New Collaboration with Tufts University Boosts Experiential Grad Student Opportunities

A version of this story originally appeared on Tufts News.

Developing the next generation of ocean scientists and stewards demands meaningful hands-on experience across research, policy, conservation and education.

Tufts University is advancing this mission through a new collaboration with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, giving graduate students direct access to immersive real-world ocean research.

The Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) will now offer an MS in Biology with a specialization in Marine Science. Master’s students in the program will participate in the fall Sea Change Semester at Bigelow Laboratory, where they will learn and work in state-of-the-art marine laboratories and on multiple research voyages. Students will complete four graduate courses towards their Tufts degree over the semester-long program. This program is also available to students who enroll in the MS in Biology as part of the Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Program.

This collaboration, spearheaded by Tufts Associate Professor of Biology Randi Rotjan and Bigelow Laboratory’s Vice President for Education Ben Twining, allows for much needed experiential learning for students of marine science.

“We’re thrilled to offer our graduate students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a high-quality, immersive ocean environment through this special collaboration with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences,” said Rotjan. “This partnership not only expands access for the many Tufts students studying water-related fields but also provides the kind of intensive, experiential learning that is essential for preparing students for careers in ocean and environmental science. Taking these courses opens up new potential for research and discovery between Tufts University and Bigelow Laboratory. It's really exciting.”

"We are excited to welcome Tufts students to our campus and into our research labs to discover the many ways marine organisms support ocean ecosystems, human health, and the global climate,” said Ben Twining, Henry L. and Grace Doherty Vice President for Education and senior research scientist. “Working alongside our scientists, students will help unlock the mysteries of the ocean while developing solutions to some of today's most pressing environmental challenges.”

The Marine Science program is currently only open to Tufts MS in Biology Students, including GSAS Fifth-Year Master's students. Interested students must first apply to the MS in Biology program. Once accepted into the MS program, students may elect to have a specialization in Marine Science by applying for the Sea Change semester through this application page on the Bigelow Laboratory site. Please reach out to tufts@bigelow.org with any questions.