Feature Stories 2026: Eman Khwaja ‘26: Diversifying STEM through Whale TikToks

Integrative biology PhD student Eman Khwaja '26 always knew she wanted to be a marine biologist. Now, she’s inspiring millions of others to learn more about STEM while completing her doctoral research on whales. Thanks to her National Science Foundation Fellowship, Khwaja can gather data in Boston Harbor and share her knowledge via social media.

Researching humpback whales

"I research humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine, with a focus on their behavioral development. I’m working in collaboration with the New England Aquarium and Boston Harbor City Cruises on my research," said Khwaja.

"I study how feeding and aerial behaviors, like jumping and breaching, change across different life stages between different female reproductive classes. I investigate how those behaviors relate to ecology, energetics, and conservation of the species." 

“You don’t think of TikTok as a place to inspire the next generation to change the world, but it has connected me to an incredibly diverse audience, and those are the people that are going to become the next scientists.”

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a prestigious fellowship that provides three years of guaranteed funding to cover PhD program expenses. Receiving this fellowship allows students to focus on their doctoral work without worrying about securing additional funding.

"I was awarded the National Science Foundation GRFP in 2021, and it supported me through my PhD. The GRFP gave me an incredible amount of independence and flexibility in my work, which allowed me to collaborate with different research organizations and be out in the field for six months of the year."

Digital science communication

The GRFP also allowed Khwaja to pursue another passion of hers—science communication. In addition to her field research, she is also dedicated to sharing her knowledge via social media.

"For the past three years I’ve been creating science content on TikTok and Instagram. My content focuses on marine biology, conservation, diversity in STEM, whales, and pretty much anything else related to my academic interests.

"It started as a fun outlet because I had lots of videos and photos of whales from my time in the field. Then I began creating other types of content once I saw what people were interested in. Over the past year I’ve reached over ten million people globally.

"One of my most popular videos to date explores all of the marine animals represented by Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It’s such a playful entry point into marine biology, and it allows people to engage with science through pop culture." 

Creating inspirational STEM content

"I recently started a digital science communication fellowship with the Museum of Science. They bring together science experts and digital content creators to teach us how to effectively communicate science, tell stories, and gain trust from the public, which is becoming increasingly important as there is a lot of mistrust and misuse of science in our current age.

"You don't think of TikTok as a place to inspire the next generation to change the world, but it has connected me to an incredibly diverse audience, and those are the people that are going to become the next scientists.

"It's been really fulfilling to reach people that have never envisioned a scientist that looks like them."

Diversity and inclusion in STEM

Encouraging diversity and inclusivity in STEM fields is an ongoing challenge across scientific communities, and Khwaja is helping to foster diversity in STEM through her digital outreach.

"Inclusivity in STEM can often be presented as a side project rather than a responsibility for everyone to uphold. I think STEM communities can become more inclusive by understanding that diverse perspectives and experiences are the only way that we'll develop diverse and equitable solutions to the science we're doing.

"It's crucial to recognize that outreach, creating accessible community engagement, and teaching, both in and outside of the classroom, are the most important aspects of scientific work. Inclusivity isn't a side project. It's a requirement for success."

Deciding on UMass Dartmouth

"For my PhD program, I wanted a school that would put me in the best situation to do the research I wanted. That meant being in Massachusetts with accessibility to the Gulf of Maine, marine labs, and marine researchers—all of which UMass Dartmouth offered.

"I also wanted to be at an institution that puts research at the forefront and allows students the independence to grow into their research. UMass Dartmouth made sense.

"The faculty here are incredibly knowledgeable, passionate about the work they're doing, and invested in student success. Under the mentorship of different UMD faculty, I have been encouraged to think and work independently, ask big questions, and afforded flexibility and freedom in designing my research."