyond. In particular, the selected analyst will develop interdisciplinary skills working with scientists and policy professionals at the forefront of the marine and coastal science-policy interface, with an emphasis on proactively addressing water quality hazards such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the marine and coastal environment. Included among the policy-relevant areas of FSG/CCS focus are:

Eligibility

Recent graduates of Master’s, Ph.D. and J.D. Programs with fewer than 3 years of professional experience are eligible to apply. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in marine and coastal policy and a basic understanding of marine and coastal ecology.

Applicants must be/have been students from an accredited graduate school in a field related to environmental science and/or policy. J.D. applicants must be from an ABA-accredited school with environmental policy-relevant course work. Applicants must complete all degree requirements before starting the fellowship. J.D. applicants must have taken the bar exam prior to beginning work. Relevant work experience, including experience gained through graduate research or internships, is encouraged, but not required. 

Florida Sea Grant and the National Sea Grant College Program champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by recruiting, retaining, and preparing a diverse workforce, and proactively engaging and serving the diverse populations of coastal communities. Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, veteran status types, and income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity.

Expectations

Florida Sea Grant’s 2021 CCS Coastal Policy Analyst Fellow will work with the CCS faculty leadership team from the disciplines of law, environmental engineering, and computer science who are affiliated with the CCS. The Coastal Policy Analyst Fellow will support the CCS and Florida Sea Grant through research aligned with the mission of both organizations to support the development of policy-relevant science in areas of coastal water quality hazards and nature-based engineering solutions for coastal resiliency. The Coastal Policy Analyst Fellow will be expected to take the lead on one Center project and help faculty mentor students enrolled in an interdisciplinary experiential learning course offered jointly in the Fall and Spring semester, and co-taught by CCS faculty and affiliates in the Colleges of Engineering and Law. 

Compensation and Benefits

Fellows will be contract employees of the University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions receiving a base annualized salary of $50,500 plus access to fringe benefits including health care options. The appointment is for 12 months and is non-renewable. Additional funds will be available, as appropriate, to cover fellowship-related travel and professional development activity. Appointment income is taxable.

Timeline
Application

Applications should be sent by email to Sharlynn Sweeney at sharlynn@ufl.edu.

A complete application will include:

  1. An academic curriculum vitae or professional resume (not to exceed two pages using 12-point font).
  2. A personal education and career goal statement that emphasizes the applicant’s abilities and interests, and the applicant’s expectations of this career development experience (1,000 words or less).  One to two paragraphs of the statement should illustrate how the applicant’s experience with people from various cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds will contribute to the program. 
  3. Two letters of professional recommendation, including one from the applicant’s major professor. If no major professor exists, a faculty member who is most familiar with the applicant academically may be substituted. Letters should be emailed to Sharlynn Sweeney prior to the application deadline.
  4. Copies of all advanced degree transcripts. Unofficial copies will be accepted.
For Further Information

Prospective applicants with questions about the application process should reach out via email to Sharlynn Sweeney at sharlynn@ufl.edu.  Questions about the substantive requirements of the position should be addressed to Professor Thomas T. Ankersen at the University of Florida College of Law at ankersen@law.ufl.edu. You can also view the position details on the UF jobs webpage.