Future Alaskans in Fisheries and Marine Science

Children participating in a balloon gameThis website is designed to help rural Alaskans and Alaska Natives pursue education towards professional careers in fisheries, marine and ocean sciences, and employment in these fields in Alaska. Future Alaskans in Fisheries and Marine Science is produced through the cooperation of a network of fisheries and marine science organizations.

Alaska Fisheries & Marine Science Job Board

This is the first comprehensive job board featuring fisheries & marine science jobs in the state. The purpose of the job board is to attract more Alaskan applicants to positions across the state.

For information about degree programs in fisheries and marine science, please visit our Degree Programs page.

Measuring a salmon on the river

This site is created by the Alaska Marine Science and Fisheries Careers Coalition (AMSFCC), a network of schools, management agencies, tribal, non-profit and fishing associations working together to support Alaskans, particularly rural Alaskans and Alaska Natives, who seek careers in fisheries and marine science.

If your organization would like to be listed as a partner in this effort, please contact the coordinator at coordinator.amsfcc@gmail.com, (907) 274-9699 or Toll Free 1-888-788-6333.

Steering Committee

Barbara Morgan - OceansAlaska
Beth Spangler - ANSEP
Bonita Nelson - NOAA Fisheries
Ginny Eckert - CFOS/UAF
Glenn Seamen - Graduate students
Ida Hilderbrand - CRRC
John Whissel- Native Village of Eyak
Mike Miller - Sitka Tribe
Mike Thalhauser - Kuskokwim Native Association
Rose Fosdick - Kawerak Inc.
Todd Radenbaugh - UAF Bristol Bay Campus
Sheila Cameron - ADF&G
Paula Cullenberg - Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
Robin Dublin - COSEE Alaska
Trent Sutton - CFOS/UAF
David Tallmon - UAF, CFOS
Lisa Busch - Sitka Sound Science Center
Kara Johnson - Prince William Sound Science Center

Program Partners

Clamming

There are many opportunities for jobs in fisheries and marine science in Alaska, and professional careers in fisheries and marine/ocean sciences extend to many different levels. A qualified candidate can work for the Alaska State Government, the Federal Government, Alaska Native Groups, Community Development Quota (CDQ) Groups, and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). This is a partial listing of some of the largest fisheries and marine science employers in the state.

  • Alaska State Government
  • Federal Government Federal Government
  • Alaska Native Groups Community Development Quota (CDQ)
  • Groups Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) Helpful Websites

Pathways (PDF)

by the river during the Salmon camp

Pre-College Preparation for High School Students

ANSEP Pre-College Program

The Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) is a longitudinal program that works with students from the time they are freshmen in high school all the way through graduate school. ANSEP increases university recruitment and retention rates through hands-on high school outreach initiatives, rigorous summer bridging programs, focused academic learning communities, organized student cohorts, networks of peer and professional mentors, community-based learning, professional internships and undergraduate research projects. Please visit their website to see all the wonderful opportunities that they have for pre-college students.

National Ocean Sciences Bowl

Each winter, Alaska holds a regional ocean sciences competition as part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The Alaska regional NOSB has a unique research component for the competition. This component includes a research paper, which is submitted in December, and a 20-minute presentation at the Tsunami Bowl. This research component is conducted by teams of four or five students and is worth 50 percent of the final score. The other 50 percent comes from a competition in which four students, plus an optional alternate, compete against other teams in a timed quiz match. The winning team competes against other regional teams from across the United States.

Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)

The Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) is a bridging program that assists students in Rural Alaska in making the academic and social transition between high school and college. RAHI is for college-bound students who are wiling to work hard and who are dedicated to excellence. RAHI was organized by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to serve rural and Alaska Native high school honors students. Those who apply should have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and plan to have finished their junior or senior year. They should read at or above grade level and be committed to earning a college degree.

Summer Opportunities for High School Students Camps, Internships, College Bridging Programs

Researchers on a boat

Degree Programs in Fisheries and Marine Science

There are many educational pathways toward a professional career in fisheries and marine sciences. In Alaska, there are many institutions across the state that offer degree programs.

Associate's Degree and Certificates : University of Alaska Southeast - Ketchikan Bachelor's Degrees : Alaska Pacific University

UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences

University of Alaska Southeast - Juneau

University of Alaska Anchorage

Master's and Doctorate Degrees : Alaska Pacific University (Anchorage)

UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences (Juneau, Fairbanks)

=================================================

Financial Aid for College Students

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
The Brindle Loan Program was established in memory of A.W. "Winn" Brindle who was president of the Wards Cove Packing Company and Columbia Ward Fisheries. It is funded by private donations and contributions from fisheries in exchange for state tax credits. The funds provide renewable educational loans to Alaska residents for full-time study in fisheries, seafood processing, food technology or related programs for Alaska residents. The loan provides up to 50% forgiveness benefits if recipient returns to Alaska for employment in fisheries-related field. Applicant must be a full-time student. Deadline: 5/15.

=============================================================

Internships & Summer Opportunities for College Students Helpful Websites and Portals
  • JustGarciaHill
    JustGarciaHill is an organization committed to increasing the number of minorities entering science careers. There are listings of internships provided.
  • Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS)
    NAFWS     has a website that is 30 pages in length and lists both fellowships/internships and scholarships, most with websites and often mailing addresses.
  • Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network Mathematics, Science and Engineering Program
    The QEM Network is dedicated to improving the education of minority children, youth, and adults, and assists the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) with its minority programs and in preparing grants to provide internships for minority students.
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
    RIT has a website that lists Co-op/Internship Opportunities for Minority and underrepresented students and one that lists Co-op/Internship Opportunities in Ecology, Animal and Plant Biology and Marine Biology, which are 10 and 13 pages long, respectively. The opportunities listed are throughout the US. My reading of these many opportunities lead me to believe that few are specific to fisheries sciences, but the marine science training would be invaluable to students intending to major in fisheries science.
  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
    SACNAS provides listings of internships, undergrad research experiences, and summer programs.
  • Entry Point!
    American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
    Entry Point! is a program of the AAAS offering internship opportunities for students with disabilities in science, engineering, math, computer science, and some fields of business.
  • Environment Canada’s Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
    Over the past 9 years this program has assisted close to 1000 students obtain practical work experience in environmental projects in areas such as climate and ecosystem research, wildlife research and management, ecological monitoring and assessment and development of scientific tools such as standards and guidelines of environmental quality. The program matches youth with mentors and makes approximately 100 youth placements/year for 6-12 months with $12,000 (Canadian) per placement available for projects.
  • Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)
    ECO places 750 students and graduates in paid internships across the country.
  • Strategies for Ecology Education, Development, and Sustainability (SEEDS)
    Ecological Society of America (ESA)
    SEEDS provides a listing of internships available for undergraduates, provides some details, and a web link for each.
  • Minorities in Marine Science Undergraduate Program (MIMSUP)
    Seeks to increase the representation of minority individuals in marine sciences including fisheries sciences. This is a program that has been in existence for over 15 years, includes two 10-week quarters of intensive marine science study, presented to 8 students who are recruited annually from across the nation. The NSF funding covers tuition and fees for two quarters, housing costs, travel to the Shannon Point Marine Center and the outreach work-study programs.
Student and K-12 children observing some whale bones

Contact Us For more information about the Future Alaskans in Fisheries and Marine Science (FAFAMS) Program or the Alaska Marine Science & Fisheries Career Coalition (AMSFCC) please contact: Madison Kosma

Marine Advisory Program
Program Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA
E-mail: coordinator.amsfcc@gmail.com