University of Southern Mississippi Scholarship in USA 2027

The University of Southern Mississippi Scholarship is an assistantship also referred to as the Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship.

The Division of Coastal Sciences of the School of Ocean Science and Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi is pleased to announce the availability of fellowships for prospective students seeking a Ph.D.

These fellowships are awarded competitively and are intended to recruit graduate students in coastal and marine science who demonstrate exceptional scholarly promise. Fellows are supported to focus full-time on their research and coursework and receive dedicated research and travel funds to develop their own program of work.

To be considered for the University of Southern Mississippi Graduate Scholarship, you must:

• have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Applicants with an M.S. degree are preferred).

• contact potential faculty advisors in the Division of Coastal Sciences to discuss their research and educational interests and must identify a faculty sponsor prior to submitting a fellowship application.

• meet the entry requirements of the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE).

• satisfy the English Language requirements of the university.

• have strong research, writing, and communication skills.

• have experience working in seagrass beds and familiarity with coastal nekton communities is preferred but not required.

• The student selected for this position will pursue a Ph.D. degree in the Division of Coastal Sciences within the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE).

• Awardees receive a stipend of $28,500 per year, plus a tuition waiver and access to university-sponsored health insurance. Awardees additionally receive a total of $15,000 in research and travel funds.

• The graduate school application fee will be waived for students applying to the Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship.

•  CV.

• Official transcripts.

• A Statement of Purpose not to exceed 1,200 words, developed without AI assistance, addressing at a minimum: academic and career goals; why The University of Southern Mississippi’s Division of Coastal Sciences is well suited to help the applicant achieve those goals; how the applicant’s experiences and background have shaped their career path and influenced their decision to pursue graduate studies; and how the research the applicant is considering will produce impactful outcomes for their field of study, the state of Mississippi, and the Gulf region.

• Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s qualifications for the Fellowship. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure letters are submitted by the deadline.

To apply for the University of Southern Mississippi Scholarship 2027, interested and qualified candidates should;

• 1

  Click the green button below to go to the scholarship webpage.

• 2

  Send all application materials to Dr. Jordyn Fletcher via Jordyn.Fletcher@usm.edu. 

• 3

  For full consideration, submit all required information by January 15, 2027. 

• 4

  Candidates will be evaluated on the completeness of their application, their academic record as evidenced through the CV and transcripts, and their potential to flourish in the COA program as evidenced through the Statement of Purpose and letters of recommendation.

• 5

  Finalists will be invited to a virtual interview with the Fellowship Selection Committee. Questions about the Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship can be sent to Jordyn.Fletcher@usm.edu.

• 6

  Additional information on the Division of Coastal Sciences and the Coastal Sciences graduate program is available at https://www.usm.edu/graduate-programs/coastal-sciences.php.