Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences

What Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences does

The Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS) is the academic teaching and research department at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that delivers undergraduate, master's, and PhD programs in oceanography and supports postdoctoral research across biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography. It maintains a fleet of research vessels (R/V Arabella, R/V Rutgers, R/V Resilience), autonomous underwater systems (Slocum gliders, Remus AUV, and the Teledyne Sentinel AUV via the Sentinel Mission), coastal field stations (Rutgers University Marine Field Station, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory with the Aquaculture Innovation Center), and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve—one of 29 federal NERR sites. Core technical capabilities include the Rutgers Inorganic Analytical Laboratory (mass spectrometry), the Microbial Flow Sort Lab (flow cytometry and high-speed cell sorting), the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS)—a community ocean model with nearly 8,000 subscribed users across 120 countries—and the ROMS-JEDI data assimilation interface developed with JCSDA. The Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) anchors the department's autonomous-observation and real-time ocean-forecasting activities.

DMCS is a publicly funded entity within Rutgers' School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) under the governance of the State University of New Jersey; it has no private investors and does not commercialize its primary outputs. Revenue flows from institutional allocations and competitive federal grants (NSF, NOAA, the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation) and is not publicly disclosed at the department level. "Customers" in the conventional sense are students, researchers, federal agencies, and the global ocean-modeling community; outreach to K-12 and the public is delivered through Teen Science Cafe, Teen Sustainability Summit, 4-H STEM Ambassadors, the RIOS/REU internship program, and a multi-channel social media presence. Leadership is anchored by Department Chair Oscar Schofield, Co-Directors of RUCOOL Scott Glenn and Oscar Schofield, and program directors across graduate, undergraduate, MOO, and hub-level initiatives.

Name

Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences

Legal name

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Website

https://marine.rutgers.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University delivers undergraduate to PhD education and research across biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography, operating research vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, coastal field stations, analytical laboratories, and the ROMS ocean model used in 120 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Brunswick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS) is an academic and research department within Rutgers University that conducts fundamental and applied research on marine and coastal environments. It offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in marine sciences and operates research vessels, field stations (including the Rutgers University Marine Field Station), analytical laboratories (mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, biomolecular facilities), and an ocean observing program (MACH, MOO). It develops and shares open-source ocean modeling software (ROMS) and autonomous underwater vehicle technologies.

Product overview

The Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University operates as an academic research institution offering a unified portfolio of oceanographic research services, facilities, and educational programs. The core offerings include research vessels (R/V Arabella, R/V Rutgers, R/V Resilience) and autonomous underwater systems (Slocum Gliders, Remus AUV) for ocean data collection; field stations (RUMFS, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve) providing coastal research infrastructure; analytical facilities (RIAL mass spectrometry center, Microbial Flow Sort Lab) for marine sample analysis; and the Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) for autonomous ocean observation technology development. The department also provides educational programs including the Master of Operational Oceanography (MOO) degree. The Sentinel Mission represents their flagship autonomous vehicle program using Teledyne Marine's Sentinel AUV for global ocean exploration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Programs in Marine and Coastal Sciences Research-oriented graduate degree programs (MS and PhD) covering biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography, offered to students seeking careers in marine research.
• Undergraduate Programs in Marine Sciences Undergraduate major and minor programs in marine sciences, including field-based coursework, designed for undergraduate students at Rutgers University.
• Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) A coastal field station supporting shellfish aquaculture research, benthic ecology studies, and coastal ecosystem monitoring for researchers, agency partners, and the aquaculture industry.
• Ocean Observing Programs (MOO / MACH) Real-time coastal ocean observing networks and data products that monitor New Jersey and Mid-Atlantic coastal waters, providing data to researchers, government agencies, and the public.
• Analytical and Biomolecular Laboratory Services Fee-based sample analyses using mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, and biomolecular/genetic instrumentation, provided to internal and external researchers and partners.
• Research Vessel Operations Coastal and estuarine research vessel support for faculty, students, and external collaborators conducting oceanographic fieldwork in the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• U.S. Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRutgers University partnered with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay to support maritime search-and-rescue training aboard the R/V Arabella research vessel, providing Coast Guard crews with hands-on emergency response experience.
• Teledyne Marine InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Sentinel Mission using Teledyne Marine's Sentinel autonomous underwater vehicle to circumnavigate the global ocean, demonstrating new technology developed by Teledyne Marine Inc.
• Schmidt Ocean InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerField campaign in August 2026 supported by Schmidt Ocean Institute for research on climate-driven shifts in regional circulation and nitrogen supply in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
• GEOTRACES ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational program studying the biogeochemistry of trace metals and isotopes in the ocean; completed GEOTRACES cruises in tropical South Pacific and Arctic Ocean.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple NSF-funded projects including Growing Convergence Research, REU programs, and Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH).
• Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA)majorTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on ROMS-JEDI interface as part of the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration (JEDI) Framework.
• NOAA (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including Ocean Acidification Program, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program.
• Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research ReservemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves created to promote responsible use and management of nation's estuaries through research, education, and stewardship.
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRUCOOL serves as technical director for MARACOOS, collecting data from satellites, HF-RADAR, and underwater ocean gliders across the Mid-Atlantic Bight.
• Rutgers Energy InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Falkowski serves as Founding Director of the Rutgers Energy Institute.
• Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated program advancing Earth system science for climate change, biodiversity loss, and global biogeochemical cycles.
• U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARACOOS serves as regional association under the national IOOS, working to better enable scientists to forecast ocean and atmospheric weather.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Washington School of Oceanography: UW Oceanography is a leading Pacific-coast marine and oceanographic department offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, operating research vessels, and conducting climate and ocean-observing research — directly comparable in structure, training programs, and science mix.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego): Scripps is one of the oldest and largest U.S. oceanographic institutions, with extensive seagoing capability, graduate programs, and federal-grant-driven marine science. Directly comparable on research-vessel operations, graduate training, and federal-grant dependence.
• Oregon State University College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences: OSU CEOAS operates the largest university-based research fleet in the U.S., conducts ocean observing and modeling, and runs a comparable graduate program. Closest direct peer on integrated seagoing + modeling + education mission.
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (Columbia University): Columbia's Lamont-Doherty is a peer earth/ocean science research unit within a major R1 university, conducting oceanographic, climate, and geochemical research with federal funding. Directly comparable in scope, governance (university department), and science portfolio.
• University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science: Rosenstiel School is a coastal R1 unit focused on marine and atmospheric science, operating research vessels and ocean observing systems with strong NSF/NOAA funding — directly comparable in scope, climate focus, and graduate training.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): WHOI is the largest independent oceanographic research institution in the U.S., operating research vessels, AUVs (including REMUS — the same platform Rutgers operates), and graduate education via the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. Most direct comparable on combined research, observing technology, and graduate training.
• University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography: URI GSO is the primary oceanographic graduate institution in the Northeast, operating the R/V Endeavor and R/V Narragansett Dawn with a comparable research and teaching portfolio. Directly comparable on geographic region and academic oceanography mission.
• University of Maine School of Marine Sciences: UMaine's School of Marine Sciences is a New England peer offering marine science graduate programs, coastal observing, and aquaculture research — comparable in mission, regional focus, and federal-grant dependence.

Broad incumbents

• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Schmidt Ocean Institute funds and operates the R/V Falkor and supports high-profile open-ocean research campaigns — including a planned 2026 cruise with DMCS. A peer philanthropic/operator that competes for talent, vessel time, and visibility in the same mission space.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): NOAA is the largest U.S. funder and operator of marine science, ocean observing, and fisheries research and a key DMCS partner (NEFSC, Ocean Acidification, IOOS). A broader incumbent that shapes the demand environment DMCS serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RutgersDMCS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo8hP0N7Fb8MiHbvHUr1ijg
• Facebookfacebook.com/RutgersMarineScience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rutgers-department-of-marine-and-coastal-sciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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