APPLY HERE: Kathryn D. Sullivan Earth and Marine Science Fellowship Application


All applications will be due by midnight on Monday, January 25, 2027.

Faculty Letters of Recommendation and Faculty Mentor Expectations Form are due Monday, February 1, 2027.

Goals of the Program
The Kathryn D. Sullivan Earth and Marine Science Fellowship is designed to increase the number of highly trained Earth scientists and support graduate student research aligned to the NASA Space Grant and NOAA Sea Grant missions in South Carolina. The program prioritizes early-stage graduate students, providing critical support to help launch and advance their research.

Fellowship Awards
Fellowship money awarded by the SC Space Grant Consortium and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (https://www.scseagrant.org/) will be administered through your institution’s Grants and Sponsored Programs Offices. Indirect charges (IDCs) are NOT ALLOWED on these awards. A fellowship of $20,000 will be awarded, with each of the sponsoring programs contributing. SC Space Grant Consortium will contribute $10,000 and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium will contribute $10,000. No institutional match is required.

Eligibility
All applicants must be either full-time graduate students enrolled in an accredited SC Space Grant consortium member institution or a successful applicant for full time admission to a Masters or Doctorate program in an accredited consortium member institution. Applicants must be citizens of the U.S. (see U.S. citizenship requirements here). An individual accepting this award may not concurrently receive other Federal fellowships or traineeships.

*Please note: Faculty may be the primary mentor for no more than 3 students in all SC Space Grant Consortium-funded student programs.

Proposal Requirements
Proposals for the Kathryn D. Sullivan Earth and Marine Science Fellowship must align with the research priorities of both the South Carolina Space Grant Consortium and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. Proposals that meaningfully integrate or balance both NASA and NOAA mission priorities will receive the strongest consideration during the review process.

Proposals must be written by the student. Currently enrolled graduate students are encouraged to work closely with their faculty advisor for guidance, review, and feedback on the proposal prior to submission. Students who have been accepted for graduate admission but have not yet begun their first semester must identify a faculty member who has agreed to serve as their faculty advisor and who can provide a written description of the proposed research.

Required components of the proposal include:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Two pages or less. The CV should highlight the applicant’s education, research experience, publications and presentations, awards, fellowships, and other relevant academic or professional activities.
  • Education Information – Include unofficial transcript(s).
  • Faculty Mentor/Advisor Information  – Provide the name, department, institution, and contact information for the faculty advisor who will oversee the proposed research.
  • Research Proposal – No more than three pages, excluding references. The proposal should include:
    • General overview of the proposed project
    • Research methods to be used
    • Goals and expected results
    • Project timeline
    • Relevance to both S.C. Space Grant Consortium (NASA) and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (NOAA) research priorities
  • Research Term – The fellowship provides support for one academic year, beginning in either May or August. Awards can be prorated if anticipated tenure is less than 12 months. Fellows must devote at least 350 hours to the proposed research project during the fellowship period.
  • Faculty Letter of Recommendation – One letter of recommendation is required and must be submitted by the faculty member serving as the applicant’s research project mentor/advisor and overseeing the proposed project. Postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students are not eligible to submit this letter. Faculty letters of recommendation are due Monday, February 2, 2027.
  • Faculty Mentor Expectations must be completed and signed.  These are to be submitted with the Faculty Letter or Recommendation by February 2, 2027.
  • Budget and Justification – The proposed budget may include tuition, living expenses, and/or additional research-related expenses. Funds may be used to help defray tuition costs, purchase books and software, or to provide travel support for the student. Any requests for research or travel budget request must be accompanied by a brief description and justification. (NOTE:  award funds may NOT be used to support the faculty mentor or their travel.)

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the overall strength of the application package, using the following criteria:

  • Academic and Research Record (10%): Career stage, academic preparation, research experience and potential, and other relevant accomplishments, including presentations, publications, awards, and fellowships.
  • Relevance (30%): Relevance to both NASA and NOAA missions and alignment with the research priorities of the SC Space Grant Consortium and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium. The fellowship seeks to support place-based research in South Carolina that advances understanding of Earth science and coastal issues. Proposals that meaningfully integrate and balance NASA and NOAA priorities will receive the strongest consideration.
  • Research Proposal (40%): Quality, significance, and feasibility of the proposed research, including clearly defined goals, appropriate and well-justified methods, expected outcomes, project timeline, and use of relevant scientific literature to support the proposed approach.
  • Budget (5%): Appropriateness, reasonableness, and justification of proposed expenses, including effective and responsible use of fellowship funds.
  • Faculty Recommendation (15%): Strength and relevance of the faculty advisor’s letter of recommendation, including assessment of the applicant’s research potential, qualifications, and potential for success in the proposed project.

Reviewers will consider the strength, cohesiveness, and overall potential of the complete application package when making funding recommendations.

Proposal Formatting Guidelines

  • Must be single-spaced and written in English.
  • Use a minimum 12-point font such as Arial or Calibri.
  • Use standard 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • The proposal must be submitted as an unlocked, searchable PDF.
  • Maximum files size is 10 MB per proposal.

Reporting Requirements

  • Fellowship awardees are required to submit a final report of their research activities at the end of their award term.
  • Fellowship awardees are required to present their work at a Research Symposium or conference.
  • If selected to participate in this program, you agree to participate in the South Carolina Space Grant Longitudinal Tracking program that is designed to monitor student progress from award through first employment. This information will also be provided to the SC Sea Grant Consortium.

For more information, please contact: Ms. Tara B. Scozzaro, MPA, Program Manager
phone: 843.953.5463 | email: [email protected]

About Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
As a NASA Mission Specialist, chief scientist for NOAA, and as a geologist and oceanographer, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan has gained extensive experience both at sea and in space.

From 1978 to 1992, Sullivan served as a Mission Specialist Astronaut in NASA’s Space Shuttle program. She became familiar with a variety of land remote sensing techniques as Mission Manager and in-flight scientist aboard NASA’s high-altitude WB-57F aircraft. Among a variety of positions in flight support and operations, Sullivan flew aboard three Shuttle missions. In 1984, she flew aboard the Challenger, and became the first American woman to walk in space. In 1990, she was an EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) Mission Specialist aboard Discovery, on the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission. She was Payload Commander for the Atlas-1 Spacelab on her final flight, aboard Atlantis, in March 1992. Sullivan became involved in national civilian space policy when she was appointed to the National Commission on Space in 1985. She is actively involved in science education, primarily through the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, whose programs she helped design.

Prior to joining NASA, Dr. Sullivan took part in a variety of oceanographic research and survey cruises under the auspices of the U.S. Geological Survey, Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institution and Canada’s Bedford Institute, including the international FAMOUS Project on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In 1987, she took part in NOAA’s national Undersea Research Program, diving on the Bermuda Seamount in a Pisces VI submersible to a record 6,500 feet. To remain active in applied oceanography, Sullivan sought a commission in the Naval Reserve Oceanography Program in 1988. She currently serves as a Captain in the United States Naval Reserve.
Sullivan graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1973, with a B.S. in Earth Sciences. Her doctorate in Geology was awarded by Dalhousie University in 1978. She has received honorary degrees from several institutes, including Dalhousie and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Sullivan is currently the assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and deputy administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She is also performing the duties of NOAA’s chief scientist.

Sullivan has received many awards, including NASA’s Medal for Outstanding Leadership, Exceptional Service Medal (twice) and Space Flight Medal (three times); the American Astronautical Society’s Vic Prather EVA Award, the Haley Award of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation’s Lone Sailor Award, and the Ohio Museum Association’s Distinguished Museum Professional Award.

Sullivan is a member of numerous oceanographic, geological and aerospace associations. She is a licensed pilot (power and glider) and SCUBA diver, and is fluent in several foreign languages. Her favorite pastimes are SCUBA diving, sailing, playing squash and reading.

*NASA Media Release form – download here: NASA-AdultMediaReleaseForm 2

Faculty Mentor Expectations Form – download here:SCSGC_Faculty_Mentor_Expectations