Chemical Oceanography
College or University: Oregon State University
Type of degree: M.S.
Brief overview of program: Graduate education in the Chemical Oceanography program incorporates course work and research in descriptive, analytical, and theoretical chemistry and in parts of biological, physical, and geological oceanography, reflecting the broad interdisciplinary nature of this field. During their first year, all incoming Chemical Oceanography students take core chemical, physical, biological, and geological oceanography courses with students from other oceanography disciplines. Specialized courses in such areas as isotope geochemistry, advanced thermodynamics, organic geochemistry, radiochemistry, pollution chemistry,
and instrumental methods of chemical analysis are subsequently elected to fulfill the curricular requirements and needs of individual students.
Students are expected and encouraged to participate in all aspects of chemical oceanographic research, from formulation of initial questions and experimental designs, through development and operation of analytical equipment in the laboratory and at sea, to data analysis and subsequent presentation and publication of results. Initial research topics pursued by our students are usually closely related to the interests and funding of individual faculty members. For the PhD degree, however, students are expected to develop their own independent, creative research project.
Website: Click here for program website
Description of Facilities: Chemical oceanography students at OSU have access to a wide variety of research environments ranging from alpine lakes in the nearby Cascade mountains to hydrothermal systems located conveniently off the coast of Oregon. The OSU research vessel Wecoma affords many opportunities for coastal and deep-water work throughout the Pacific Ocean.
Analytical facilities within the college include inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (high-resolution multi-collector and standard versions) with ion chromatrography and laser ablation capabilities, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorimetric and diode-array spectrophotometric modes of detection, dual-inlet and continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and extensive computer networks.
Other analytical capabilities such as electron microscopy, ion-probe analysis, and neutron-activation analysis are shared with agricultural and environmental chemists and biochemists on campus. Collaboration with students, faculty members, and professional scientists in other OSU departments and affiliated agencies is encouraged and often includes interaction with researchers and facilities at local USEPA laboratories and HMSC.
Program Point of Contact: Robert Collier
Email: rcollier@coas.oregonstate.edu Institution address: 202 Apperson Hall Oregon State University
Corvallis,OR 97331
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