Blue Economy interns in front of the WHOI’s R/V Atlantis (Margrethe Serres)
By Lucas Connell
Cape Cod Community College students are getting hands-on experience in marine research through the Blue Economy Internship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
“The Blue Economy Internship represents an opportunity for students to learn about the Blue Economy in our region and to get hands-on experience with some of the research going on at WHOI,” said Margrethe Serres, program coordinator.
The paid internship runs from January to May and offers students real-world exposure to ocean science. It begins with a two-week, 20-hour course in January featuring lectures, lab tours, and hands-on activities in aquaculture, offshore wind, environmental sensors and marine plastics. During the spring semester, students are placed in WHOI labs for 50 additional hours, working directly with researchers on projects that align with their interests.
Colby Firnrohr, a Blue Economy major at 4Cs, interned in the Subhas lab and contributed to an engineering project focused on ocean drifters.
“During my internship, I worked in the Subhas lab building prototype ocean drifters to carry sensors for in-situ open-ocean data collection,” Firnrohr said.
Interns receive a $17-per-hour stipend for the full 70-hour program and earn one college credit through ENV260. Tuition is covered by the STEM Starter Academy, and transportation support is available.
To qualify, students must be enrolled at 4Cs and have completed at least one or two science classes. Recruitment begins in the fall, with applications typically due by late November. Accepted students are notified in early December.
Information sessions are hosted by the STEM Club, and flyers are posted across campus. Students interested in STEM and ocean research are encouraged to apply.
Online application and more information are available at whoi.edu/what-we-do/educate/undergraduate-programs/cccc-blue-economy-internships
