Application Materials
Applications will open in the fall of 2025 for 2026 scholarships
An online Q&A webinar will run in January 2026. Sign up at this link.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Fellowship, applicants must be graduate students in any field sharing a common interest in the nonlinear dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids. These fields include classical fluid dynamics, physical oceanography, meteorology, astrophysics, planetary atmospheres, geological fluid dynamics, hydromagnetics, physics and applied mathematics.
Fellows will be expected to attend the full eight weeks of the Program, complete a research project pursued under the supervision of the GFD Staff, and present a lecture and a written report for the proceedings volume at the end of the program. Additionally, fellows are each responsible for writing up notes on the opening lectures, which are included in the proceedings.
Requirements
In addition to the formal application form, the following are required
- A current CV or resume that shows your educational background and work experience; At least three written recommendations;
- A short statement (1 page or less double-spaced) that outlines your educational background and provides a synopsis, for the non-specialist, of your studies and research to date; and
- A short statement (1 page or less double-spaced) of what you might hope to accomplish in a GFD Fellowship at WHOI.
Application
Applications for Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Fellowships are welcome from graduate students with an academic interest in the dynamics of fluid flows. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with varied perspectives and experiences. The GFD Program is committed to maintaining a respectful, supportive, and collegial environment where all members can contribute to advancing science. The application can be completed online using the link to the right.
Completed applications will be accepted until February 5.
Selection process
Following the application deadline in February, evaluation of the applications is a two-step process. Applications are first assessed by the GFD Staff who are attending that summer, typically around 10 evaluators. This evaluation uses a rubric where applications are scored by academic achievement, academic background, and broader interests. From all the evaluations, applicants receiving a median score above 80% will be considered admissible.
In the second step, the Directors choose which Fellows to accept into the program using the following guidelines: the make-up of admitted Fellows should include:
- a mix of students with methodological training in theory, simulations, experiments, and observations;
- a mix of expertise in physical oceanography, applied mathematics, atmospheric science, or engineering/physics; and
- a mix of junior and senior graduate students.
These guidelines help ensure that Fellows learn from the broad experience of their peers as much as from the GFD staff. In addition, the Directors are required to adhere to the following: a minimum of 50% of Fellows must come from US institutions; generally, no more than one Fellow should be admitted from each institution; priority should be given to applicants from US public institutions and institutions from where few, if any, Fellows have been admitted in the past.
The rubric used to evaluate applications can be found here.
Further information may also be obtained by contacting: (508) 289-2950 or gfd@whoi.edu.