Collaborations have developed with other marine scientists at neighbouring institutions in the St. John's area, primarily focused on oceanographic problems on the shelf and embayments of Newfoundland. Faculty are also involved in collaborative studies at the national and international level. Another example is the Fishmass project where the application of Doppler sonar systems to fisheries acoustics involves industry and research groups in Canada, the United States, and Norway. Experimental work is for the most part field oriented, although laboratory experiments in acoustics are being conducted. The field studies involve acoustic and other remote sensing techniques in conjunction with conventional physical oceanographic measurements.
Theoretical studies involve analytical and numerical solutions of the equations of motion.
Ecosystem modeling of the Northwest Atlantic is carried out in collaboration with marine biologists and fisheries oceanographers. These include modeling the circulation in coastal embayments ,the North Atlantic circulation and the circulation on the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelf. An active interaction between theory and experiment is encouraged and a balanced understanding of both areas is expected of the graduate student. Research ships are available to faculty and students from several sources. The university operates several small research vessels plus a 35m research ship, the Louis M. Lauzier .