Updates regarding the Marine Science Lab building
Message from the dean
August 5, 2026
To our family, friends, and colleagues,
Three months ago, we faced a devastating event that has left a lasting mark on our community. While the fire at the Marine Science Laboratory brought immense loss and disruption, it also strengthened bonds across the college and highlighted the character, capability, and resilience of everyone who makes the College of Marine Science who we are.
In the months since, I have witnessed daily resolve and leadership across our community. Faculty have stepped up with determination, students have shown strong commitment to the program, and our teams have sustained progress despite the extraordinary challenges we’ve faced. I’ve said it before, the College of Marine Science is home to some of the most passionate, talented, and accomplished scholars in the world. We remain fully committed to supporting them in any way we can.
In the first days after the fire, we prepared for the worst, and I want to again express our deepest gratitude to the first responders who extinguished the fire and to the recovery teams who have worked tirelessly since. Their actions enabled us to salvage critical assets — including irreplaceable samples, valuable equipment, and personal items we feared were lost — allowing many of us to restore operations, return to work, and kick off a fall semester. The initial phases of our recovery are complete, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the progress.
We are now working diligently to ensure operational continuity and find suitable accommodations for the more than 135 people from the College of Marine Science and who were displaced by the fire. We have found semi-permanent workspaces in the area for many — but not all — of these personnel. Thankfully, our partners in the USF community and have stepped up to help accommodate our faculty, staff, and students, and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity.
I would be remiss to not also recognize the broad and consistent support we’ve received from across our network both locally and globally. Elected officials moved quickly after the fire to advocate for the college. Colleagues and supporters worldwide continue to send messages of encouragement that reflect the global importance of our research. Additionally, the established through the has reached more than $500,000 — an important milestone that will help carry us forward as we plan next steps.
In other good news, we have been able to procure new analytical equipment, allowing us to begin replacing instruments destroyed in the fire. These instruments, including several mass spectrometers, will allow many of our researchers to continue their critical work and fulfill grant obligations, and help students stay on track toward graduation.
The success of our recovery efforts has been covered by media both locally and nationally, and recognized by the university’s leadership, policymakers, and funding agencies. Many of our funders have demonstrated their confidence in our program and several members of our faculty and students recently learned they will receive prestigious awards to advance their research.
I certainly don’t want to diminish the impact of the fire on our students, faculty, and staff. While there have been many bright spots in our recovery, there is no doubt it will be a long road to full recovery. But this disaster shined a light on the value of the science we do and the real-world impact of our research, and I am encouraged by the incredible response we’ve seen from members of the college, university, and wider community.
I want to thank USF President Moez Limayem and his leadership team, whom I have been working closely with throughout this process, for their enduring advocacy for the college. And I want stress again that I am confident these efforts will help us position the College of Marine Science as a global leader in ocean research and education for many years to come.
Thank you all again for your support of the college.
Sincerely,