Issue Date: 31 October 2023

UPDATE (20 March 2024) The following candidates have been selected:

Rank	First Name	Last Name	Sex	Country	Country Class.
First-ranked candidates
1	Paula	Fragueiro	Female	Argentina
2	Md	Faraji	Male	Bangladesh	LDC
Reserve or Alternate Candidates
R1	Nothando	Duma	Female	South Africa
R2	Nadia	Abesamis	Female	Philippines

Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) in accordance with its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with the International Seabed Authority is offering two (2) at-sea training for candidates of developing states. The at-sea training will take place on-board one of Ifremer’s research vessel.

The training will be for a duration of approximately 45 days (including mobilization and demobilization) between end of 2024 (at this stage the mobilization is envisioned in December 2024) and Quarter 1 2025, exact dates to be confirmed depending on ship’s scheduling.

The objective of the at-sea training is to provide practical experience about polymetallic nodules exploration cruises and activities related to the environmental baseline studies. The activities will include:

• Processing of sediment cores, including cutting cores in depth layers;
• Sieving each depth layer and sorting Meiofauna (and potentially Macrofauna) samples;
• Preserving samples.

As a minimum requirement, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree-level education (preferably in natural sciences) and should be enrolled in a first master’s level course (or equivalent) in biology, preferably in marine biology, biodiversity and ecology or molecular biosciences.

Candidates should have at least one year of work experience in the relevant field. Experience in sorting of meiofauna samples would be highly desirable.

In addition, candidates must be proficient in either French or English (both written and spoken).

Candidates should hold a passport with sufficient validity after the planned end of the exploration cruise and should be able to obtain visas for the countries of the cruise’s port of mob/demob. The Port of mobilization and port of demobilization will be defined closer to the dates and candidates will be informed to enable them to initiate their visa application process.

Ifremer will cover the following costs:

• International airfares (economy class, return ticket from country of residence to port of mob/demob);
• Accommodation, local transports in the country of mob/demob if required and meals for the duration of the training.

Trainees will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with Ifremer. At the end of the training, trainees will be required to submit a report to Ifremer and ISA outlining the training completed; the benefits of the training opportunity; the knowledge gained; and how the training will advance their career and/or education. Trainees will also receive certificates.

How to Apply:

All interested applicants are invited to register through the ISA online portal through which they will submit their applications together with the necessary requested documents including:

• A copy of current passport photo and valid passport biopage;
• Signed nomination form [docx | pdf] by the nominating entity;
• Copy of degree/certificate;
• Copy of CV or resume; and
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of English or French.

The selected trainee will be required to submit a medical certificate confirming the applicant’s ability to work at sea and to board the exploration cruise signed by a licensed physician (using a template that will be provided by Ifremer).

Application Deadline:  9 February 2024

 

One of the Voluntary Commitments registered by ISA at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference (#OceanAction 40768) and reiterated at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference aims at “Advancing women’s empowerment in marine scientific research”– As partner of the Women in Deep-Sea Research project (WIDSR), Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) has pledged to allocate 50% of the training opportunities to qualified women applicants.