Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA ONMS NFS 2025 28612
The FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is a NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) funding opportunity designed to help individual graduate students pursue advanced degrees in fields that support the conservation and management of national marine sanctuaries. The program is especially aimed at applicants who face financial barriers and who might not otherwise be able to afford graduate education, with particular encouragement for women and members of minority groups. Through this scholarship, NOAA is trying to build the next generation of researchers whose work directly improves understanding and stewardship of sanctuary ecosystems and cultural resources, including how those resources are changing over time and what threats they face.
At its core, the program supports research that aligns with ONMS conservation science priorities across the National Marine Sanctuary System. NOAA emphasizes that sanctuary science is used for real-world management needs: informing policy decisions, strengthening response capabilities, evaluating management practices, reducing threats, managing risks, and responding to unexpected events. The opportunity recognizes that graduate research is often hypothesis-driven and academically rigorous, but it encourages applicants to connect that scholarly work to practical knowledge gaps that matter in sanctuaries. Those gaps can include ecological processes, physiology, evolutionary drivers, and also human dimensions such as behaviors, preferences, and values. Importantly, the program is not limited to natural sciences; it also welcomes projects in socioeconomic research, maritime archaeology, and maritime heritage resources, as long as the work is relevant to national marine sanctuaries.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to show clear alignment with sanctuary needs by using NOAA resources, especially the Science Needs Assessment page (https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/) to identify priority topics at specific sanctuary sites. NOAA also provides a way to connect with sanctuary Research Coordinators for site-specific discussions (https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/researchcoordinators.html). If a proposal is broader and addresses the sanctuary system as a whole, applicants can contact FosterScholars@noaa.gov with a short snapshot of the proposed research to confirm fit. This emphasis on coordination and relevance signals that NOAA is looking for proposals that are both academically strong and directly useful to sanctuary management and conservation outcomes.
Eligibility is limited to individuals (not universities or other organizations applying on someone else’s behalf). To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or a citizen of a U.S. territory (as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6602(9)). They must be pursuing or intending to pursue a masters or doctoral degree at a U.S. accredited graduate institution in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology, including related disciplines that cover science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas. Applicants do not have to be enrolled at the time they apply, but they must be admitted to a graduate program in order to actually receive the scholarship award, and they must maintain eligibility in each year of support.
Academic performance and enrollment status are central requirements. Scholars must maintain full-time student status (as defined by their university) for the entire award period and must keep at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and a 3.30 term GPA every term. If a recipient falls below the 3.30 requirement, they are placed on probation for one term. If they do not bring the GPA back up during that probationary term, NOAA may terminate the scholarship. Beyond grades, recipients must make satisfactory progress toward completing a thesis or dissertation, and NOAA may withdraw funding if it becomes clear the scholar will not finish the thesis or dissertation before the award ends. The notice also points out a practical reality: students in their last year of graduate school are unlikely to receive this award, suggesting NOAA is prioritizing students who will have enough time to complete a substantial, sanctuary-relevant research project during the scholarship period.
A key restriction is that recipients cannot simultaneously hold other NOAA or federal graduate funding from grants or scholarships. If an applicant is currently supported by federal graduate funding, they are not eligible unless they are willing to decline that other federal support in order to accept the Foster Scholarship. This rule is meant to prevent duplicate federal funding for the same student’s graduate expenses and to spread limited scholarship resources to students who otherwise would not have comparable support.
From the federal opportunity details provided, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, with the funding instrument listed as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 11.429. The opportunity number is NOAA ONMS NFS 2025 28612. The application closing date is listed as 2025-02-14, and the award ceiling is $47,000. The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development, which matches its focus on sanctuary science and applied conservation outcomes.Apply for NOAA ONMS NFS 2025 28612
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.429.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $47,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals.
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FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program (NOAA ONMS) - FAQs
What is the FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program?
The FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is a NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) funding opportunity that supports individual graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in fields that help conserve and manage national marine sanctuaries.
What is NOAA trying to achieve through this scholarship?
NOAA is aiming to build the next generation of researchers whose work directly improves understanding and stewardship of sanctuary ecosystems and cultural resources, including how those resources change over time and what threats they face.
Who is this scholarship especially intended to support?
The program is especially aimed at applicants who face financial barriers and who might not otherwise be able to afford graduate education. NOAA particularly encourages applications from women and members of minority groups.
What kinds of research does the program support?
The scholarship supports graduate research aligned with ONMS conservation science priorities across the National Marine Sanctuary System, with an emphasis on research that is useful for real-world sanctuary management needs.
How should applicants connect their academic research to sanctuary management needs?
Applicants are encouraged to link hypothesis-driven, academically rigorous graduate research to practical knowledge gaps relevant to sanctuary conservation and management, such as informing policy decisions, strengthening response capabilities, evaluating management practices, reducing threats, managing risks, and responding to unexpected events.
Is the program limited to natural science research?
No. While it supports fields like oceanography and marine biology, it also welcomes relevant projects in socioeconomic research, maritime archaeology, and maritime heritage resources, as long as the work is relevant to national marine sanctuaries.
What topic areas or knowledge gaps are considered relevant?
The opportunity highlights a wide range of potential knowledge gaps, including ecological processes, physiology, evolutionary drivers, and human dimensions such as behaviors, preferences, and values, as long as they matter to sanctuary ecosystems and cultural resources.
How can applicants identify sanctuary science priorities?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to use NOAA resources, especially the Science Needs Assessment page, to identify priority topics at specific sanctuary sites: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/
Can applicants contact someone at a sanctuary to discuss site-specific needs?
Yes. NOAA provides a way to connect with sanctuary Research Coordinators for site-specific discussions: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/researchcoordinators.html
What if a proposed project is broader and addresses the sanctuary system as a whole?
If a proposal is broader and addresses the sanctuary system as a whole, applicants can contact FosterScholars@noaa.gov with a short snapshot of the proposed research to confirm fit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to individuals (not universities or other organizations applying on someone else’s behalf). Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or a citizen of a U.S. territory (as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6602(9)).
Are organizations allowed to apply on behalf of a student?
No. The opportunity states eligibility is limited to individuals, not universities or other organizations applying on someone else’s behalf.
What degree levels are supported?
The program is for applicants pursuing or intending to pursue a masters or doctoral degree.
What types of graduate programs or disciplines qualify?
Applicants must be pursuing or intending to pursue a degree at a U.S. accredited graduate institution in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology, including related disciplines covering science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas.
Do I have to be enrolled in graduate school at the time I apply?
No. Applicants do not have to be enrolled at the time they apply.
When do I need to be admitted to a graduate program?
Applicants must be admitted to a graduate program in order to actually receive the scholarship award.
Do recipients need to maintain eligibility each year?
Yes. The notice indicates recipients must maintain eligibility in each year of support.
What enrollment status is required during the award period?
Scholars must maintain full-time student status (as defined by their university) for the entire award period.
What GPA is required to keep the scholarship?
Recipients must maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and a 3.30 term GPA every term.
What happens if a recipient’s GPA falls below 3.30?
If a recipient falls below the 3.30 requirement, they are placed on probation for one term. If they do not bring the GPA back up during that probationary term, NOAA may terminate the scholarship.
Are there research progress requirements beyond GPA?
Yes. Recipients must make satisfactory progress toward completing a thesis or dissertation. NOAA may withdraw funding if it becomes clear the scholar will not finish the thesis or dissertation before the award ends.
Are students in their last year of graduate school likely to receive this scholarship?
The notice points out that students in their last year of graduate school are unlikely to receive this award, suggesting NOAA is prioritizing students who have enough time to complete a substantial, sanctuary-relevant research project during the scholarship period.
Can a Foster Scholar hold other NOAA or federal graduate funding at the same time?
No. Recipients cannot simultaneously hold other NOAA or federal graduate funding from grants or scholarships.
What if I already have federal graduate funding?
If an applicant is currently supported by federal graduate funding, they are not eligible unless they are willing to decline the other federal support in order to accept the Foster Scholarship.
Why does the program prohibit concurrent federal graduate funding?
The rule is intended to prevent duplicate federal funding for the same student’s graduate expenses and to spread limited scholarship resources to students who otherwise would not have comparable support.
What federal agency and office are offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS).
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is listed as a cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 11.429.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is NOAA ONMS NFS 2025 28612.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is listed as 2025-02-14.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $47,000.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development.
What does NOAA mean by “sanctuary science” in this context?
The notice emphasizes that sanctuary science is intended to serve real-world management needs, including informing policy decisions, strengthening response capabilities, evaluating management practices, reducing threats, managing risks, and responding to unexpected events.
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