UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology

08/24/2026

Earlier this summer, the World Cup showed us that the Scotland-New England connection runs deep. But did you know that connection extends to the fishing industry, too? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🐟
Researchers from UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) recently joined NOAA Fisheries’ first international cooperative research exchange with Scotland, bringing fishermen and scientists together to share knowledge and explore common challenges facing fisheries on both sides of the Atlantic. READ MORE:

First-ever international cooperative research gathering featured vessel and industry tours and roundtable discussions. Conversations about trust, knowledge sharing, and common goals highlight why cooperative research is a key asset for the future.

08/18/2026

At SMAST’s Coastal Systems Program, researchers work to understand how nutrients like nitrogen in estuaries and phosphorus in freshwater systems affect water quality across southeastern Massachusetts.

The Coastal Systems Program has monitored over 70 estuaries to help restore eelgrass and benthic function in these vital ecosystems. This research helps guide water-quality management, including Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for municipalities throughout the region.

Work toward healthier water quality continues through various projects, including those conducted by master’s student Grace Dixon and PhD student Julia Charest.

Take a look at other research initiatives Coastal Systems Program, SMAST

07/07/2026

SMAST Dean Kevin Stokesbury was interviewed about the reopening of the Northern Edge of Georges Bank, "one of the most productive scallop grounds in U.S. waters." See more:

A prominent scallop fishing ground could soon reopen after more than three decades.

06/13/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 SMAST graduates!🎓

PhD recipients:
Dr. Elizabeth Ells•Dr. Jessica Thomas•Dr. Siddhant Kerhalkar•Dr. Bailey Remy•Dr. Nicholas Calabrese•Dr. Debra Duarte•Dr. Amanda Hart

Master’s graduates:
Ajmal Abbas•Andie Painten•Vishnu Selvaraj•Sebastian TorreNieto•Drake Ssempijja•Amanda Meli

We are so proud to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our Master’s and PhD students.

05/18/2026

A UMass Dartmouth team spanning the School for Marine Science and Technology, the College of Engineering, and the Charlton College of Business recently received a $1.4M grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to create a “digital twin” for the MA shellfish aquaculture industry. Read more: https://brnw.ch/21x2AYB

04/02/2026

Our own PhD student Lindsay Graff is one of two U.S. scientists to receive a 2026 Small Grant from the Save Our Seas Foundation!

🦈 Her project titled "Stress Test: what’s the impact of US recreational fishery capture on prohibited sharks?" will measure how capture stress affects the survival of white, dusky and sand tiger sharks in U.S. waters, focusing on the rod-and-reel recreational fisheries. She will generate guidelines to reduce handling stress, improve survival and strengthen recovery efforts for three of the Atlantic’s most threatened shark species.

Lindsay joins SMAST faculty Dr. Lauran Brewster and Dr. Melissa Cronin, as well as her mentor Greg Skomal, who are all past recipients of the Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grant.

03/25/2026

SMAST graduate student Sierra Richardson's thesis research was featured today in an article from the Cape Cod Times! The article highlights how collaborative research by scientists and fishers can lead to better data on valuable species like monkfish.

Cape Cod fishermen have been helping scientists track monkfish. Here’s why it matters for the fishery, the fish, and your seafood plate.

03/10/2026

After an internship on an oyster farm in Juneau, Alaska, Liz Roros knew she wanted to learn more about the systems that produce our seafood. So, she came to the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth.
As a new graduate student, Liz is investigating how climate change affects the health and abundance of commercially important fish populations.
Recently, she and fellow SMAST graduate student Lexi Baumgartner presented their research at the Graduate Climate Conference, an event organized for and by graduate students. The conference brought together researchers studying different aspects of climate change, from pollution to extreme weather.

02/24/2026

Hope everyone’s staying warm and taking breaks in between all the shoveling! While spring still might feel really far away, we are excited to announce a SMAST Alumni Seminar Takeover on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 12:00-4:00 pm at SMAST East! In recognition of Earth Day, this event will highlight the impactful work SMAST alumni are doing in marine science and conservation! The afternoon will feature keynote presentations from Dr. Megan Winton from 🦈 and Grace Jensen from .ocean 🌊 🌀! There will also be a series of shorter lightning talks from other exciting alumni, followed by a social mixer in downtown New Bedford! RSVP using the QR code in the post! DM if you have any questions! Hope to see you there! 🐟

02/19/2026

SMAST alumnus Filipe Pereira PhD '23 is now an assistant professor at UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography!
Filipe was the first person in his family to go to college. He taught himself English in order to study in the U.S., where he completed his PhD in the dual-degree program between UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) and the University of São Paulo’s Oceanographic Institute (IOUSP).

His research interests include physical-biological interactions, mesoscale and submesoscale dynamics, and plankton ecology.

Congratulations, Filipe!

📷: