Ocean Engineering, Ph.D.

Florida Tech offers a research-intensive environment where ocean engineering doctoral students develop interdisciplinary expertise under faculty who are leaders in marine and coastal innovation.

Small classes and focused research groups support close mentorship as students design and conduct original research, while collaboration with faculty and peers broadens perspectives and strengthens engineering approaches.

Advanced coursework, specialized research facilities and hands-on laboratory and field training prepare students to become independent engineers capable of addressing complex challenges in marine, offshore and coastal systems.

Research is central to the ocean engineering Ph.D. at Florida Tech, giving students the opportunity to make original contributions to the field. Doctoral research is tailored to students’ academic and professional interests and spans a broad range of marine and coastal engineering challenges.

Areas of research focus include:

• Coastal engineering and resilience: coastal structures such as breakwaters, revetments and seawalls, nature-based solutions including reef balls, oysters and vegetation, and coastal hazards and morphodynamics such as beach erosion and barrier island dynamics
• Marine materials and sustainability: corrosion, materials science, mineral exploitation and waste disposal
• Naval and ocean vehicle systems: naval architecture, shipbuilding including small craft, and underwater vehicle development
• Hydrodynamics and marine instrumentation: fluid dynamics, ocean energy and the design of marine instrumentation and positioning systems

Doctoral students in ocean engineering at Florida Tech engage with a broad network of experts, creating meaningful opportunities for fieldwork, applied research and professional networking. These partnerships extend doctoral research beyond campus and support collaboration with organizations actively addressing real-world marine and coastal challenges.

Students may work alongside leading organizations, including:

• Federal and government agencies: U.S. Space Force (45th Weather Squadron), NASA-Kennedy Space Center, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, National Weather Service.
• Leading research institutions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.
• Nonprofit and professional organizations: Marine Resources Council, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and various industry partners.

These collaborations support research in coastal observation, environmental monitoring and applied engineering, expanding both technical expertise and professional networks.

Florida Tech’s Ph.D. program in ocean engineering provides a research-intensive environment with access to a range of state-of-the-art laboratories. Students conduct original research in areas such as fluid mechanics, wave dynamics, underwater technology, corrosion and materials performance.

Research facilities include the structures laboratory for advanced materials testing, the fluid mechanics laboratory for flow and pressure experiments, and the underwater technology laboratory for work with robotic systems, sensors and electronics.

Located minutes from campus, the Mertens Marine Center and the Ralph S. Evinrude Marine Operations Center provide direct water access and support research projects ranging from shallow-water studies using small vessels to offshore work conducted through chartered platforms. The marine materials exposure site in the Indian River Lagoon enables testing of biofouling and corrosion resistance under real-world conditions.

Academic units at Florida Tech may offer graduate student assistantships to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students on a competitive basis.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) support faculty in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including tasks such as grading, tutoring and conducting office hours. First-time TAs attend a teaching assistant seminar to prepare for their responsibilities.

Research Assistants (RAs) collaborate with faculty on projects funded by government agencies, private sponsors and university research funds.

For current information about assistantships, please contact the Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences.

Florida Tech’s Space Coast location offers an exceptional setting for advanced ocean engineering research. Proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon gives doctoral students access to a range of coastal and marine environments that support hands-on experimentation, field testing and long-term monitoring of marine and coastal systems.

Access to extensive shoreline and active marine and engineering organizations supports applied research and professional experience with government agencies, consulting firms, offshore operations, aquaculture ventures and private marine technology companies.

The region’s high-tech corridor further enables collaboration with scientists and engineers across related disciplines, expanding the scope of research projects and strengthening career opportunities for doctoral students.

Graduate students from around the world come together at Florida Tech in a campus community that fosters international collaboration and innovation. This environment encourages students to work across cultures and perspectives, preparing them for research and professional settings around the globe.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports international students throughout their academic journey, providing guidance on immigration matters, serving as a liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments, and sharing information about campus and community resources.

Florida Tech offers a safe and welcoming campus environment that supports advanced research alongside personal well-being. The campus includes extensive green spaces, such as the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden, along with facilities like the Holzer Health Center and Clemente Center for health, fitness and stress management.

Located minutes from the Indian River Lagoon and 72 miles of Atlantic beaches, the university combines access to outdoor recreation with proximity to industry and government organizations that contribute to research collaboration and career development.