Stephanie Watson

Stephanie Watson joined the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in 2026 as Federal Agency Relations Manager. In this role, she advances GMRI’s mission by cultivating strategic partnerships with federal science and research agencies, aligning institutional priorities with national research investments, and positioning GMRI as a trusted collaborator in addressing complex environmental, ocean, and community challenges.

Stephanie brings more than two decades of experience spanning science policy, federal agency engagement, fundraising, infrastructure development, and strategic partnership building across the United States and Europe. Prior to joining GMRI, she served as Director of the Energy Supply & Security Division at the Maine Department of Energy Resources where she led initiatives focused on energy supply and resilience, infrastructure, and long-term strategic planning. Earlier in her career, Stephanie founded and led a consulting practice that supported federally aligned ocean, coastal, and energy programs nationwide for more than 15 years, helping public and private organizations navigate funding opportunities, build partnerships, and advance research and innovation goals.

She holds an M.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences (Marine) and an M.S. in Information Science and Engineering from the University of Maine.

A Maine native who grew up on Mount Desert Island, Stephanie has a lifelong connection to the Gulf of Maine and the coastal communities that depend on it.