Marine Biological Laboratory

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is a nonprofit research institution founded in 1888 and based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. It conducts research in fundamental biology, biodiversity and environmental science, and serves as an international centre for research and education in biological and environmental science. The laboratory has operated for over 135 years and describes itself as “the original think tank” and “the national laboratory for biology”. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago.

MBL's training activity is organised around scientific courses, workshops, and internship and programme placements offered throughout the year. The courses follow a “learning by doing” pedagogy, with participants working in the laboratory rather than in lecture settings. The stated aim is to train the next generation of scientists and researchers across the life sciences.

Work is carried out in a coastal research setting and draws biologists from around the globe, making the institution a convening point for international collaboration. The relevant fields span fundamental biology, biodiversity, environmental science, biological research and scientific education and training.