Research

William Detrich

Researchers at the Marine Science Center engage in vibrant and diverse research. Many core research topics relate to understanding how the projected impacts of climate change will affect marine habitats, and how urban communities along the coast can best prepare for these impacts.

Learn about our facilities here.

Get involved in our research

The MSC houses a biorepository of the DNA of the world’s most rare ocean creatures, with over 22,000 specimens submitted from all around the world.

Home to over 5 labs and research groups, the MSC is at the forefront of cutting-edge research. Learn more here.

Delve into your future career path on co-op

Co-op at the Marine Science Center allows students to experience four- to eight-month industry experience on the 20-acre campus in Nahant.

Students who co-op at the MSC work hands on with state-of-the-art technology in areas ranging from research, lab technicians, and marine robotics . Learn more here.

MSC Outreach

We strive to share the innovative research and unique environments of the Marine Science Center directly with students and communities by welcoming visitors from around the world for special events and programs and sharing online STEM reso...

Learn more

Field trips to the MSC

The centerpiece of the MSC Outreach Program is the rocky shore field experience. Scientists have been studying the rocky shore at Nahant for over 150 years, and this two to three hour student experience introduces students to both marine l...

Learn more

MSC in your classroom

Northeastern’s Marine Science Center Outreach Program staff are available to deliver in-class programs in the following communities: Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Swampscott, and Marblehead.

Learn more

Beach Sisters

Beach Sisters is a collaborative program between the Marine Science Center (NUMSC) Outreach Program and Girls Inc. of Lynn.

Learn more

Specimen/Seawater Collection

The Marine Science Center utilizes a seawater system to provide filtered seawater to our tanks and aquariums.

Learn more

Climate change and ocean acidification

We use a combination of field and laboratory techniques to better understand the novel adaptations of living organisms and the evolutionary pressures that have lead to the vast diversity of life on earth.

Learn more

Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology

We employ state-of-the-art technology and diverse scientific perspectives to document how the oceans, as well as the organisms that inhabit them, have changed (and continue to change) through time.

Learn more

Coastal Marine Ecology

We employ classic field ecology methods in conjunction with innovative laboratory manipulations and genetic tools to document species interactions, productivity, energy flow and biodiversity in coastal marine ecosystems.

Learn more

Fisheries and Ecosystem Service Valuation

We employ observational and experimental methods in the field and lab to evaluate the productivity of fisheries and ecosystem services and develop best practices to support our continued use of natural resources.

Learn more

Coral Reef Ecology

We use field and laboratory techniques that employ cutting-edge technology to better understand the complex relationships between corals and the diverse communities that they support.

Learn more