The Summer Student Fellowship places undergraduates at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, for a full-time summer of independent ocean research. Each fellow works on a project under a member of WHOI’s Scientific or Senior Technical Staff, chosen jointly by student and advisor. The program spans the full breadth of ocean sciences and engineering — from biology and geophysics to oceanographic engineering and marine policy — and is designed to give students a genuine research experience rather than coursework.
Benefits & funding
- Weekly stipend of $721 (summer 2026 rate) for the 10–12 week period.
- Travel allowance of up to $720 for round-trip travel to Woods Hole.
- Institution housing provided (a shared room in a shared unit, two single beds per room).
- Mentorship from WHOI staff, plus a Summer Lecture Series and an Ethics in Science Workshop.
- Note: international students pay a 14% U.S. federal income tax on stipend, travel allowance, and the fair-market value of WHOI housing.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate students who will have completed their junior (third) year by the start of the fellowship.
- Students who graduate before the fellowship begins are not eligible.
- Open to any field of science or engineering, including biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, oceanography, and marine policy.
- Open to international students; they must arrange visa paperwork with WHOI’s Foreign National Advisor (F-1 holders should confirm CPT/OPT eligibility with their institution).
- No minimum GPA is stated.
Can you apply?
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Complete the online application form.
- 2Attach a current CV or résumé and an unofficial transcript (PDF).
- 3Write the five short-answer research-statement questions (200 words each maximum).
- 4Arrange two letters of recommendation (maximum three) from professors or others familiar with your academic work — recommenders receive their own submission links.
- 5Submit by the February 1 deadline (11:59pm EST); decisions arrive by mid-March.
Program timeline
applications open
Early December
application deadline
February 1 (11:59pm EST)
admission decisions
Mid-March
offer response deadline
March 15 or later
fellows arrive and the program begins
Late May to mid-June
10–12 weeks later
program ends