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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: Summer Student Fellowship

by Valerie Cleland on October 22, 2012

Who is Eligible

Although essentially the same program, the Minority Fellowship and Summer Student Fellowship have different admission qualifications.

Summer Student Fellowships are awarded to undergraduate students who will have completed their junior year at colleges or universities by the start of the fellowship period. Preference is given to students studying in any of the fields of science or engineering including but not limited to the fields of biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, oceanography, and marine policy. Students must have at least a tentative interest in the ocean sciences, oceanographic engineering, mathematics, or marine policy.  Through the Summer Student Fellowship program, WHOI’s aim is to provide promising students with a meaningful first-hand introduction to research in oceanography, oceanographic engineering, or marine policy. Persons from under represented groups are encouraged to apply.

  • Students in a three year Bachelor’s Degree Program, such as those in the UK, must be in their second year
  • Students in a five year combined Bachelor/Master’s Degree Program must be in the third year of the program


Minority Fellowships are awarded to minority undergraduates who are enrolled in U.S. colleges or universities and have completed at least one year of undergraduate study (but no more than three years) by the start of the fellowship period. Preference is given to students studying in any of the fields of science or engineering including but not limited to the fields of biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, oceanography, and marine policy. Students must have at least a tentative interest in the ocean sciences, oceanographic engineering, mathematics, or marine policy. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Through the Minority Fellowship program, WHOI’s aim is to provide promising students from underrepresented groups with a meaningful first-hand introduction to research in oceanography, oceanographic engineering, or marine policy. Minority groups included for consideration in this particular program include African American or Black; Asian American; Chicano, Mexican American, Puerto Rican or other Hispanic; Native American, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians. Minority Fellowships may be awarded for a ten- to twelve-week period in the summer or for a semester during the academic year, and may be renewed the following year.

Academic Credit

WHOI does not offer formal academic credit toward degree requirements for participation in the Summer Student Fellowship or Minority Fellowship Program; although, such credit has often been awarded by the student’s own college or university. Attaining such credit is the fellow’s responsibility.

Selection Process

Fellows are selected based on the applicant’s previous academic and scientific achievements and promise as future ocean scientists or ocean engineers. Important consideration is given to matching each fellow with an appropriate advisor on WHOI’s Scientific or Senior Technical Staff. The program is very competitive, with an average of about twelve percent of the applicants receiving awards. Decisions will be made in mid-March.

Choosing a Project

Fellowships are awarded to pursue an independent research project under the guidance of a member of the Scientific or Senior Technical Staff. These projects typically are suggested by the advisor, and are agreed upon jointly by both the student and advisor. The advisors make every effort to help the student select and pursue a research project that can provide meaningful results in one summer’s work. Fellows have an excellent opportunity to select and pursue a research project with access to more than two hundred practicing research scientists and engineers and to the facilities of a major oceanographic institution.
» View Projects

Finding an Advisor

Although it is not required, we encourage applicants to make contact with a WHOI Assistant, Associate or Senior Scientist or a Senior Technical Staff member who may be willing to provide an educational opportunity for a Summer Fellow in his or her laboratory. Lists of WHOI researchers and their research interests are available at the various department webpages.
» Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
» Biology
» Geology & Geophysics
» Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry
» Marine Policy Center
» Physical Oceanography

» USGS
Applicants are also encouraged to visit the U.S.G.S. Woods Hole Science Center website for potential sponsors from among their team of research scientists.

International Students

We do accept international students into the Summer Student Fellowship Program. Our Foreign National Advisor will assist all fellowship recepients in obtaining the necessary visa paperwork.
(Please note: International students are required to pay a 14% U.S. Federal income tax on stipend payments, travel allowances and the fair-market value of their WHOI housing. This tax will be deducted from their stipend payments through Payroll deductions.)
» International Committee

Program Requirements

All Summer Student Fellows are expected to present a mid-summer progress report. At the end of the summer, each Summer Fellow is required to prepare a written report describing his or her research. Summer Student Fellows are also required to make a public oral presentation of his or her results. All Fellows are required to attend the Summer Lecture Series as well as the Ethics in Science Workshop. In addition, Fellows are encouraged to participate in the busy summer schedule of seminars and colloquia in the Woods Hole scientific community, which provides an excellent introduction to the many facets of marine science.
» Lecture Series Schedule

Financial Matters/Housing

Stipend
Summer Student and Minority Fellowship awards for the summer of 2013 carry a stipend of $520 per week for a ten- to twelve-week program.

Travel
Additional support is offered to help offset the cost of round-trip travel to Woods Hole.

Housing

  • Fellowship awards include Institution housing
  • WHOI housing is typically a shared-room in a shared-unit, with two single beds per room
  • Due to the high demand for housing in the summer, requests for private rooms/private units can not be considered
  • Due to the limited housing available, please do not make a reservation if you do not intend to stay in institution housing for the entire fellowship period
  • You will be e-mailed an electronic receipt for tax purposes at the end of the summer

(Please note: International students are required to pay a 14% U.S. Federal income tax on stipend payments, travel allowances and the fair-market value of their WHOI housing. This tax will be deducted from their stipend payments through Payroll deductions.)

Through this program of Fellowship grants, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) aim is to give a promising group of science and engineering students experience that will assist them in determining whether they wish to devote careers to the study of the oceans. This program is made possible through the generosity of friends of the Institution and grants from the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (NSF-REU).

From → Fellowship, Paid, Summer

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