Ocean Engineering, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering

Ocean engineering Ph.D. programs are not available at every university, but Florida Tech offers a diverse program built on a multidisciplinary approach to many disciplines in engineering. In fact, it is one of the only ocean engineering doctorate programs with training in ocean engineering, naval architecture, oceanography, meteorology, environmental science and coastal management.

Professional Mentorship From An Expert Faculty

Florida Tech's ocean engineering Ph.D. program provides everything you'd expect from a large university in a more intimate, focused environment where professors mentor students, class sizes are small and there is an opportunity for hands-on research in some of the most diverse coastal environments in the world.

Organizations

Students seeking an ocean engineering Ph.D. interact with experts at environment-oriented businesses and organizations that provide unique learning opportunities, research guidance and internships. The university has close relationships with numerous organizations including:

• 45th Weather Squadron of the United States Air Force 
• NASA Kennedy Space Center 
• Hubbs Sea World Research Institute 
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 
• Marine Resources Council 
• National Weather Service

Research

As a leading research university, graduate students earning an ocean engineering Ph.D. get out in the field and conduct research in real-world scenarios. Students have a chance to work with national research organizations and institutes that includes:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
• Mineral Management Service 
• Army Corps of Engineers 
• Federal Emergency Management Association 
• United States Coast Guard 
• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute 
• Scripps Oceanographic Institute 
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Plus, Florida Tech's coastal location is the perfect environment for students in an ocean engineering Ph.D. program. The Atlantic Ocean and the most diverse estuary in North America, the Indian River Lagoon, are just minutes away.

Laboratories and Facilities Designed for Ocean Engineers

Facilities are an important factor for graduate students doing research in an ocean engineering Ph.D. program. In addition to the natural laboratories surrounding the university, Florida Tech's facilities are very appealing to ocean engineering students.

• Facilities at the Florida Tech Anchorage (Evinrude Marine Operations Center) include docks, electrical power, and storage for nautical equipment, supplies and scientific equipment. 
• A fleet of small craft for accessing research sites includes pontoon boats, Jet Ski, Robalo, Boston Whaler, Skiffs and Chris Craft powerboat. 
• The Structures Laboratory supports instructional experiments such as compression and tensile testing, with research and teaching activities focused on the mechanical behavior of metallic, concrete, plastic, composite materials and structural forms. 
• The Fluid Mechanics Laboratory houses the experimental hardware used for experiments that measure fluid properties and to verify the laws of conservation of fluid motion. 
• An Underwater Technology Laboratory provides students in the ocean engineering Ph.D. program with hands-on research using underwater robotic systems and includes equipment such as oscilloscopes, high-range power supplies, frequency generators and voltmeters, among others. 
• The Vero Beach Marine Laboratory serves as a beachfront field station for the university in support of research and teaching marine science with easy access to sites used to launch, test and evaluate student designs. 
• The Marine Materials Exposure Site at Indian River Lagoon offers a seawater exposure site for evaluation of biofouling and corrosion characteristics of materials.

Ocean Engineering Careers

Ocean engineering is a fast growing field with opportunities that are expanding as people turn to the oceans for food, transportation and energy. Because ocean engineers study all aspects of the ocean environment, employment opportunities are global in nature and can include such positions as creating remotely operated vehicles, developing underwater structures, capturing the energy of waves and turning it into electricity and more. When comparing ocean engineering Ph.D. programs, Florida Tech provides the type of training and research experience a doctoral student needs to find a challenging and rewarding career in any number of industries.