OpenFieldUniversity of Minnesota Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a prominent public research university within the University of Minnesota system, situated overlooking the western tip of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota. UMD integrates the personalized instruction of a medium-sized institution with the extensive scientific and doctoral research resources of a world-class land-grant and sea-grant university system.
Institutional Overview
UMD comprises the Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth Campus. UMD is internationally recognized for freshwater limnology through the Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) and the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI).
- Students
- 9,800+
- International
- 6%
- Faculty
- 520+
- Established
- 1947
Academic Strengths & Distinctive Focus
UMD comprises the Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth Campus. UMD is internationally recognized for freshwater limnology through the Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) and the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI).
Research Profile, Admissions & Scholarships
Admissions at UMD evaluate high school course rigor, unweighted GPA (3.4+ middle 50%), and optional ACT/SAT scores. Graduate and medical school applications require discipline-specific GRE/MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, and research proposals. UMD awards numerous merit scholarships including the UMD Chancellor's Scholarship and full graduate research assistantships.
Current Verified Opportunities & Fellowships (7)
Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) Graduate Limnology Research Assistantship
Fully funded graduate research assistantship conducting shipboard research aboard the R/V Blue Heron on Lake Superior biogeochemistry and aquatic ecosystem health.
Swenson College of Science and Engineering Excellence Scholarship
Competitive four-year scholarship supporting premier undergraduate students entering civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, or industrial engineering programs.
Master of Science in Water Resources Science Enrolment
Interdisciplinary master's degree investigating nutrient cycling, hydrologic modeling, glacial geology, and watershed ecology in the Great Lakes basin.
M.S. in Computer Science with AI & Machine Learning Specialization
Research-oriented master's degree exploring natural language processing, spatial computing, robotics, and high-performance parallel computation.
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) Sustainable Materials Practicum
Hands-on technical internship researching bio-char production, taconite mining tailings utilization, and engineered wood composites at NRRI laboratories.
B.S. in Chemical Engineering Cold-Climate Polymers Enrolment
ABET-accredited chemical engineering curriculum emphasizing mineral processing, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and sustainable polymers.
Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS) & Spatial Analytics
Four-course professional certificate covering ArcGIS Pro, remote sensing satellite image processing, spatial statistics, and Python GIS scripting.
Sourced Faculty & Research Advisors (3)
Dr. Charles Nies
Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth · Office of the Chancellor
Dr. Charles Nies serves as Chancellor of UMD, with decades of distinguished executive experience championing student persistence, research access, and community partnerships.
Dr. Sergei Katsev
Professor of Limnology and Biogeochemistry · Large Lakes Observatory (LLO)
Dr. Sergei Katsev is an internationally acclaimed geochemist at the Large Lakes Observatory, studying chemical transport and redox transformations in aquatic sediments of large lakes worldwide.
Dr. Rolf Weberg
Executive Director of Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) · Natural Resources Research Institute
Dr. Rolf Weberg directs the NRRI, pioneering translational research that converts regional mineral and timber natural resources into sustainable green economic solutions.
Connect with OpenField Advisors
Our academic advisors provide free mentorship, admission guidance, and research proposal feedback for prospective scholars applying to University of Minnesota Duluth.