Admissions

The application for Summer 2025 is now closed.

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. Students who will graduate before the fellowship begins are not eligible to apply. The program is designed for students to participate in the last summer of their undergraduate years.

Applicants may be studying in any of the fields of science or engineering including but not limited to 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, or marine policy.

Requirements

In addition to the on-line application form (see link in box on right), the following are required. All documents are submitted through the application platform:

• A current CV or resume that shows educational background and work experience
• A current unofficial transcript, a PDF document. (Note: An Official Transcript will be required from any applicant who receives a Summer Student Fellowship.)
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or others familiar with the applicant's academic credentials (you may submit the name of one additional recommender for a maximum of 3). Your recommenders will receive a unique link to submit, more information here.
• Research statement questions - Short essay questions within the application:
  
  • How would a summer of research at WHOI benefit your education and career goals? (200 words max)
  • Have you previously been involved in research or other projects as part of your classwork, a job, or an internship? Give an example of where you have used learned skills or knowledge to solve a problem. (200 words max)
  • What areas of marine research are you interested in and why? You may refer to a specific lab at WHOI or a general area, see WHOI Departments , WHOI Areas of Research and/or specific posted projects for 2025. (200 words max)
  • What qualities and characteristics will you bring to our program as a result of your life experiences, jobs and/or other activities that will help you to contribute to a supportive environment in the Summer Student Fellowship program and beyond? Please provide specific examples.(200 words max)
  • Tell us something about yourself that you think we should know, either about your personal journey, your interests, and perspectives (e.g., this could be something learned from either a challenge you have faced and overcome, or a success you are particularly proud of). (200 words max)

Questions can be directed to:
Email: education@whoi.edu

Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59pm EST, February 5. Applicants will be notified of decisions in mid-March.

All students who are offered a position at this REU Site have until March 15th or later to accept or reject the offer. Any student who is asked to accept or reject an offer prior to March 15th should contact the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences REU Program Director, Elizabeth Rom.

Funding for this REU site is provided by the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences located in Arlington, VA. (Award NSF REU OCE-1649563) The NSF contact for this program is Elizabeth Rom. NSF does not handle REU applications; please contact each REU site directly for application information.