Anchor Fellow: Lead a Project with Real Impact

The Anchor Fellow is a focused fellowship for a student or early-career professional who is ready to lead. You will design and deliver a small but strong project that others can use. Think field pilots, open methods, clean datasets, tools, or public guides that move ocean work forward.

Award: TBD. We will announce the amount before the next cycle. Build a lean, honest budget that gets the job done.

What you will do

• Scope a clear problem and build a usable solution

• Coordinate a small team or mentor one Coralite intern if helpful

• Ship a finished output: tool, dataset, map, guide, exhibit, training, or short film

• Share your process through a one-page methods sheet and a brief recap

• Host one public talk or workshop to transfer what you learned

Who should apply

• Students or early-career folks with a track record of finishing things

• People who can plan, communicate, and collaborate with partners

• Coralite experience helps but is not required

What the grant can fund

• Consumables, small gear, permits, instrument fees

• Modest travel tied to the work

• Printing, software, storage, translation, accessibility services

• Direct purchases or reimbursement with receipts

What it will not fund

• Tuition, wages, or general stipends

• High-end electronics without a specific, justified need

• Projects without a safety plan, required permits, or measurable outcomes

What you will deliver

• A finished output others can use

• A one-page methods sheet so someone else can repeat your work

• 5 to 10 photos or screenshots and a short summary for our site

• If sites are sensitive: omit exact locations and share only appropriate detail

Timeframe

Most Anchor Fellow projects run 8 to 16 weeks. Propose a schedule you can keep.

Budget guidance

Itemize every cost. Keep it tight and tied to outcomes. We may fund by reimbursement or direct purchase depending on the plan.

How to apply

1. Request the application formEmail projectanchordown@gmail.com with the subject Anchor Fellow Request + Your Name.Include your CV or resume and 3 to 5 sentences on your idea, where the work will happen, and who benefits.

2. Prepare your proposalYou will be asked for:

3. 300 to 600 word summary with goals, significance, users, and partners

4. Simple timeline with milestones

5. Itemized budget (award is TBD, ask for what you truly need)

6. Safety and ethics plan, including permits and contacts

7. One short note of support from a mentor or community partner

How we choose

We prioritize:

• Clear impact and a concrete, shareable output

• Feasibility within time and budget

• Safety, permits, and good field practice

• Community benefit and respect for local knowledge

• A plan for access and long-term stewardship of results

Examples we like

• A shore-based photo station network with an open setup guide and data template

• A low-cost monitoring tool with a step-by-step build and calibration sheet

• A bilingual classroom kit that explains coral bleaching with teacher notes

• A seagrass or reef snapshot across a few sites with a tidy dataset and map tiles

Questions or ready to request the applicationEmail projectanchordown@gmail.com with your CV. Tell us what you want to build and why it matters. We will point you to the right next step.