Research Experience for Undergraduates

Undergraduates who have decided on a career in marine sciences are encouraged to apply for a research internship for work on organisms and processes in coastal bays of New England. The internships are hosted by the Boston University Marine Program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In addition, interns may work with scientists in other Woods Hole research institutions. Internships are designed to furnish a full experience of professional activities in marine research.

**SPECIAL NOTICE**

The Woods Hole Marine Science Consortium summer intership program will continue in 2008 for 2-3 students from member schools (see list below). This year, however, NSF was unable to fund our REU program. We are in the process of applying for 1 or 2 supplemental REU internships for work in salt marshes. We will update this website when news of the supplemental awards becomes available.

In the meantime, we strongly encourage students from WHMSC schools to apply for our summer internship program and we hpe that any REU applicants who are interested in working in salt marshes will send in their application materials as well.

Thank you for your patience and we look forward to reading your applications!

Internships are available through two programs, as listed below.

REU:

This program will be open to all undergraduate students, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who will have completed two years of study by the summer of 2008. Minorities and students from institutions with less-developed research opportunities are encouraged to apply. To apply, please submit the application below by February 15, 2008.

WHMSC:
The Woods Hole Marine Science Consortium offers internships for students enrolled at the following colleges: Bowdoin College, University of Maine at Machias, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Lafayette College, Boston University, or Vassar College. If you have questions contact your campus representative, or call 508-289-7518. Applications are due to your campus representative by February 8, 2008.

The "...program is truly educational...wonderful experience...I learned as much in one summer as in four years of school."

one of our REU interns from Swarthmore College

“I truly learned a lot, and I’m excited to see a paper with my name on it…from the 10 weeks I was in your lab, I got to see how science was really done.”
one of our REU interns from Yale University

"Working side by side with graduate students and professors gave me valuable insight into what life might be like as a graduate student."
one of our REU interns from Lafayette College

RESEARCH FOCUS

Interns make use of the rich variety of research taking place in the Woods Hole community, to work on a semi-independent project with an appropriate host scientist. Interns work closely with a host scientist to design a feasible project, carry out the work, and prepare results for talks and manuscripts. Our host scientists have a remarkable range of diverse interests, from molecular to watershed scales, from biology to chemistry and geology, and from bacteria to fish. The research community in Woods Hole is involved in many-faceted work on organisms and ecosystems at the edge of the sea. There are many themes, from molecular aspects of microbial genetics, to behavior of animals in fluids in motion, to whole ecosystem responses to anthropogenic disturbances.
Click here for a list of host scientists and potential summer projects.

Interns participate in weekly meetings to discuss selected topics, learn about doing research, present talks, write papers, and learn about professional life. Interns are expected to present results at the Annual Meetings of the Marine Biological Laboratory, and prepare a manuscript for submission for publication ( click here for a list of papers published by our interns ).

Click here for details on
STIPEND, HOUSING, AND ELIGIBILITY

A stipend will be provided for the summer (June-August). Housing is provided off campus. You must be an undergraduate who will have completed at least two years of study towards a bachelors degree by the end of this year to be eligible. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply. Minorities are encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY FOR THE REU PROGRAM

To apply for the REU program, download the form below. Send in the completed application along with an official copy of your current transcript, and two letters of recommendation from academic advisors, to the address below. Applications must be received by February 15, 2008. Notification will begin during mid-March 2008. Letters of recommendation and transcripts may be sent separately, but must also arrive by the February 15 deadline.

TO APPLY FOR THE WHMSC PROGRAM

To apply for the WHMSC program you must first obtain an application form from your campus representative (or download the form below). Return the completed application along with an official copy of your current transcript, and two letters of recommendation from academic advisors. Applications are due to your campus representative by 8 February 2008. Notification will begin during mid-March 2008.

TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION,
WRITE, PHONE, OR FAX:
WHMSC/REU
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543

Phone: 508/289-7518

Request an application by E-mail .

Download the application for the REU program (two pages) in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 3.0 (or later) installed on your computer in order to download and print the application.

Download the application for the WHMSC program (two pages) in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 3.0 (or later) installed on your computer in order to download and print the application.

Go here to download
Adobe Acrobat for free.

ABOUT WOODS HOLE AND THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is one of the world's most active centers of research in marine science and biology. Woods Hole is home to several world-renowned research and educational centers. Interns have the opportunity to attend lectures on a wide variety of topics, meet scientists from throughout the world, and have access to the outstanding MBL-WHOI library. Click on the the links below to learn more about some of the institutions located in Woods Hole.

Boston University Marine Program

Marine Biological Laboratory

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)

Woods Hole Research Center