Dana Yoerger

Dr. Dana Yoerger is a Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and an Affiliate Research Professor at the University of New Hampshire in the Department of Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering. He supervises graduate students in the MIT/WHOI Joint Program, focusing on oceanographic engineering, robotics, and control systems. With over 80 oceanographic expeditions, he has contributed to the development of iconic underwater vehicles such as Jason, ABE, Sentry, and Nereus, the latter reaching the Mariana Trench in 2009.

Dr. Yoerger’s research emphasizes robotic exploration of midwater ocean regions—critical for understanding global climate regulation through biomass and biodiversity studies. He leads the Mesobot project, a cornerstone of WHOI’s Ocean Twilight Zone initiative funded by the Audacious Project, the largest private grant in WHOI’s history. His work integrates technological innovation with ecological and environmental assessments, including studies on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Scientific Awards:

• Lockheed Award for Ocean Science and Engineering (2009)
• IEEE Fellow (2021) for “development of autonomous underwater vehicles for deep ocean exploration and science”

Advising and Commercial Ventures:

• Supervises graduate students in oceanographic engineering via the MIT/WHOI Joint Program
• Co-inventor of a power-assist wheelchair patent for startup Deltaglide (acquired by Johnson & Johnson)
• Consultant for Casepick Systems LLC (now Symbotic) on warehouse automation
• Advisor to Humatics Corporation on human-centered robotics and microlocation technologies

Labs and Teams: Dr. Yoerger served as interim Director of WHOI’s Center for Marine Robotics and leads the team developing Mesobot for midwater ecosystem studies. His collaborations span academic institutions, government agencies, and private enterprises, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to ocean science.