Authentic Cruise and Research Experiences for Underrepresented Students (ACREUS)

Be part of a seagoing research team

Join a team of researchers on a multi-day cruise exploring the oceans, testing new ocean instrumentation, and/or collecting oceanographic data.

Beginning in 2022, we will select eight undergraduate students each year and prepare them with a paid one-week training session at the University of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay Campus. During the following year, each student will be placed in a cohort of two to four ACREUS students and partnered with mentors on a multi-day research cruise that matches their interests.

Funding for this project is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Geosciences – Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric Sciences (GEOPaths) initiative.

About This Program

One-week paid workshop at GSO/URI in June.
(stipend, travel, meal allowance and housing provided)
Participation in research cruise during following year.
(stipend and travel provided)
Post-cruise mentoring and advising to help students
“navigate” their careers. (free of charge 🙂 )
Possibility of course credit at your home institution paid
by the ACREUS program.

Eligibility

Students seeking Associate or Bachelor degrees.
Preference for students from from underrepresented groups in STEM fields.

How to apply

Interested students should complete a brief informational survey

We will follow-up with applicants to discuss more detailed aspects of the program and their interests.

Previous Participants

Downloadable PDF table

Frequently Asked Questions

How many participants per year?
Each year we will select eight students to participate in the ACREUS program.

How long are the cruises?
Cruises will typically be less than 2 weeks long, but there will be some opportunities to participate in cruises up to a month long.

Will I be the only student on the cruise?
No, we plan to place two to four students from the ACREUS program on each cruise.

What will I be doing on the cruise?
It will be up to the Chief Scientist on the cruise, but we anticipate you will stand watch, participate in cruise activities, and assist with some aspect of data collection/analysis.

What are my post-cruise responsibilities?
We request you submit a brief 3 to 5-page post-cruise report about your cruise and program experiences.