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Student Funding

Through funding from the CSU Chancellor’s Office and each individual CSU campus, COAST provides support to CSU undergraduate and graduate students with the goals of enhancing educational experiences and supporting student success and professional development.  If you have any questions regarding the programs below after reading the program announcements, please see the Student Funding FAQ.

Awardees are responsible for assuring that COAST is acknowledged in any publication (including Web pages) or presentation​ of material based on or developed under the COAST award as CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (COAST).​​

Please use the Past Student Awards page​​ to access information on previous awards made to CSU students through our different funding programs. ​


​​Dr. Kenneth H. Coale Graduate Scholar Awards (Formerly known as the COAST Graduate Student Research Awards) 

COAST provides support to CSU graduate students engaged in marine, estuarine, coastal and coastal watershed research with CSU COAST faculty members. These awards support students interested in pursuing marine-related careers and provide them with the opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to join a highly skilled, technologically advanced workforce while promoting and supporting CSU faculty research. 

Beginning in 2022, COAST is renaming this program the Dr. Kenneth H. Coale Graduate Scholar Award program to honor Dr. Kenneth Coale. Kenneth was instrumental in founding COAST and this award honors his legacy. You can read more about Kenneth in the award announcement.

The application period for the ​AY 2022-23 ​​Dr. Kenneth H. Coale Graduate Scholar Award​ Program is now closed. ​
​​
Date
Activity
Relevant Materials
Sept. 21, 2022
Announcement released
2022-23 Award Announcement​​​​ ​(Please read!) - Revised November 2022
Nov. 2, 2022
Informational webinar 
Slides | Recording​​
Jan. 25, 2023
Applications due by 5:00 P.M. PST
2022-23 ​Application Form​​​​​​​​, which includes the Advisor Sign-Off Form ​​​​​(Download zipped file)
2022-23 Departmental Commitment Form
(A picture of the Department Commitment Form from a phone is acceptable)​
Late​ April 2023
Applicants notified

May 15, 2023
Award start date

Dec. 1, 2023
Post-A​ward Reports due
Post-Award Reporting Form​​​​​


2022-23 Dr. Kenneth H. Coale Graduate Scholar Award Flyer​​

Examples of highly ranked applications from prior years

Previous awards


​​Field Experiences Support Program

This new COAST program provides support to CSU undergraduate and graduate students to increase participation in ocean and coastal field experiences by economically challenged students. Students can request funding to allow them to

- Purchase personal gear needed to engage in field work.

- Travel to take a field course or conduct course-based field work.

- Pay fees and other costs for field courses (broadly defined).

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Funds must be used to allow students to do something they wouldn't be able to do otherwise or wouldn't be able to do without creating significant financial hardship. Applications from students who already have considerable field experience will be considered, but support for students who have little or no field experience will be prioritized.

We are now accepting applications for the 2023-24 ​​​​Field Experiences Support Program​ on a rolling basis, but no later than 5:00 pm PDT, June 30, 2024. 

​​Student Internships

COAST partners with state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and industry to provide paid summer internships for continuing CSU undergraduate and graduate students. Interns work side-by-side with professionals on current projects throughout California. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience and learn technical skills while working with professional marine scientists, field biologists, and policy experts.​

Summer 2023 Internship Opportunities -  The application period for the Summer 2023 internships is now closed. ​​​​​​​

Students who are members of a group that is historically excluded ​in marine and coastal science, including students who are Hispanic, Latina/o, Black or African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native; female; LGBTQIA+; first-generation college students; economically disadvantaged; veterans; and students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants of any race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, dis/ability or veteran status are welcome.​

Previous Interns
Summer 2022​ |Summer 2021Summer 2020​ ​| Summer 2019 Summer 2018Summer 2017Summer 2016 | Summer 2015 | Summer 2014 | Summer 2013 | Summer 2012 | Summer 2011


Student Travel Awards

COAST provides support for continuing CSU undergraduate and graduate students to attend and present the results of original ocean and coastal research at scientific meetings and conferences.

We are now accepting applications for in-person and remote conferences occurring from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. 


Application deadline: ​​

  • ​​Domestic travel: No less than 3​0 days prior to scheduled departure date OR your internal campus deadline for domestic travel, whichever is greater
  • ​International travel: No less than 60 days prior to scheduled departure date OR your internal campus deadline for international travel, whichever is greater
  • ​Remote: No less than 30 days prior to remote conference commencement. 
​​​​​State travel ban: Please note that per CSU Travel Policy and Assembly Bill 1887, COAST cannot support travel to certain states. Please see the Attorney General's website​ for more details and a list of states on the travel ban list. ​

Previous awards


Undergraduate Student Research Support Program

The Undergraduate Student Research Support Program provides $3,000 annually directly to EACH campus to support ocean and coastal research by CSU undergraduate students. Campus Representatives implement the program on their campus. Interested undergraduate students should contact their faculty advisors to learn more and get involved.

2022-23 Key Dates and Resources:
2022-23 Program Description, Guidance and Requirements  
09/01/22  Project period start date
01/27/23  Interim Campus Report​ due to COAST
05/03/23  Final Campus Report​​ due to COAST
05/03/23 Individual Student Repo​rt​​​​ due to COAST (for students who ARE NOT working over the summer)
08/09/23 Individual Stude​nt Repo​rt​​​​​​ ​due to COAST (for students who ARE working over the summer)​​
​08/31/23  Project period end date

Undergraduate Student Research Award Reports from Prior Years
2019-2020​ Unde​​​rgraduate Research Awards Report ​​​

2018-2019​ Unde​​​rgraduate Research Awards Report

Previous awards


Match request for California Sea Grant 2024 Graduate Research Fellowships

COAST offers up to $10,000 in match support for CSU graduate students applying to the CASG 2024 Gradu​ate Research Fellowships​​. CASG is offering $45,000/year fellowships for one or two years for full-time Masters and Ph.D students who are engaged in coastal and marine research relevant to California. Please see more information here​​.​​​

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