Peerside

03/03/2025

The Peerside program is excited to invite prospective mentors to apply for our year-round ocean STEAM workforce development program. We are currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified mentors for our program to help shape the future of marine research and education, where participants gain real-world, technology-based ocean science experiences, and benefit from sustained career mentoring and direction. Please visit this page for more information about : https://ow.ly/lsQY50V7Vza

Read more about the EOI process here: https://ow.ly/5CoS50V7Vzb

If you are a student (community college, undergraduate, graduate, or recent graduate) and know a good mentor, please share this with them and encourage them to apply! You are also welcome to submit a student EOI here: https://ow.ly/LAz250V7Vze

EOIs will be reviewed starting May 5th. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Please sign up for our Peerside Mailing List here

11/19/2024

04/18/2024

The Inaugural Peerside Forum, the culmination of the 2023 cohort program, was held virtually on April 16. Sixteen students presented their deliverables, ranging from story maps and presentations about their expedition experience, to scientific research posters and presentations. Members of FIO and the Peerside Advisory Group joined our mentor and student cohort for a full day of sharing, learning, and networking. Thank you for everyone’s participation in the first cohort and Peerside Forum!

03/18/2024

Peerside invites prospective research mentors to join a year-round ocean STEAM workforce development program! We are currently seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from qualified mentors to leverage deep-sea remotely operated vehicles, oceanographic vessel technologies, and remote scientific capabilities through the Florida Institute of Oceanography and for upcoming expeditions utilizing the R/V Western Flyer.

Join us in shaping the future of marine research and education, where participants gain real-world, technology-based ocean science experiences, and benefit from sustained career mentoring and direction. Please visit this page for more information about https://fio.usf.edu/peerside/

Read more about the EOI process here https://fio.usf.edu/peerside/peerside-expression-of-interest/

If you are a student (community college, undergraduate, graduate, or recent graduate) and know a good mentor, please share this with them and encourage them to apply!

Email [email protected] with any questions.

01/26/2024

Peerside’s first year expeditions aboard Florida Institute of Oceanography’s R/V Western Flyer launched in June and July 2023. The first week-long cruise consisted of geophysical mapping and sediment coring, with 5 participants and 1 mentor from institutions such as Florida Gulf Coast University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and Texas A&M University. Peerside students in this first expedition successfully mapped 7 blue holes and cored 3 of them.

The second Peerside expedition was a 2-week long experience with at-sea and on-shore components. There was a total of 11 participants and 5 mentors from institutions such as University of South Florida, Minorities in Shark Sciences, SEARCH, Inc., Diving With A Purpose, and Eckerd College’s Scientist at Sea (SAS). Peerside students in this second expedition successfully mapped 3 submerged springs and participated in scuba diving investigations to sample and characterize sites, as well as ROV video characterization.

The remote component of the second Peerside cruise consisted of ship to shore communication through Microsoft Teams video calls twice a day, as well as immediate communication through WhatsApp. Students both at-sea and on-shore completed written daily briefs keeping track of any daily updates and briefed each other during the scheduled MS Teams calls. Both groups of students also attended career talks and experiential field trips during their time on-shore to maximize their time at Peerside.

07/23/2023

07/17/2023

Apply now for Minorities in Shark Sciences Shark Research Workshops. All expenses paid! 👀

📣Applications for the MISS Shark Research Workshops are NOW OPEN until August 17th!

These workshops are designed to be a crash course in shark field research for those interested in getting field experience. Spend the weekend learning hands-on shark field research techniques like preparing gear, working up sharks, and more. There is also a professional development aspect where we go over how to navigate grad school and give career advice!

Did we mention this is an all-expenses paid opportunity?!!

We strongly encourage gender minorities of color who have no field experience to apply!

Visit https://buff.ly/3ryTGpT for more information and to apply

07/14/2023

This amazing cohort of participants and mentors are underway with the program's first ship-to-shore science experience. Half of the group is currently at sea learning field-based research methods and the other half is on shore meeting with industry thought leaders with a focus on career development. The two groups will swap next week, stay tuned for much more!

07/13/2023

07/13/2023

Check out this article featuring the Peerside Program and its dedicated vessel, the R/V Western Flyer

Dozens of local government, academic and scientific leaders gathered along Bayboro Harbor Wednesday morning to celebrate the intersection of research, inclusivity and economic impact. Over 100 attendees at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub heard how a state-of-the-art research vessel would fur...

07/13/2023

Welcome to the page for the Peerside Program!

Peerside aims to broaden access and ongoing involvement with the ocean through an innovative program that increases and sustains social, educational, technical, and professional support and builds community for ocean Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Peerside cohort members are part of a growing network that participate in year-round career development, including one week aboard the R/V Western Flyer, a mission-dedicated vessel to support student learning and growth. Participants also learn remote science during a one-week expedition, building their skills to be part of the New Blue Economy.

Follow along for awesome videos and photos from this amazing program's participants, mentors, and leaders!

Learn more at

Sustained Program for Career Networking and Mentorship in Ocean STEAM Peerside aims to broaden access and ongoing involvement with the ocean through an innovative program that increases and sustains social, educational, technical, and professional support and builds community for ocean Science, Tech...