2026 MTS Scholarship Recipients

Each year, MTS proudly awards scholarship funding to students pursuing full-time marine technology related programs. We are thrilled to present this year's recipients who have demonstrated academic excellence, innovative thinking, and a passion for advancing our understanding of the marine environment. Meet the scholarship recipients below. 

John C. Bajus Scholarship

Open to MTS members who are full-time graduate or undergraduate students currently enrolled in or accepted into in a 2-year or 4-year marine studies program at an accredited college, university, or technical institution. Recipients must demonstrate a commitment to community service and/or volunteer activities.

Ram Kumar

"Receiving the John C. Bajus Scholarship is a massive honour. This recognition from the Marine Technology Society not only helps me move forward with my research into offshore structural safety, but it also really motivates me to keep volunteering and finding ways to give back to the marine community." 

Ram Kumar is a PhD candidate in Offshore Structural Engineering, jointly enrolled at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. His research advances Structural Health Monitoring through physics‑informed AI, combining experimental investigations and deep learning frameworks to enhance damage detection and reliability in offshore structures. Building on this foundation, he explores the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of offshore jacket structures, with a particular focus on joint nonlinearity and structural integrity under severe marine environments. He is a recipient of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship and was honoured as an ASME OMAE Outreach for Engineers scholarship, reflecting both academic excellence and international engagement. Beyond research, Ram’s PhD journey has also been enriched by exploring the diverse cultures of India and Taiwan, adding a unique personal dimension to his academic and professional growth.

Emilia Onofrio

"Winning this award means everything to me. Being recognized for the passion that I have for marine science and technology is incredibly valuable and I thank the MTS scholarship committee for this honor." 

Emilia is an honors student and recent graduate at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Emilia also recently graduated from the Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center where she won several academic achievement awards, served as an officer of the Bridgeport Aquaculture FFA chapter, and along with three classmates competed in and won the National Ocean Science Bowl CT/RI/NY regional competition. Emilia plans to study Marine Biology at the University of New England next fall. 

The Paros-Digiquartz Scholarship

Open to MTS members who are full-time graduate or undergraduate students currently enrolled in or accepted into in a 2-year or 4-year marine studies program at an accredited college, university, or technical institution. Recipients must have an interest in marine instrumentation.

Judith Elliot-Adjoh

"I am grateful the marine technology community sees value in what I'm working toward: pulling sediment information out of the echosounders ships already carry."

Judith Elliot-Adjoh is a Master of Science student in Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire and a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / Joint Hydrographic Center, a UNH and NOAA partnership. Her research develops methods to classify seafloor sediments from calibrated echosounder data, validatedagainst physical sediment grab samples, and compared with multibeam backscatter. She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Surveying and Geoinformatics from the University of Lagos and is pursuing the IHO Category A Certificate in Hydrography. She aims to build a career in hydrographic surveying and ocean mapping research, and to widen access to the field for students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Charles H. Bussmann Undergraduate Scholarship

Open to MTS members who are full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled in or accepted into in a 2-year or 4-year marine studies program at an accredited college, university, or technical institution. 

Aarav Patel

"Every successful mission begins with hundreds of hours of design, testing, and learning. It is through that process that ambitious ideas become technologies capable of exploring and improving our understanding of the ocean, one of humanity's last great frontiers. Receiving this scholarship motivates me to keep pushing forward and to continue contributing to that mission." 

Aarav Patel is an undergraduate student in the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India. His interests span naval architecture, ocean engineering, marine robotics, autonomous systems, and sustainable ocean technologies. 

Chitesh Thangasamy Na

"I never expected a moment of curiosity to shape the direction of my career. Receiving this scholarship is both an honor and a reminder that I'm on the right path, and it motivates me to keep exploring and innovating in marine robotics." 

I am Chitesh Thangasamy Na, a sixth-semester B.Tech student about to enter seventh-semester in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai, with a current CGPA of 8.20. My academic interests lie in marine robotics, autonomous underwater vehicles, embedded systems, and intelligent control.  

Charles H. Bussmann Graduate Scholarship

Open to MTS members who are full-time graduate students currently enrolled in or accepted into a marine studies program at an accredited institution. 

Tyler Inkley

“I am incredibly grateful to the Marine Technology Society for this scholarship and for its continued support of students pursuing careers in marine technology. This award will help me continue my doctoral research focused on advancing autonomous underwater vehicle capabilities, while reinforcing my commitment to contributing to the future of ocean engineering and exploration.”  

Tyler Inkley is a Ph.D. candidate in Ocean and Resources Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where his research focuses on bio-inspired hydrodynamic sensing, distributed sensor architectures, and gyroscopic control systems for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). He previously served as Chair of the Marine Technology Society OʻahuStudent Section and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Hawaiʻi Chapter. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, Tyler worked as an Ocean Systems Engineer supporting undersea systems integration, testing, and research and development efforts. Through his research and professional activities, he aims to advance innovative technologies that improve underwater vehicle perception, autonomy, and operational capability.

Peter Mastnak

“This recognition from the Marine Technology Society means a great deal, because it comes from a community that shares the belief at the center of my work, that better instruments and smarter models are how we learn to read the ocean. I am grateful for the support, and excited to keep building tools that help us understand and protect it.”  

Peter Mastnak is a PhD student at Stanford University, working in Dr. Barbara Block's lab at Hopkins Marine Station. His research treats large marine predators such as tuna and sharks as ocean sensors, using the data from their electronic tags to reconstruct conditions deep in the ocean where fixed instruments rarely reach. He builds machine learning and physics-based models that combine this animal-borne data with Argo floats, gliders, and satellite observations to study how a changing ocean reshapes the movement of these animals, and what that means for fisheries management and conservation. Peter holds a Master's degree in Machine Learning from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Before beginning his doctorate, he led product and software development at BlueTraker, a vessel monitoring company for fisheries, where he designed marine sensors that turn commercial fishing fleets into platforms for collecting ocean data. 

Dieter Family Scholarship

Open to MTS members who are full-time graduate or undergraduate students currently enrolled in or accepted into a 2-year or 4-year marine studies program at an accredited college, university, or technical institution. Full student registration and UP TO $1,500 for travel-related expenses to attend Underwater Intervention from Dec 2-4, 2026 in New Orleans, LA.

Imo Abasiekong

"This scholarship means a great deal to me. My work focuses on bringing new technology into ocean mapping, so the chance to connect with the people driving innovation in the marine sector at Underwater Intervention 2026 is one I'm genuinely excited about. Thank you to MTS for the opportunity. " 

Imo Abasiekong is a Master's student in Ocean Engineering, Ocean Mapping concentration, at the University of New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM/JHC). He holds a BSc in Geoinformatics and Surveying from the University of Uyo and is a licensed surveyor in Nigeria. An IHO/FIG/ICA Category-A trained hydrographer, he has over four years of offshore survey experience supporting hydrographic, geophysical, subsea positioning, and marine construction projects in West Africa. His current research develops multi-view camera systems for 3D dynamic vessel reconstruction. Imo is also an FAA-licensed remote pilot, a DAAD Scholar, and the recipient of several academic scholarships. His professional interests center on advancing safer, more efficient, and technology-driven solutions for the marine industry. 

Danielle Schwartz 

“I am incredibly grateful to MTS and the Dieter family for providing me with this opportunity. Because there isn't an active student chapter in my local area, the opportunities provided by this organization have been vital. MTS has allowed me to expand my professional network and find like-minded scientists, engineers, and lifelong friends who share my passion for marine technology. Attending Underwater Intervention 2026 is an incredible next step in that journey. ”

Danielle (Dani) Schwartz (she/her) is an M.S. candidate in Systems Engineering at Boston University, specializing in robotics controls. She holds a B.S. in Geosciences from the University of Arizona, where she received top departmental awards for research and academic excellence. During and after her undergraduate studies, Dani spent two and a half years working at the human-engineered experimental ocean at Biosphere 2, which sparked her fascination with marine technology. She further developed this passion during an internship at Mote Marine Laboratory, where she was first introduced to Slocum gliders. Recently, she attended the RUCOOL Rutgers glider training microcredential workshop with support from the Marine Technology Society (MTS). Today, Dani is a graduate researcher in BU’s Morphable Biorobotics Laboratory, focusing on the development of low-cost propulsion technology. She aims to bridge the gap between science and engineering to create advanced robotic systems for oceanic exploration and sustainability. 

Rising College Scholarship 

Open to high school senior-level MTS members who have been accepted into a 2-year or 4-year marine studies program at an accredited college, university, or technical institution. 

Emma Clark

"The Earth's greatest gift is the ocean, and it, above all else, is worth fighting for."

Emma Clark is a rising freshman at Cornell University, where she will major in biological sciences and minor in marine biology. Emma has pioneered two groundbreaking biochemical research projects where she spearheaded the use of mannitol to combat global coral bleaching. After finding evidence that mannitol can help mitigate bleaching, she shared her results at three symposiums and four showcases. Emma is also the founder of her own organization, Beneath the Surface, where she has successfully raised over 6,700 dollars to support reef restoration and marine mammal research. Driven by a mission to make marine science accessible to everyone, she has also cultivated a digital community of over 19,000 followers where she advocates for ocean conservation, ultimately reaching over two million individuals.  

 

MTS ROV Committee Scholarship 

The MTS ROV Scholarship has historically awarded grants to MTS Student members interested in ROVs or work that promotes the use of ROVs. Since 1994, over $450,000 has been awarded to over 100 deserving students. In addition to scholarships, the ROV Committee also supports the MATE ROV Competition each year with a financial contribution to help continue their excellent work promoting STEM Education and ROVs.

Lydia Thomson

"This scholarship means I get to focus on my marine engineering career and continue creating solutions to difficult challenges without the strain of financial aid weighing on me. I get to go to college and focus on learning and growing." 

My name is Lydia Thomson, and I recently graduated in the top 10% of my class at Alpena High School. I have participated in MATE ROV since third grade and have competed every year since, including four MATE ROV World Championships as my team’s CEO. At the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship, I won the MVP Engineering Presentation Award and led my team to break several program records for the 2026 season. I also created my own research program, Water Acidification Research Project (WARP), along with a device to collect water acidification samples, working with MATE teams and companies across four continents and 33 test sites. I’ve had the amazing experience of working with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA), Viking Cruise Line, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and US Fish & Wildlife on a range of projects, including ROVs, AUVs, shipwreck presentations, and sediment sampling. 

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Makenna Reilly

“This award supports me in doing the research I'm passionate about, and I'm honored to receive it at a time when investment in ocean science matters more than ever. "    

Makenna Reilly is a rising third year in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (2-OE) at MIT. Her first exposure to ROVs was through a Sea Perch kit, which she built and tested during COVID-19 quarantine. Upon entering high school, she founded an all-girls MATE ROV Competition team, Sea Cow Robotics, with the goal of further exploring her new interest in this field and helping girls in her community find a safe place in STEM. Since then, she has joined MIT Sea Grant to conduct research in the field of underwater robotics, andis currently enjoying her second summer as a Mechanical Engineering Co-op at Blue Robotics. 

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Owen Thorne

"Belief is the first step in your journey to success."

Owen Thorne is an accomplished student specialized in marine technology and underwater robotics. Throughout his time at Bay View High School in Halifax, Owen demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, consistently earning High Honours for his Achievement.  

Building on this strong academic foundation he was accepted into the Underwater Vehicles program at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Here he is gaining specialized technical training in marine engineering and robotics. This summer, Owen will be taking a major step forward in his career by embarking on a summer work term in the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) field, where he will apply his academic knowledge to hands-on industry challenges.