The Matt Howard Fellowship

Dr. Matthew Howard was a founding member of GCOOS and an oceanographer at Texas A&M University who developed a unique expertise in oceanography and ocean data management systems, information architecture and marine spatial data infrastructure. Following his untimely death in 2018, his many friends and colleagues sought to memorialize his professional gifts and talents for oceanographic research and data system solutions, as well as his personal intellect, generosity, enthusiasm and sense of humor.

The Matt Howard Fellowship offers undergraduate or graduate students the opportunity to attend a professional conference and to learn from GCOOS staff and partners about career options related to ocean science and data management. Fellows can expect to learn how ocean observing programs like GCOOS inform decision making in support of a healthy and productive Gulf of Mexico and the communities that depend on it. Selected candidates will have opportunities to interact with the GCOOS team and our ocean observing partners by participating in meetings and discussion panels.

During the eight-month fellowship, students will be expected to write an essay about the experience that will be posted on the GCOOS website and highlighted in our monthly eNewsletter. The fellowship opportunity includes conference registration fee and travel expenses up to $2,000.

The Fellowship is limited to students attending university programs in and living in the U.S.

Award Duration

Funding will be awarded to support attendance at one conference, up to one week in length, with cost per award not to exceed $2,000. The conference selected must be attended before the Dec. 15 Fellowship end date.

Estimated Number of Awards

Resources made available under this opportunity will depend on funding availability and the applications received. GCOOS reserves the right to select one, multiple or no applicants.

Applications

To apply for the Matt Howard Fellowship, students should email:

A cover letter (two pages or less) expressing how their professional and personal interests align with the Fellowship opportunity;
A resume (two pages or less).

Send application materials before the deadline to Dr. Chris Simoniello, GCOOS Outreach and Education Manager, via email to Chris.Simoniello@GCOOS.org.