The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is a marine/ coastal research and education enterprise sited in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and is a unit of The University of Southern Mississippi‘s College of Science and Technology.
GCRL has a workforce of 200 faculty, researchers, graduate students and support staff. Research at GCRL is multidisciplinary and applications-oriented with a focus on sustainable coastal and marine resources, development of new marine technologies, and the education of future scientists and citizens. Education opportunities span graduate degree programs in coastal sciences, undergraduate field courses in marine biology and hands-on discovery programs for precollege students and teachers.
Research and education activities at GCRL are conducted through one academic department, the Department of Coastal Sciences, and three centers (1) the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, (2) the Marine Education Center and (3) the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center.
The GCRL derives less than 25% of its budget from a state line-item appropriation and the remainder from grants, contracts and self-generated funds with a direct $12-15 million annual contribution to the region.