Explore Marine Research at UNE

The University of New England School of Marine and Environmental Programs serves as an incubator for forward-looking marine research. The school provides faculty, students, and partner researchers with the information and resources they need to contribute to global conversations regarding marine science, policy, and management.

Our goal is to create new knowledge in a wide variety of interdisciplinary fields, including marine science, marine ecosystems, conservation, restoration, business, sustainable fisheries and ecological aquaculture, social-ecological systems, and marine sustainability science.

Our coastal setting, cutting-edge facilities, and faculty expertise lead to countless marine research opportunities. UNE students serve as key contributors to this work — while also getting the hands-on experience they need for further study and future careers.

Aquaculture research equipment at UNE

Areas of Research

The field of Marine Science is as broad and diverse as the vast oceans that cover most of our planet. At UNE we touch upon all facets of marine science with special focuses in the following areas of research.

Applied Marine Technology

Applied marine technology is a crucial Marine Programs research area that cuts across all others. Robotics, research vessels, remote and autonomous underwater vehicles, environmental monitoring, and modeling are all vital tools that enable modern marine research to occur. Researchers in this area are interested in innovations in and novel applications for marine technology.

Biology of Marine Organisms

Our Marine Programs faculty and professional staff conduct a wide range of research in the areas of biology and ecology of marine organisms. This research area is very broad and ranges from marine genetics to the migration patterns of large animals like sharks, seals, and whales. From seaweed to sharks — plankton to pinnipeds (seals!) our team covers it all.

Food from the Ocean

With a global human population headed towards 10 billion by 2050, understanding the interactions between the ocean and what we eat is more important than ever. Our location on the coast of Maine has a deep heritage and connections to the people and communities who have harvested food from the sea, and the ecosystems that provide it. We have robust research and education programs in this focus area including fisheries science and management, ecological aquaculture, marine entrepreneurship, migration of highly migratory species, and food web ecology.

Human Impacts on the Ocean

Evidence of human impact on the ocean is everywhere, not just limited to our coastal oceans. Plastics and chemicals have been documented from the deepest depths of the global seas, while climate change affects all aspects of the ocean. More and more, we cannot separate studying the natural ocean environment apart from human influence. Fisheries, microplastics, policy, pollution, conservation, and restoration all fall into this category. UNE Marine Programs faculty, professional staff, and students are focused on research and solutions across the spectrum of human influence on our seas.

Facilities

UNE offers some of the best marine science facilities in the nation for research and education — and you can access all of them right from our main campus in Biddeford, Maine.

Tour the Marine Science Center

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

At UNE, you'll be in the field and out on the water as early as your freshman year, with plenty of additional undergraduate research opportunities throughout your academic career.

Hands-on Marine Research – Shark Receiver Buoy

Research Fellowships

In addition to lab classes and faculty lab positions, UNE provides pathways for students to obtain research experience through fellowships from partners and programs including Pratt & Whitney, Bristol Seafood, SEANET, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Publications

Our faculty, professional staff, and students are thought leaders in their fields, published in some of the top marine science and aquatic science journals in the world.

Marine Research Partnerships

Do you represent an organization seeking to partner with the University of New England on Marine Science initiatives? Please contact Charles Tilburg, director of the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences.