Students attend lectures and seminars, and conduct individual research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors drawn from institutions throughout the country. It was established in 1888 as an institute where marine organisms were used as model systems in the study of cell biology, neurobiology, and embryology. During the summer the 200 year-round scientists and support staff of the MBL are joined by an additional 800 scientists and graduate and postdoctoral students from over 200 institutions throughout the world. The majority of the scientists in residence at the MBL use marine organisms as model systems for understanding basic processes in cell and molecular biology.
Many studies have broad biomedical implications.
In addition, the MBL's Ecosystem Center houses a large group of marine ecologists, microbiologists, and population geneticists. Scientists are attracted to MBL as well by the opportunity to collaborate with investigators at the other scientific institutions in Woods Hole. In the small village of Woods Hole, this concentration of scientific institutions results in a scientific community unparalleled in the world. The MBL houses a number of unique research facilities. There are numerous opportunities to attend a variety of seminars and lectures.