(Photo by Jillian Lee Photo)
Lindsay Mullins, who recently earned her Ph.D. in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture from Mississippi State University, has been selected as a 2026 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. She was selected through a highly competitive process to join 44 others in this class of fellows.
Following recent interviews with several agencies, Mullins will spend her yearlong fellowship working with the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Sustainable Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Management Division as a fishery management specialist. Her work will focus on management of sharks, tunas, billfish and swordfish in U.S. waters.
“The United States can boast the recovery of several shark species because of science-informed management practices,” she said. “Coming from an applied shark research background, I am extremely excited to get a peek behind the curtain to see firsthand, and participate in, the process that transforms science into actionable policy.”
The Knauss Fellowship
The Knauss Fellowship places graduate, Ph.D. and professional degree students and recent graduates into yearlong positions in Washington, D.C. Successful candidates typically have strong backgrounds in marine and coastal science. Fellows serve in either the executive or legislative branch of the federal government, where they provide scientific expertise while learning about and contributing to national marine and coastal policy decisions. The program seeks to prepare the next generation of ocean and water resource management leaders.
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) recommended Mullins for the fellowship through a competitive selection process at the state Sea Grant program level and will administer the grant funding that supports her fellowship.
“We are excited about this latest Knauss cohort and the placement of Lindsay in NOAA’s Highly Migratory Species office,” MASGC Director Steve Sempier said. “This is a prestigious fellowship opportunity, and she will be a great representative from our program. We have a tremendous track record of high achieving fellows that have completed their fellowships and are now in leadership roles serving Alabama, Mississippi, the Gulf and the nation.”
Mullins' research
During her doctoral studies, Mullins conducted research on shark ecology and fisheries management in the Gulf of America as a graduate research assistant with the Northern Gulf Institute and Mississippi State University’s Marine Fisheries Ecology Lab. Her work included conducting the first bull shark nursery habitat assessment in the region. Her research also examined how environmental changes affect habitat use and population trends of juvenile bull sharks along Alabama’s coast.
Results of her research have been published in several peer-reviewed journals and have received national media attention for insight into how warming waters influence marine species distributions.
In addition to her research, Mullins has contributed to fisheries extension and engagement efforts by developing resources that translate complex marine science into accessible information for coastal stakeholders and fishing communities.
Mentors say her ability to connect science with real-world application made her an outstanding candidate for the fellowship.
“Lindsay is a gifted scholar with fierce determination and motivation to succeed,” said Marcus Drymon, associate extension professor at Mississippi State University and the marine fisheries extension lead with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. “She excels at conveying scientific knowledge in broader, non-scientific contexts and will bring tremendous value to the Knauss program.”
Meet the author
Melissa Schneider
Communications Coordinator
Melissa Schneider coordinates public information, educational media and communication services for Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. Some of MASGC's communications projects include our website, social... Read more
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