Issue Date: 26 October 2023
UPDATE (30 January 2024) The following candidates have been selected:
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | Sex | Country | Country Class. |
| First-ranked Candidates | |||||
| 1 | Nisha | Nair | F | India | |
| 2 | Gayathra Charuka Bandara | Aldeniyagoda Gedara | M | Sri Lanka | |
| Reserve or Alternate Candidates | |||||
| R1 | Ana | Vasquez Vargas | F | Costa Rica | |
| R2 | Ahmed | Yusuf | M | Somalia | LDC |
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF-ROK), in accordance with the contract for the exploration for polymetallic sulphides signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 24 June 2014, is offering two (2) at-sea on-board training placements to candidates from developing States under its 2024 training programme.
The cruise, which will be organized by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), will take place onboard R/V Isabu within the MOF-ROK contract area in the Indian Ocean. The focus of the training is on geological and environmental surveying and is scheduled for April or May 2024 for approximately 30 days. Specific dates will be communicated and are subject to change, nonetheless candidates will be provided with as much prior notice as possible.
Specifically, training opportunities will focus on:
- geological surveying techniques (bathymetric and magnetic mapping)
- geological and environmental sampling (i.e., sulphides, rocks, sediments, seawater, and benthos) near SMS deposits.
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Education: a qualified bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field of geology/marine science, or an equivalent educational background.
- Language: sufficient knowledge of English for daily conversation and training.
- Good mental and physical health suitable to work on board and in the lab.
- Age: must be under 45 years of age.
If selected, the trainee will be required to submit a physical examination report, signed by licensed physician, stating that the trainee is physically fit for a month-long on-board training.
Trainees shall sign a confidentiality agreement with MOF and are required to submit a report on the outcome of the training which will be submitted to both MOF-ROK and the Authority upon completion of the training. Additionally, the trainees will receive a certificate on completion at the end of training certificate ceremony.
MOF will cover all the relevant costs related to training including: i) transportation costs (round-trip economy class) accrued by trainees pursuant to their participation in the internship programme, ii) accommodations and meals, iii) medical insurance, and iv) other incidental expenses that might arise during the training period.
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 their passport photo and passport biopage;
- Signed nomination form [doc/pdf] by the nominating entity;
- Copy of degree/certificate;
- Updated CV; and
- Proof of sufficient knowledge of English.
Application Deadline: 26 December 2023
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), MOF, Republic of Korea has pledged to allocate 50% of the training opportunities to qualified women applicants.