2026 Internship Opportunities

The Ross Sea near Antarctica hosts one of the world’s largest and most pristine ocean ecosystems. This region is also a key formation site for Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), which plays a central role in Earth’s climate system and impacts global carbon and oxygen cycles. Due to its remote location and harsh conditions, however, relatively little is known about ocean properties and dynamics in the Ross Sea during winter.

In recent years, Biogeochemical-Argo floats, autonomous ocean robots that drift with the currents, have collected several years worth of data from the Ross Sea, including wintertime measurements under the sea ice. The student will explore this unique data set and compare it to previously available information from ship-based studies, with a focus on biogeochemical observations (pH, oxygen, nitrate).

• Goals of this project:
• Understand the variability of these properties during winter, when AABW formation occurs
• Use ocean observations to study the timing and magnitude of spring phytoplankton blooms, which form the basis of the food web for the productive Ross Sea ecosystem

The student will analyze available oceanographic data and work to understand the results within a broader scientific context. Supervisors will meet regularly with the student to guide them in applying appropriate data analysis methods and interpreting the findings. Supervisors will also be available for coding support.

Coding/data analysis, independent research, scientific reasoning.

STEM background with an interest in Oceanography

Some previous coding experience (ideally in Python or MATLAB)

Laptop is required.

• Students will meet with internship mentors in the spring, prior to the internship start date. Reading materials may also be provided.
• Student(s) are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration of the internship.
• Students are required to register their travel with the University through Enroll My Trip. Information related to the University’s Permissible Travel Guidelines can be found here. Funding is contingent on travel registration and University approval.