CBL is home to a diverse, highly-skilled graduate student body.  Graduate study at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory is founded on multidisciplinary training that emphasizes the intersection of basic and applied environmental sciences.  Most of our students focus on problems associated with aquatic habitats (freshwater, estuarine, marine); however, their research may involve anything from a study of molecular-level mechanisms of responses to stress to the dynamics of entire ecosystems.  Our faculty research programs are particularly strong in fisheries, environmental chemistry and toxicology, and ecosystem science and restoration ecology.  The breadth of expertise among our faculty opens the door for research that cuts across the boundaries of traditional scientific disciplines and fosters collaboration with leading researchers within the CBL community and beyond. Examples of recent interdisciplinary projects at CBL include: the ecology of snapping turtles and effects of PCB contamination on juvenile development and physiology; using molecular biomarkers preserved in sediments of the Arctic Ocean to investigate how the organic carbon cycle has changed with natural and
anthropogenic climate variability; and probing the causes and consequences of white perch spatial ecology using chemical tracers to identify intrapopulation variability in habitat use.  Our campus is highly interactive with students and faculty both participating in weekly seminars and brown bag lunches in addition to traditional courses. 

Opportunities for research exist for students outside the bounds of CBL.  Students are often invited to participate in field and laboratory research being conducted by other groups; exposing students to new techniques, equipment and problem solving methods.  Extramural events are often attended by our students; for example the recent Snowbird Charrette in Experimental Research Design held in Snowbird, UT, included a cadre of CBL students from different disciplines.  Students have filled temporary contractor positions with local organizations and collaborated with research groups from other academic institutions,

Students at CBL are expected to attend and present their research at national and international conferences with funding available through CBL and the University of Maryland to offset travel and registration expenses for individuals presenting their research. You can read about the success of our students here.