School for Marine Science and Technology

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Altabet, Mark A (Chairperson, Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences) Commonwealth Professor of Marine Science and Technology (1995), BS 1979 State University of New York at Stony Brook, PhD 1984 Harvard University. Specializations: Marine and environmental chemistry.

Bisagni, James Professor Emeritus of Marine Science and Technology (1997), BS 1972 University of New York at Stony Brook, MS 1976, PhD 1991 University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. Specializations: Physical oceanography, satellite oceanography.

Brown, Wendell S Professor Emeritus of Marine Science and Technology (2000), BS 1965, MS 1967 Brown University, PhD 1971 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Specializations: Coastal physical oceanography, moored ocean observations, real time circulation modeling, data/information management system development.

Buckingham, Christian Research Assistant Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2022), BS 2000 Grove City College, MS 2004 Johns Hopkins University, PhD 2013 University of Rhode Island. Specializations: Ocean physics, remote sensing, geophysical fluid dynamics, mesoscale and submesoscale ocean dynamics, turbulence.

Cadrin, Steven X Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2010), BS 1985 Southampton College, Long Island University, MS 1995 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, PhD 2003 University of Rhode Island. Specializations: Fish stock assessment, defining spatial fishery management units, spatially-complex population dynamics, fishery management advice, bycatch management.

Chen, Changsheng Commonwealth Professor of Marine Science and Technology and Montgomery Charter Chair (2001), BS 1979, MS 1983 Ocean University of Qingdao, China, MS 1989, PhD 1992 Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Specializations: Modeling and observational exploration of coastal ocean circulation, oceanic frontal processes, turbulent mixing/bottom boundary layer dynamics, chaotic mixing, western boundary currents, internal waves and tides, biological/physical interaction.

Cowles, Geoffrey Associate Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2003), BS 1994 Cornell University, PhD 2001 Princeton University. Specializations: Marine renewable energy, ocean modeling, shape optimization and design, high performance computing, coupled marine bio-physical models.

Fay, Gavin Associate Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2014), BS 2000 University of Stirling, MS 2004, PhD 2012 University of Washington. Specializations: Evaluating performance of ecosystem-based fisheries management strategies, stock assessment statistical methods development, simulation testing of management, monitoring, and assessment procedures, social-ecological ecosystem modeling and indicators for Integrated Ecosystem Assessment, testing decision support tools for living marine resource management.

Gangopadhyay, Avijit Professor of Marine Science and Technology (1997), BTech 1979 Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, MTech 1981 Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, PhD 1990 University of Rhode Island. Specializations: Physical oceanography, numerical modeling, climate studies.

Griffin, Robert Research Assistant Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2019), BA 2003, PhD 2012 University of Rhode Island. Specializations: Environmental economics, marine and coastal economics, experimental economics.

He, Pingguo (Chairperson, Department of Fisheries Oceanography) Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2010), B.Eng. 1982 Zhejiang Ocean University, PhD 1987 University of Aberdeen Scotland. Specializations: Sustainable fisheries, fish behavior near fishing gear, environmentally friendly fishing gear design, evaluating and reducing fishing impact.

Labrie, Micheline Research Assistant Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2022), BA 2011 University of New Hampshire, PhD 2021 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Specializations: Coastal systems biogeochemistry, biodegradation, and plastics in the environment.

Lohrenz, Steven Professor of Marine Science and Technology (2011), BA 1978 University of Oregon, PhD 1985 Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Specializations: Biological distributions and productivity, cycling of carbon and nutrients in coastal and ocean waters using ship-based measurements and optical and remotely sensed observations, characterization of land-ocean interactions using coupled ecosystem models to assess impacts of climate and land use change, optical assessment of air-sea carbon fluxes in river-dominated margins, optical detection and assessment of harmful algal blooms.

Pietri, Alice Research Assistant Professor (2022), BS 2007 University René Descartes, MS 2009, PhD 2013 Sorbonne University, Specializations: Meso and submesoscale physical oceanography, autonomous high-resolution ocean observation, marine heatwaves.

Pilskaln, Cynthia Professor Emeritus of Marine Science and Technology (2006), BA 1978 University of Vermont, MA 1980, PhD 1985 Harvard University. Specializations: Marine biogeochemistry and sedimentology, geochemical particle fluxes in the ocean and large lake systems with emphasis on their quantitative relationship to climate forcing over short and long time scales and to underlying sediment record, organic carbon and biogenic silica cycling including aggregation, export and remineralization processes in the water column and at the sediment/water interface, development and use of particle imaging instrumentation, submersible vehicle-based technology, image analysis techniques for the in-situ study of marine particulates and plankton.

Qi, Jianhua Research Associate Professor (2005), BS 1985, MS 1988 Ocean University of Qingdao, China, PhD 1991 Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China. Specializations: Physical oceanography, ocean numerical model simulation, one of FVCOM-SWAVE model developers, NUOPC FVCOM developer.

Rothschild, Brian Professor Emeritus of Marine Science and Technology (1995), BS 1957 Rutgers University, MS 1959 University of Maine, PhD 1962 Cornell University. Specializations: Ocean ecosystems, marine fish population dynamics, models of plankton dynamics and interactions.

Stokesbury, Kevin Dean and Commonwealth Professor of Marine Science and Technology (1998), BS 1984, MS 1987 Acadia University, Nova Scotia, PhD 1994 Université Laval, Quebec. Specializations: Marine biology/ecology focusing on fisheries, including scallop population dynamics and life history studies.

Sundermeyer, Miles Professor of Marine Science and Technology (1998), BA 1991 University of California, MS 1995, PhD 1998 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Specializations: Dispersion and transport processes, numerical modeling of mixing and stirring, numerical modeling of physical and biological interactions.

Faculty with SMAST Joint Appointments

Turner, Jefferson Chancellor Professor of Biology (1979) and Chancellor Professor of Marine Science and Technology, BS 1969 Guilford College, MA 1972 University of South Florida, PhD 1977 Texas A&M University. Specialization: Biological oceanography.

Affiliate Faculty

Moisander, Pia Professor of Biology (2010) and Professor of Marine Science and Technology, MS 1994 University of Helsinki, PhD 2022 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Specializations: Marine microbial ecology, marine nitrogen cycle, marine biofouling, cyanobacterial blooms.

Tandon, Amit Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1999) and Professor of Marine Science and Technology, BTech 1987 Indian Institute of Technology, MS 1990, PhD 1992 Cornell University. Specializations: Fluid dynamics, physical oceanography, environmental and computational physics.

Graduate students who enroll in the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth access MS and PhD degrees, which are offered through the University of Massachusetts Intercampus Marine Science Graduate Program (IMS).

The IMS is an administrative umbrella for the multi-campus faculty, who have diverse teaching and research interests in the marine sciences and associated technologies. The IMS faculty are distributed among four campuses—UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and UMass Lowell. The IMS offers students advanced academic studies and research in a range of specializations clustered in seven option areas.

SMAST is a major center for teaching, research, and economic development for UMass Dartmouth and the University of Massachusetts. Its faculty and staff engage in basic and applied research in areas that foster interactions with industries and public agencies on economic development and environmental and marine resource policy issues. While SMAST research tends to concentrate on the regional coastal ocean estuaries and watersheds of Massachusetts, New England, and the adjacent U.S., a number of programs are focused in remote regions of the global ocean.

SMAST is located on 2.6 acres in south New Bedford along Clark’s Cove and Buzzards Bay.

Degree Programs

The IMS offers both Master of Science degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in marine sciences and technology. Students graduating with a MS or PhD degree from the IMS receive a joint degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. The degree programs are fundamentally grounded in a broad, integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the study of marine sciences and technology.

Students located at the four participating campuses complete (1) required core courses selected from the natural and social sciences to equip them for interdisciplinary studies and research and (2) elective courses in a chosen area of concentration. The programs prepare students for employment opportunities in the private and governmental sectors and academia. Emphasis is placed on educating researchers and scholars who will contribute not only to basic research but also to the application of that research in a coherent approach to resource management and economic development issues.

Admission Standards

Successful applicants will generally have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree with a GPA of 3.00 or better and will have an undergraduate major in one of the basic scientific disciplines or engineering, or will have strong multidisciplinary training with completion of at least six semesters of coursework in the natural sciences, generally to include biology, chemistry, and/or physics. Preparation in mathematics at least through integral calculus is strongly encouraged. Students who do not meet these criteria need to identify a faculty advocate who must bring a request for exception before the Admissions Committee. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, applicants may make up deficiencies in prior coursework either before or after admission is granted to the IMS. Consideration will be on a case-by-case basis, and the recommendation of the committee will be forwarded to the Dean for approval.

Candidates may apply for admission at either the master’s or doctoral level. Students admitted directly into the doctoral program are expected to have exceptional academic credentials and/or work experience. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree may be required to complete the requirements of a master’s degree before admission to the doctoral program. Students entering with a master’s can be admitted at the doctoral level provided the degree, coursework, and research experience warrant such a decision by the Admissions Committee.

Application Criteria

The Admissions Committee will evaluate a number of additional criteria in its consideration of applications. They include performance on the Graduate Record Examinations (GREs) and TOEFL (if appropriate), three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and statement of interest and intent. Typically, GREs should be in the 50th percentile or greater in each of the test areas, quantitative, verbal and writing. International students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum of 577 (233 on the computer-based exam, 90-91 on the internet-based exam) is highly recommended. GRE Subject tests may also be used in evaluation but are not required.

Three letters of recommendation from referees familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or work experience are required.

Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework must be submitted.

Statements of Interest and Intent are also requested.

The Statement of Interest should provide reviewers an indication of the motivation of the student for pursuing graduate work.
The Statement of Intent should describe how graduate training would address the student’s career goals.

The applicant is strongly encouraged to identify one or more faculty members who could serve as the applicant’s advisor, at least initially, upon admission. To this end, discussions with individual faculty before completing the application are strongly encouraged.

Registration Across Campuses

Courses may be taken at any IMS-affiliated program on the four campuses, in other departments at UMass Dartmouth, or at other area oceanographic institutions, and may be included in a student’s program of studies subject to approval by the student’s major advisor and/or dissertation committee.

UMass campuses collaborate to permit joint-program students, like those in the IMS, at one campus to take courses at another with a minimum of effort. In brief, UMass Dartmouth IMS students go to our Registrar’s Office to register and pay for a course offered at another campus (offered either on that campus or by distance learning). That campus provides evidence of course completion, and grades as well as credit are shown on the UMass Dartmouth transcript.

Graduate Assistantships and Financial Aid

Financial assistance is available to full-time graduate students on a competitive basis. Requests for financial assistance should be made on the admission application.

For information about loans or other assistance, please consult the chapters on “Expenses and Financial Assistance.”

Contact

Dr. Miles Sundermeyer
Graduate Program Director
School for Marine Science and Technology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
706 South Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA 02744-1221
Voice: (508) 999-8892
Email: smast.gpd@umassd.edu