STEMSEAS Application 2026

This application is for all 2026 student STEMSEAS expeditions!

Deadline: May 15 for September expedition. The deadline for our other expeditions has passed.

Eligibility:

Must be at least 18 years old, a U,S. citizen or permanent resident, and enrolled in or accepted to a U.S. accredited institution of higher learning
Must be comfortable in a somewhat unpredictable environment
Must be in generally good health and meet all shipboard medical requirements (i.e., any known health issues must be disclosed on confidential forms and/or discussed ahead of time)
Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (no need to be a super athlete)
Must be able to work outdoors and in close quarters at sea

Components of a completed application include:

this application form
a completed recommendation form from a professor, advisor or employer who will serve as a reference
a copy of your most recent transcript (can be unofficial), uploaded below

If you are selected, most travel and expenses to/from the ports of call will be covered. You will need to have a small amount of funds to pay for local transportation/taxis/shuttles and meals up front; you will be reimbursed for these after the expedition.

The application process is competitive. If you are a finalist for an expedition, you will hear from us ~6-8 weeks prior to the expedition with a request for an interview. If you do not hear from us, it is likely you have not been selected, but feel free to email us to inquire.

1. Full Name (as it appears on a government-issued ID)

First NameMiddle NameLast Name

3. E-mail

2. Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry

4. Date of birth

MonthDayYear

5. Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

6. Gender (needed for berth arrangements on board the ship)

Other

7. College/University currently attending or accepted to attend:

8. Expected graduation Month/Year and degree:

9. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

10. Race (check one or more that apply)

11. Are you the first generation in your family to attend college?

12. Was your family eligible for free school lunch when you were growing up?

13. Are you fluent in speaking and writing English?

14. Are you conversational or fluent in any other languages?

If yes, which one(s)?

15. Other: Is there anything special that you would like the review committee to know about your background?

Our 2026 Expedition Schedule is here. Please let us know if there are any you do NOT want to be considered for, due to your own schedule or other factors. We will likely be adding other expeditions later and we will contact you with those options if you are a finalist for any of our expeditions.

I do NOT wish to be considered for these dates:

Click yes here if you are applying for the rapid-response February expedition with December 23 deadline and that you have a valid passport.

16. Have you applied to STEMSEAS before?

17. Are you currently enrolled at a 2-year/community college institution?

18. If you are enrolled at a 2-year institution, are you considering going on for a 4-year degree?

If you answered yes to being enrolled in a 2-year institution, skip to Question #23.

19. Are you in the process of earning a 4-year degree?

20. If yes, are you considering going on for an advanced degree?

21. Did you transfer from a 2-year/community college institution?

22. If you transferred from a 2-year institution, when did you do so?

23. What is your ultimate educational goal?

24. What is your intended major? (If undeclared, just give us your best guess)

25. If you plan to seek a minor, in what field?

26.What is your ultimate career goal at this point?

27. If you have prior travel experience, list some of the locations you have visited. If not, leave blank - that's ok, too.

28. If you have any prior experience at sea, or other field or laboratory experiences, tell us about it! If not, that's ok, too!

29. If you have special interests in science communication, please describe briefly.

30. Please check if you have any special skills with the following (and if you don't, that's ok too):

31. How did you first learn about STEMSEAS?

32. If you heard about STEMSEAS in a class, what best describes this class?

Other

33. How many high school (including AP-level) science courses did you take?

34. How many college level science or math classes have you taken?

Rows	0	1	2	3	more than 3
lecture without a lab
lecture with a lab
integrated lecture & lab

35. At this point in time, how many more science, math, engineering or technology classes do you expect to take before you graduate from your current program?

36. Do you intend to pursue a science or science-related career (e.g., a career that uses science, like a scientist, science teaching, science writing, technology law, etc.)?

37. Tell us about any jobs, volunteer work, extracurricular activities or other activities you are involved in that sparked your interest in this program.

38. Personal Statement: Briefly (3-4 paragraphs) describe your career goals, why you are interested in this program and what you hope to gain from it.

If accepted to sail on a STEMSEAS expedition, you will be expected to:

take part in 2 pre-expedition webinars and at least 1 post-expedition webinar
actively participate in the port call and all sailing days
adhere to all ship drug and alcohol policies
complete a small post-expedition project
keep your contact info current so we can follow-up with surveys about your experiences down the road

Typing your full name here indicates your commitment to these responsibilities and certifies that the information given in this application is complete and accurate:

Provide the name and contact information for the person (professor, advisor, employer) who will complete a recommendation form for you at this link (Note that you must provide the link to this person; it is not sent automatically by our system):

Name of person submitting recommendation letter:

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

This person is a

Other

I waive my right to see this recommendation letter.

Upload your most recent official or unofficial transcript.

Upload a File

STEMSEAS Student Application 2026