In a dedicated effort to protect coastal and marine habitats and species, the Guy Harvey Foundation (GHF) collaborates with local, national and international organizations to conduct scientific research and fund affiliated researchers who share their commitment to ocean conservation.
One of GHF’s key initiatives involves recognizing graduate students and graduate program candidates across Florida colleges and universities who conduct research that will help support the sustainable management of marine fish.
To that end, the Guy Harvey Fellowship, formerly the Guy Harvey Scholarship Award, in partnership with the GHF and Florida Sea Grant, selects up to eight outstanding scholars to each receive a $5,000 research stipend and the opportunity to share their work with the greater Sea Grant network through Florida Sea Grant’s Communications Team.
Award recipients are expected to share their progress, including participating at public and scientific events to improve their science communication skills.
Jacksonville native William Sample received the $5,000 research stipend and a certificate personally designed and signed by Guy Harvey, world-renowned marine wildlife artist, conservationist and GHF founder/chair emeritus.
Sample is a PH.D. candidate studying biology at Florida International University in Miami. His research focuses on how environmental factors influence juvenile bull shark habitat use and foraging ecology in the coastal Everglades. Sample’s study aims to focus on the energy landscapes sharks encounter, how they change over time and space and how sharks adapt to them.
Given the challenges sharks may face from climate change and sea level rise, Sample’s work will be important for the conservation of juvenile sharks and their habitats and in informing restoration and management efforts. By using historical data from more than 150 tagged bull sharks and new methods such as high-resolution accelerometry, he aims to provide insights applicable beyond his study area.
“We worked with the Guy Harvey Foundation to establish a fellowship program to create a cohort of student researchers that will not only help to support and enhance the development of their academic research but also strengthen Florida Sea Grant’s connection with the next generation of Florida’s marine and coastal scientists,” said Sherry Larkin, director of Florida Sea Grant. “We’re hoping this fellowship provides the opportunity for recipients to engage and share their research with the greater Sea Grant Network.”
Established in 2010, the partnership between Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation has provided scholarships totaling $439,000 to support the research of 90 students at 12 different Florida universities. This fellowship not only bolsters academic research but also strengthens the connection between Florida Sea Grant and the next generation of marine scientists.
“Our commitment to funding and helping pave the way for young scholars to become the next wave of ocean conservation stewards is vital to the Guy Harvey Foundation’s mission,” said Harvey. “Highlighting the extraordinary research these students have undertaken and rewarding their hard work highlight the importance of keeping the ecosystem of our oceans healthy and the scientific community motivated.”
Applications for the 2025 Guy Harvey Fellowship will open later this year. Stay informed about eligibility criteria and deadlines at flseagrant.org/student-opportunities or contact Florida Sea Grant Student Programs Coordinator Cassandra Sexson at students@flseagrant.org.
