Four recent graduates representing Hawai‘i Sea Grant begin prestigious marine policy fellowship in Washington, D.C.
(Honolulu, HI) – Graduate students from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Hawai‘i Pacific University, and Montana State University were selected out of a highly competitive field of applicants nationwide to spend one year focusing on critical marine policy issues in Washington, D.C. as 2025 NOAA John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows.
These four fellows will represent the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program alongside approximately 88 other fellows from 33 Sea Grant programs across the country.
The Knauss fellowship is a one-year paid opportunity for current and recent graduates from advanced degree programs to be placed in federal government offices and apply their scientific knowledge and experiences to lasting careers in the sciences, policy, and public administration. The 2025 class of fellows features students and recent graduates from 70 universities, including 10 minority-serving institutions, and will join a network of over 1,660 individuals who have participated in the program since its inception in 1979.
“This year’s Knauss Fellowship cohort exemplifies the passion and expertise necessary to address the evolving challenges facing our coasts and oceans,” remarked Dr. Jonathan Pennock, director of the National Sea Grant College Program. “We are confident that their dedication to serving through science will lead to innovative solutions that sustain coastal and marine resources and communities for future generations.”
While the four fellows representing Hawai‘i will gain invaluable knowledge and experience working directly on the nation’s most pressing issues in the legislative and executive branches of government, they will also bring a unique perspective on natural resource management and community engagement to their host offices and other fellows. Their experiences are varied and range from cutting-edge research on tropical climate variability and global warming, international partnership building, research on light pollution and its impact on the health of endangered seabirds, to analyzing trends in the Hawaiian humpback whale population.
In addition to their impressive research accomplishments, they all have a passion for and have contributed countless hours to community engagement, public service, science communication, and education.
Po-Cheng Chen
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
PhD, Atmospheric Sciences
Executive Fellow
Host Office: NOAA Program Integration Office
Ashley Clark
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
MA, Geography and the Environment
Executive Fellow
Host Office: NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Office of International Activities
Brianna Law
Hawai‘i Pacific University
MS, Marine Science
Executive Fellow
Host Office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
Julia Wente
Montana State University
MS, Science Education
Executive Fellow
Host Office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Ecological Services Program
“I am excited to join NOAA’s Program Integration Office as a 2025 Knauss Fellow. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to bridge my scientific background with innovative solutions in artificial intelligence and government operations. I look forward to collaborating across NOAA and gaining valuable experience to further my career path.”
“Working with NOAAʻs Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Office of International Activities through the Knauss Fellowship will allow me to work at the nexus of international engagement and science diplomacy. I am eager to learn how international partnerships are established and sustained to address shared environmental challenges and foster cooperation over shared natural resources.”
“I have always been deeply passionate about wildlife conservation and am very excited to join the Congressional and Legislative Affairs team at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills I developed in graduate school to build strong relationships with Congress and gain valuable experience engaging in the legislative process that protects our nation’s wildlife and their habitats.”
“I am honored and excited to represent my alma mater, the University of Hawai‘i, and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant as a 2025 Knauss Fellow. I look forward to joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ecological Services team and contributing to the restoration and protection of species and their habitats.”