WHOI’s Jennifer Johnson receives Fulbright Specialist Award

Research Associate will complete a project at the National Fisheries and Marine Research Institute in Angola.

Woods Hole, Mass. (August 7, 2025) – Jennifer Johnson, a research associate in the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering (AOPE) department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has been granted a Fulbright Specialist Award. This award, given by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, will fund a project at the National Fisheries and Marine Research Institute in Angola.

This fall, Johnson will undertake a project, “Acoustic Technology for Sustainable Management of Marine Resources.” This effort will ultimately advance the operational capabilities of acoustic fishery surveys onboard the Angolan Ministry of Fisheries research vessel the Baía Farta.  Not only will this be of immediate benefit to fisheries management in Angola, but it will also foster long-term interdisciplinary collaboration with their team, WHOI researchers, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service survey biologists, and industry engineer.

In 2017, Johnson conducted acoustic and trawl surveys to track a variety of fish species. (Photo by Carin Ashjian, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Johnson came to WHOI in 2020, upon completion of her M.Sc. in Oceanography at the University of New Hampshire. Her research interests include sound scattering and acoustic propagation in marine environments, with a focus on acoustic remote sensing and marine

measurement systems. She is among more than 400 U.S. citizens selected annually to contribute their expertise to host institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to share knowledge and experience I’ve gained at WHOI and NOAA with researchers in Angola, whose work is important for sustainable fisheries in the region,” said Johnson. “This project is about more than technology—it’s about building lasting partnerships that will enhance technical skill and ability of ocean acoustic applications to support ocean stewardship on a global scale.”

The Fulbright Program aims to create lasting bonds between Americans and people in other countries through academic and cultural exchange. Recipients of this award are selected based on academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

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About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in fundamental and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of ocean data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge to inform people and policies for a healthier planet. Learn more at whoi.edu.