Tulane ByWater Institute — Water Knowledge Directory Fellow 

This position is part of the NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellowship Program, supporting the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) projects. The fellow will support the project: Enabling Meaningful Progress for Water Equity and Resilience Through the Greater New Orleans Regional Water Plan.

Host Organization: Tulane ByWater Institute 
Location of Position: New Orleans, Louisiana 
Duration of Position: Two years (June 2025 to June 2027)
Annual Salary: $42,000
Benefits: Medical insurance, 11 paid federal holidays per year, 15 paid personal days per year, professional development training, travel funding, relocation allowance

Work Environment:

The fellow is expected to work in the office at least three days per week with 1–2 days per week as a remote option. Tulane ByWater Institute has offices at both the Uptown main campus and the Tulane River and Coastal Center (TRCC). The fellow will work primarily at the Tulane River and Coastal Center. The fellow will share office space with other institute staff but will have their own desk and workspace. 

Fellowship Position Description:

The fellow will work with institute faculty and staff to plan, develop, and produce the Water Knowledge Directory, an online resource guide for scientific data and other knowledge related to water management and environmental science in the Greater New Orleans region. The directory is envisioned as a searchable portal to connect users with relevant knowledge products related to water management and regional resilience. An abundance of this information is developed in the region, but it is scattered across repositories from dozens of local, state, and federal platforms, as well as community groups and nongovernmental organizations. The Water Knowledge Directory will facilitate access to these resources via an accessible, easily navigable online system. Developed with a wide range of local partners, the directory will enhance public literacy of critical environmental challenges facing the region. 

The specific duties of the fellow will include meeting and event coordination, data management, coordination with web development partners, note-taking during meetings, post-meeting follow-up with partners, and creative work shaping the directory product itself. In addition to facilitating access to scientific data products (geospatial, climatological, etc.), the directory will feature resident oral histories, place-based videography, and other formats to capture and cultivate understanding of regional dilemmas. The fellow will conduct outreach with knowledge partners and end users to ensure comprehensiveness and accessibility of the directory and codevelop and implement a communications and outreach strategy to embed and sustain the directory as a key resource for project partners and their constituencies. The fellow may also support development of original oral histories, videos, and other knowledge visualizations and stories. The fellow will have time and creative space to pursue additional projects that arise over the course of the two-year fellowship based on their background and professional interests, and/or the fellow will work closely with the Greater New Orleans Foundation to bridge the two organizations if they desire to work more in the community, including by working closely with a selected EMPOWER subcommittee once established. 

Year one will be focused primarily on planning, meeting execution, data management, and potential development of oral history and place-based videography content. 

Year two will be oriented more toward developing the Water Knowledge Directory product and garnering feedback and input from partners. 

Anticipated Travel:

The fellow is anticipated to travel regionally as part of their duties to meet with partner organizations, support field trip activities, and potentially participate in scientific fieldwork with institute faculty and staff. The fellow will be expected to travel for peer-to-peer engagement with other fellows and will have the opportunity to pursue professional development opportunities that may require domestic travel. 

Desired Qualifications:

Potential candidates must have completed an accredited degree program at the bachelors or associates level in an environmental field, including but not limited to environmental science, geography, planning, environmental studies, environmental social science, water resources and public policy, public health, or an interdisciplinary program with an environmental focus. Candidates must demonstrate completed coursework or experience in one or more of the following areas: data visualization, videography, web design, science communication, or environmental education. 

Experience working with environmental organizations, especially in the area of environmental justice, is strongly encouraged. Given the place-based and regional orientation of the program, we seek candidates with local or regional knowledge of water-related issues in the Greater New Orleans area. 

Candidates must demonstrate their ability to work effectively in groups that span knowledge systems and life experiences, which requires the ability to communicate important information in a diverse range of communities and institutional settings. Experience managing complex projects and programs with multiple institutions is also desired. 

Fellow Mentoring:

The fellow’s mentor will be Dr. Joshua Lewis, Schwartz Professor of River and Coastal Studies and research director at the Tulane ByWater Institute. Dr. Lewis is responsible for developing and producing the Water Knowledge Directory, and the fellow will work directly with him to accomplish this. Additional mentorship from Tulane faculty and personnel will be established based on the candidate’s interests and focus. 

To apply, please upload the following materials in one PDF file:

• Resume (two-page limit)
• Statement of interest, where the candidate describes what they hope to gain from the fellowship experience and what they can contribute. Candidates should also highlight any connections to or special interests in the region, including Indigenous or local knowledge and relevant life experiences (500-word limit).
• Unofficial academic transcripts to show coursework (or joint services transcript for veterans)
• Two professional or academic references (names and contact information)