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College of Science

Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

NOAA Planet Stewards

Student flying Drone.

Drone flown by a student

Elkhorn Slough photo.

Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, CA

The Planet Stewards Program, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),  provides first-year undergraduates pursuing a STEM degree with introductory research and professional development opportunities in coastal and estuarine science. Students will engage in workshops that begin in the summer and continue through the fall semester. Working with the  at CSUMB and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, students will be introduced to concepts around habitat restoration and conservation, living shorelines, autonomous monitoring technologies (e.g. drones), sea level rise, and communicating with diverse stakeholders. In addition to participating in research, students will also receive support in applying to the Hollings and NOAA EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Programs to help support their continued participation in NOAA research and professional development opportunities. Applications are now open through May 23.

    • $1,000 summer stipend
    • Funding to support summer room and board
    • Research funding
    • Funding to support travel to scientific conferences
    • Access to NOAA-sponsored professional development workshops
    • Must be currently enrolled in a STEM degree program at CSUMB with Freshman class standing
    • Required cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above
    • Must be a U.S. Citizen
    • Must be fully able to participate in all NOAA Planet Stewards activities

  • The 2022 NOAA Planet Stewards application is now available through May 23, 2022

    There will be three key parts and all three parts must be completed for an applicant to be considered.

    Part 1: Application Form

    • Complete the 2022 Planet Stewards application form. This form asks for Applicant Information, Faculty Mentor Preferences, and Academic Background. You will also need to have your supporting documents ready to upload at the time of submittal. If you need to submit an application by mail, please contact cme@csumb.edu or 831-582-4188, and we will provide instructions for you.
    • Application deadline is May 23, 2022 at 11:59 pm PDT.

    Part 2: Contact Info for One Recommendation

    At the time of submission, your application requires contact information for one person who can assess your academic abilities, academic accomplishments and motivation, work habits, potential as a researcher, and your ability to participate in and benefit from a research internship program in coastal and estuarine science. Please be sure to ask your recommender for permission to include their information before final submission of your application.

    We do not require a letter of recommendation. Upon application review, if your application is shortlisted and you are invited to an interview, only then will we contact references by to answer a short questionnaire.

    Part 3: Supporting Documents

    You will need three key documents to support your application:

    • A) Statement of Purpose 
      • This essay covers four areas: Motivation, Achievement, Research Interests and Career Goals. Use our Application Resources/Guide for further guidance. 
      • Format: 2 pages maximum, 12-pt font, standard margins, single or double spacing will be accepted and is up to the applicant
    • B) College Transcripts (Unofficial or "released to student" version is fine!)
    • C) CV/Academic Resume (see guideline in Application Resources/Guide)