Prospective Students
The Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing (MaRRS) lab welcomes students at undergraduate, Masters, and PhD levels, including undergraduate students enrolled at Duke University Marine Lab and Masters of Environmental Management students at Duke University.
If you are interested in joining the lab, we suggest that you review our lab’s research themes, current projects, recent publications, and code of conduct to see how your interests and abilities align with what is happening in our lab. We also encourage you to read this page carefully to get a sense of whether the MaRRS lab would be a good fit for you and your interests.
If you think that the MaRRS lab might be a good fit for you, we encourage you to send an email to Dr. Johnston that includes:
- How your interests and experience fit with the lab’s current research
- A brief statement of your proposed research project and research interests
- Your current CV or resume
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- If you don’t have one ready, we recommend this guide
- Be sure to highlight relevant experience and examples of past research
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Additionally, if you are a prospective PhD student, be sure to note any funding opportunities that you have acquired or are applying for.
Doctoral Students
Doctoral students in the MaRRS lab are enrolled at the Duke University Graduate School and those interested in joining the lab are encouraged to apply through the University Program in Ecology. Descriptions on the program website feature the most up-to-date admissions criteria and requirements. Additionally, current deadlines and statistics are listed for all graduate programs at Duke.
See FAQs below for more information about doctoral research with the MaRRS lab.
See FAQs below for more information about doctoral research with the MaRRS lab.
Masters Students
Masters students in the MaRRS lab are enrolled in one of the Masters programs of the Nicholas School, usually the Master of Environmental Management Degree on the Coastal Environmental Management track. In this program, students typically spend their first year in Durham and their second year at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students working with the MaRRS lab usually spend one or more semesters in residence at the Duke University Marine Lab. Interested students are invited to reach out to members of the MaRRS lab or to attend one of our weekly lab meetings to learn about current research and opportunities to get involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How would you be funded as a PhD student in this lab?
For any graduate program in the US, it is critical that you have a plan for how to fund your degree. In the MaRRS lab, PhD students have been supported through a variety of sources, including Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Research Assistantships (RAs) and institutional and external fellowships. Both TA and RA opportunities depend on a variety of factors, and ARE NOT presently a viable source of support for those contemplating joining the MaRRS lab. Rather, we encourage all prospective and admitted students to seek outside funding opportunities. Past and present PhD students have been funded by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the National Space Grant and Fellowship Program, amongst others. Other common sources of funding for our field include NOAA SeaGrant fellowships and the Nancy Foster fellowship.
Undergraduate and Masters students are generally funded through their tuition plan.
Undergraduate and Masters students are generally funded through their tuition plan.
What kind of work style works best at the MaRRS lab?
For any research project, it is critical that students, teammates and advisors have compatible expectations and work ethics. Successful students at the MaRRS lab often have a high degree of self-motivation and direction, but are also comfortable asking PIs for help and leaning on the expertise of their peers and lab-mates. Interested students are encouraged to reach out to current students and alumni of the MaRRS lab to learn more about our research community and its unique strengths and challenges.
What coursework and professional preparation should I have to apply to this lab?
No specific combination of coursework is required, but students in the MaRRS lab often have a strong background in some of the following areas: remote sensing, engineering, aviation, computer science, coastal & marine science and spatial methods.
Incoming PhD students generally have experience beyond the undergraduate level, whether that is a Masters degree or relevant professional experiences. It is strongly recommended that you have experience conducting research or analysis independently at a graduate level, especially if your proposed research area is very different from your undergraduate coursework and research.
Incoming PhD students generally have experience beyond the undergraduate level, whether that is a Masters degree or relevant professional experiences. It is strongly recommended that you have experience conducting research or analysis independently at a graduate level, especially if your proposed research area is very different from your undergraduate coursework and research.
My background and experience doesn’t sound like your ‘typical’ student. Is it worth contacting the MaRRS lab?
Members of the MaRRS lab come from a variety of backgrounds with vastly different life experiences, academic credentials, career aspirations, and research interests. Our lab values the unique perspectives and insights that come from our different identities, and we invite inquiries from students of all backgrounds!
I am having a hard time getting a response, how do I start a conversation?
Please be persistent! Members of our lab, including Dr. Johnston, are often very busy in the office, in the lab, and in the field, so please don’t be offended if we are slow to respond or it slips off our radar. It helps if your email is concise, clear, and direct - try to suggest a few times that you would be able to meet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom or Discord meetings will likely be the best way to connect. Unfortunately, a direct email doesn’t guarantee immediate success in an academic inbox. If you are having a hard time reaching Dr. Johnston you can also try one of the graduate students, who might be able to answer some of your questions.
OK, the MaRRS lab sounds like the right place for me! What now?
Your first step before joining any research lab should be to start a conversation with the Principle investigator (PI), so reach out and contact Dr. Johnston to talk about your research ideas! As we suggest above, it is a good idea to include the following in your introduction:
• your CV
• a brief statement of your proposed research project and research interests
• how your interests and experience fit with the lab’s current research
Once you have a potential project with Dr. Johnston, you’ll need to plan a timeline for joining the lab, accessing our resources and conducting your research. For prospective PhD students, this also entails gaining admission into a Duke graduate program. For undergraduate students and masters students, this usually entails planning your semester(s) at the Duke University Marine Lab.
If possible, try to find some time to visit the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC, and organize a time to meet with lab members and current students. This is probably the best way to get a feel for the work we do and the way we operate, and we’ll be excited to meet you!
• your CV
• a brief statement of your proposed research project and research interests
• how your interests and experience fit with the lab’s current research
Once you have a potential project with Dr. Johnston, you’ll need to plan a timeline for joining the lab, accessing our resources and conducting your research. For prospective PhD students, this also entails gaining admission into a Duke graduate program. For undergraduate students and masters students, this usually entails planning your semester(s) at the Duke University Marine Lab.
If possible, try to find some time to visit the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC, and organize a time to meet with lab members and current students. This is probably the best way to get a feel for the work we do and the way we operate, and we’ll be excited to meet you!
When do I get to fly a drone?
Most of our research projects involve data collected by drones or related technologies, but not all members of the MaRRS lab are drone pilots. Some of our most challenging platforms and techniques require advanced training to operate safely and successfully, so sometimes it is just not possible to train a new pilot for each project. Depending on your experience, there are opportunities to learn new platforms and methods with the MaRRS lab, but we do not promise that every student can pilot their own data collection. Students interested in flying are encouraged to obtain their Part 107 Remote Pilot License and pass the NC DOT UAS knowledge test.
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