UPDATE (15 July 2022) The following candidates have been selected for the training placement:

Rank	First name	Surname	Gen.	Country	Regional Grouping	Country Class.
1	Santosh	Gaikwad	M	India	Asia-Pacific
R1	Adbulqadir Omar	Ziyad	M	Somalia	African	LDC
R2	Rajib Kumar	Saha	M	Bangladesh	Asia-Pacific	LDC

Issue date: 3 May 2022

Ifremer (Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer) in accordance with its contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules signed with ISA on 20 June 2001 is offering one (1) internship in Environmental Studies for candidates of developing States. The internship will take place within the deep-sea ecosystems studies laboratory of Ifremer, in Brest, for a duration of two months (approximately from mid-October to mid-December 2022).

The internship will focus on taxonomic identification of meiofauna via innovative imaging tools to improve techniques for investigating deep-sea marine biodiversity. The candidate will be trained in meiofauna taxonomy and in particular benthic foraminifera, as well as in binocular imaging and high-resolution digital acquisition techniques. The intern will also receive training in artificial intelligence and contribute to developing innovative tools to improve taxonomic knowledge for marine biodiversity.

The activities of the internship will include:

• Tests on samples (replicas) of identification of living benthic foraminifera via artificial intelligence and image scanning.
• Comparison with (real) faunal data previously identified on samples from Roscoff Bay (E. Dache thesis).
• Validation of the identification technique using artificial intelligence and evaluation of its efficiency compared to the conventional method (taxonomic sorting).

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Education: 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.
2. Language: in either French or English (both written and spoken).

Ifremer will cover the following costs: International airfares (economy class, return ticket); accommodation and meals as well as local transportation in France, if required.

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.

Applications should be submitted by the 30 June 2022 deadline through:

• the online training portal. Users applying through the online portal, must remember to upload a copy of a passport photo, the signed nomination form, degree/certificate, résumé/CV and other supporting document (see below); OR

• via email, in one of the official languages of ISA, to training@isa.org.jm using the forms below.

Applications must be accompanied by:

1. Application form (docx | pdf) to be completed by the applicant;
2. Nomination form (docx | pdf) to be completed by the institution or governmental department;
3. Copy of degree certificate;
4. Proof of sufficient knowledge of English or French; and
5. Copy of CV or Résumé.

One of the Voluntary Commitments that the ISA made at the UN Ocean Conference 2017 was ‘Enhancing the role of Women in Marine Scientific Research through Capacity Building’ – we therefore strongly encourage suitably qualified females to apply for these training opportunities.