Marine Biological Laboratory

What you'll study

Coursework and research are driven by an individual dissertation project. Example topics and methods documented within the program include:

• Field-based studies of nutrient cycling (for example, nitrogen cycle characterization during forest regrowth).
• Design and execution of multiple, independent field campaigns in remote landscapes.
• Plant and ecosystem measurements using tools such as GPS, Li-COR leaf-area instrumentation, and water-quality monitoring protocols.
• Development and validation of remote-sensing approaches to estimate forest biomass and land-cover change using optical satellite data (for example, Landsat) and analytical techniques such as linear spectral mixture analysis.
• Collaborative, applied projects with local organizations and mentorship of undergraduate remote-sensing projects.

Entry requirements

The source text does not list formal admissions criteria. In practice, applicants to a research PhD in this joint program are expected to hold a relevant prior degree and demonstrate research potential; consult the program's official admissions page for exact requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue applied ecosystem science roles in research institutions, conservation organizations and government. The documented career trajectory for a program student included receiving a Presidential Management–STEM Fellowship and accepting a postdoctoral appointment with The Nature Conservancy to work on landscape-scale water and nutrient budgets in sub‑Saharan Africa.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program environment supports students who obtain competitive fellowships and external funding for applied science and public-service oriented work; the source cites a student recipient of the Presidential Management–STEM Fellowship. Students commonly engage in funded field campaigns and collaborative projects with nonprofits and extension programs.