The ‘COASTodian’ Newsletter – Fall 2023 Edition

Check out some highlights from this edition of the COASTodian:
– Welcome to Dr. Roy Messaros to the NJSGC Extension Staff!
– An Interview with Oluwafemi Soetan
– Welcome to the Education Team Alaina Perdon
– NJSGC Educators Mindy Voss and Jody Sackett Present Microplastics Program at The Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education Winter Research Symposium & Conference at TCNJ
We’re hiring!
Love what New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium does? We are currently hiring for 2 positions at our Sandy Hook office:
Communications Intern: NJSGC currently seeking a summer intern to work within the communications department and assist staff with all relevant tasks including social media campaigns, video production, event coverage/promotion, and programmatic outreach. This position is ideal for undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in the digital communications field, with a unique emphasis on marine, coastal, and STEM initiatives. The intern will report directly to NJSGC’s Communications Specialist and work throughout the busy 2024 summer season (May-August) at the Jersey Shore. Read the full job description here. Click here to view the full job description.
Field Instructor: The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), a non-profit organization on Sandy Hook, is hiring part-time field instructors for their K-12 Education Program and Scout Program. NJSGC provides students and scouts with dynamic ocean science programs that may include but not be limited to outdoor experiential learning activities such as seining, interactive games, scientific demonstrations and laboratory experiments. Join a great group of people that love the beach, the outdoors and sharing their knowledge with students to promote a love of environmental science. Gain hands-on educational experience and work in one of the most unique natural “classroom” environments in New Jersey, Gateway National Recreation Area-Sandy Hook Unit. Click here to view the full job description.
Now Accepting Applications for the 2024 Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program (ASAP)
Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program (ASAP) is a unique new training concept for New Jersey high school students ages 16 and older to gain understanding about the aquaculture industry through education and practice. With a combination of in-person instruction and on-farm work experience, participants will discover the inner workings of shellfish aquaculture, gain entry level work skills, and learn what it takes to get food from the farm to our tables.
A collaboration of New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Rutgers University’s Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory and industry partners, ASAP brings participants closer to the knowledge and understanding of shellfish aquaculture as one of New Jersey’s emerging industries that produces an important food source and contributes to coastal economies. The foundations of aquaculture science and technology are the heart of the program that incorporates industry practices and basic skills training with real-world experiences. Apprentices learn and gain valuable experiences with paid summer work, mentorship by program facilitators and industry professionals, and support from fellow participants.
Are you interested in joining a great group of individuals who want to learn more about aquaculture biology and technology and the opportunities in this fast-growing industry? Click here to learn more about the application. Applications are due May 1, 2024.
This project is sponsored by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium with funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Sea Grant, under grant #NOAA-OAR-SG-2023-2007550, Special Projects “D”.
Sea Grant FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production of one or more life stages of aquaculture species (described below) with the overall goal of improving the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses.
Projects that focus on the following aquaculture categories and organisms in both marine and freshwater are eligible for this competition and include:
- Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed)
- Molluscs
- Crustaceans
- Ornamentals
- Baitfish
- Finfish species for food production
- Misc. invertebrates
Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address issues and/or barriers to aquaculture production; make that information available to aquaculture businesses; and preferably include participation and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and industry stakeholders. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways.
This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.
Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competition via grants.gov.
Contact Dr. Peter Rowe or oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov with any questions regarding this NOFO and please specify the opportunity in the subject line.
Deadline for Letters of Intent: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 by 5:00 pm local time
Deadline for full applications: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 by 11:59 pm ET
Sea Grant Announces the FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production of one or more life stages of aquaculture species (described below) with the overall goal of improving the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses.
Projects that focus on the following aquaculture categories and organisms in both marine and freshwater are eligible for this competition and include:
- Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed)
- Molluscs
- Crustaceans
- Ornamentals
- Baitfish
- Finfish species for food production
- Misc. invertebrates
Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address issues and/or barriers to aquaculture production; make that information available to aquaculture businesses; and preferably include participation and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and industry stakeholders.
This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.
Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competition via grants.gov.
Please contact Dr. Peter Rowe for more information and with interest to apply. Additionally, contact oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov with any questions regarding this NOFO and please specify the opportunity in the subject line.
Deadline for Letters of Intent: Wednesday, Janaury 17, 2024 by 5:00 pm local time
Deadline for full applications: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 by 11:59 pm ET
2024 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowships Opportunity Now Open
The NMFS-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship Program in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics places Ph.D. students in research-based fellowships that provide support for up to three years. The program is designed to fulfill workforce development needs identified by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and since 1999, has provided opportunities for 167 Ph.D. students.
The opportunity to apply for 2024 fellowships is now open. Applications are due to New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on January 25, 2024.
Learn more about the fellowship program
Get started on your application with:
- 2024 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship Student Guide
- Student Applicant Guide to Sea Grant Fellowships
- NMFS-Sea Grant 2024 Fellowship informational webinar on November 13, 2023 at 2 PM ET – Register here
- Office hours, where anyone can ask questions, on November 14, 2023 from 12-1 PM ET and 3-4 PM ET – Attend here
Questions? Contact Dr. Peter Rowe or the National Sea Grant Office at oar.sg.fellows@noaa.gov / (240) 507-3712.
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Register for the “Knauss 101” Info Session
NJSGC will host an informational “Knauss 101” Zoom meeting with Director Dr. Peter Rowe on December 4th at 10 a.m. Register here.
Please contact our Communications Specialist for more information on how to join the session.
For more information on the fellowship, please visit our website.
Attend the Sea Grant Marine Debris Symposium November 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th!
Join the National Sea Grant Program on November 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th to learn about the 29 projects awarded across the 2022 Marine Debris Challenge and Community Action Coalition competitions funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. View the agenda here. Register for Week One and/or Week Two. Learn more about the symposium here.
For this project, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) will partner with Columbia University through its Eco Ambassador program and with New York Sea Grant (NYSG) to develop effective marine debris curricula while expanding environmental literacy outreach to K-12 students from marginalized communities located in New Jersey and New York urban watersheds.
NJSGC Director of Education Diana Burich, adds “We are very excited to be collaborating with our partners to expand environmental literacy and plastic pollution awareness throughout the NY-NJ area’s urban watershed communities. Through the EcoEmbassadors Program, K-12 students from traditionally underserved and marginalized communities will learn about the pervasive problem of plastics in their local waterways and will become empowered to find solutions and take action to create a more sustainable environment, which will ultimately have long-term effects on human health and the blue economy. We are grateful for the resources to work with the community and to have the opportunity to collaborate with a great group of colleagues in this important effort.” Diana Burich, who is lead principal investigator (PI) on the project, is excited to work with co-PI Radhika Iyengar, Ph.D., Director of Education, Center for Sustainable Development, The Earth Institute, Columbia University.
Become a Knauss Fellow in 2025
The application period for the 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. Learn more about becoming a Knauss Fellow from the National Sea Grant website.
Graduate students interested in marine, coastal, and Great Lakes science and policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and reach out to New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium at least one month prior to the February 15, 2024 deadline.
To be eligible for the 2025 fellowship (which lasts February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026),
- A student must be enrolled towards a degree in a graduate program at any point between the onset of the 2023 Fall Term (quarter, trimester, semester, etc.) and February 15, 2024;
- The student’s graduate degree program must be through an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories;
- Students are eligible regardless of nationality; domestic and international students at accredited U.S. institutions may apply; and
- Applicants must have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources.
Get started on your application with:




