Ocean STEAM Powered Women (O-STEAM) Fellowship

2024 Program Information

Important Dates

Information Session: March 5, 2024
Application Deadline: April 4, 2024
Fellowship: August 11-17, 2024

WHOI Sea Grant (WHOI SG) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are excited to collaborate with Sea Education Association on the Ocean STEAM Powered Women (O-STEAM) Fellowship, a competitive, week-long, no-cost, residential fellowship in Woods Hole for a cohort of young women from Massachusetts currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school.

Fellows are housed on the beautiful Sea Education Association campus during this week-long, summer fellowship, with easy access to the nearby WHOI facilities. During their week, fellows work with WHOI Research Specialist Laela Sayigh, WHOI SG Education Specialist Grace Simpkins, Program Assistants, and others to investigate marine mammal bioacoustics (sounds) while also meeting other female Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) professionals and learning from their collective expertise. The immersive experience includes building and testing their own underwater microphone (or hydrophone), analyzing data of dolphin vocalizations from the resident population in Sarasota, Florida to aid in conservation efforts, and capturing the underwater sounds of whales and dolphins vocalizing during a whale watch expedition. Fellows will learn from communications specialists about how to share their research and experiences with their community.

Who is eligible?

We welcome students who are :

Interested in being in a female-identified space, and
Current residents of and students in Massachusetts, and
Current high school sophomores and juniors (as of March 2024)

* No experience required *

When will it be held?

August 11-17, 2024

Free Opportunity

There is no-cost to the fellow for this program. All expenses are paid.

Diversity Statement

We are committed to assembling diverse groups of fellows. This fellowship encourages applicants from groups historically underrepresented in the ocean sciences – especially with respect to gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We welcome students who are interested in being in a female-identified space.

» Download application flyer

Applications are due by April 4, 2024

2024 Information Session

Have questions about the program? Get answers from our Zoom information session held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

» Watch Here

To Apply:

IMPORTANT: Before applying, please read these instructions carefully. When you click on the "Apply Now" link, you will be taken to the SEA website, where you will need to create an account. Please use this image to fill in the questions correctly.

Once your account is activated (there might be a delay), you will be able to start the application process. If you have questions, contact Grace Simpkins, gsimpkins@whoi.edu.