USM Graduate Student Earns Prestigious Knauss Fellowship
Tue, 09/26/2023 - 11:16am | By: Gabriela Shinskie
Abiola Obafemi, a University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) graduate student in the
School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) program, has been selected for the 2024 class of the John A. Knauss Marine Policy
Fellowship for the Executive Branch of government by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
Obafemi is in his second year enrolled in the master鈥檚 program for coastal sciences. A native of Nigeria and an international student, he started the program in 2022 and has excelled.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very big step career-wise for someone like me, an international student,鈥� said Obafemi, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal!鈥�
The Knauss Fellowship is awarded for a span of one year to graduate students across the United States. The grant allows recipients to apply their knowledge of the sciences and obtain experiences in legislative and public policy. Students apply through their local sea grant, get selected and become part of a national competition.
Dr. Kim de Mutsert, USM Associate Professor of Division of Coastal Sciences in the SOSE, has had students apply and be selected for the Knauss Fellowship before. Obafemi is a part of De Mutsert鈥檚 lab team.
鈥淭his is very exciting! He鈥檚 not the first student from my lab to receive this fellowship,鈥�
said De Mutsert. 鈥淚n my research program, we have an emphasis on coupling the science
to policy and look at the application of the science. The fellowship is about selecting
highly qualified graduate students to join the legislative or executive branches of
office and see the way science is applied. I鈥檓 really proud of my students who end
up in this fellowship.鈥�
A total of 85 winners have received this fellowship from 66 different universities across the country. Each from diverse backgrounds, the recipients will be a part of science and policy legislation.
鈥淭his is a very long standing and prestigious fellowship. You compete on the national level. For Abiola to be here, even recently in the United States, and competing on a national level and gaining this fellowship is an accomplishment,鈥� said De Mutsert.
Obafemi is focused on gaining more experience in the coastal sciences field along with working at a top organization that can boost his future career path. The future is bright for Obafemi.
鈥淭his fellowship will expose me to much experience in government and improve my knowledge. I can put it into practice in the field,鈥� said Obafemi.
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