BGR Training Programmes

The manual application forms for training have been phased out. All applications should be completed using the web form. Applicants are required to use the online portal to submit applications together with a copy of your passport photo, the signed nomination form indicating preference for either the geological or environmental programme, degree/certificate and résumé.

 

2018  CLOSED

UPDATE: 25 October 2017

The following candidates have been selected for the at-sea training places

Rank First Name Surname Gender Country
1   Abner    Nghoongoloka M    Namibia
2   Christine Mae    Edullantes F    Philippines
R1   Cheyne    Howell M    Jamaica
R2   Safiyya    Sedick F    South Africa

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR), in accordance with its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules with the International Seabed Authority, is offering two (2) At-Sea training places for candidates from developing States within its 2018 training programme. 

The training is divided into two stages:     

Part 1: At-Sea training, research cruise onboard the Research Vessel “SONNE” in the northeast Pacific Ocean. The cruise is planned for April/May 2018 (for approximately 30 working days plus 23 days of transit) and will include: 

  •  Instructions in vessel navigation techniques and planning of an exploration survey;
  • Sediment and nodule description and processing for the determination of shear strength and metal concentrations;
  • Water sampling, on-board analyses of physico-chemical parameters and processing for later measurements of metal concentration;
  • Processing of biological samples for biodiversity studies; and
  • Instructions in the use of geophysical mapping techniques (swath bathymetric profiling, sediment echosounding).

Part 2: A four-week post-cruise training at BGR, Hannover. The programme will cover:

  • An introduction to the BGR laboratory facilities;
  • Sample processing for physical sediment properties (dry bulk density);
  • Chemical analyses of water samples;
  • Grain size analytics; 
  • Interpretation of seafloor images; and
  • Compilation of the cruise report and preliminary resource evaluation.

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

  1. Education: a bachelor's /master's degree in the areas of marine geosciences, geophysics, biology, oceanography or an equivalent educational background; 
  2. Work experience: At least one year practical experience in the candidate's field of specialization;
  3. Language: a sound knowledge of English attested by a certificate; 
  4. Health: have a good mental and physical health, suitable to work at sea;
  5. Recommended: seagoing experience (seaworthy).

The trainees will be required to submit reports on the outcome of their training to BGR and the Authority. The trainees will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with BGR.

BGR will cover the following costs:

  • International travel expenses, economy class, and local travel within the scope of the official programme according to the current official travel cost regulations in Germany;
  • Costs for accommodation in Hannover and daily allowance according to the current official travel cost regulations in Germany.

One of the Voluntary Commitments made by the ISA 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.

Applications should be submitted by email, in one of the official languages of the International Seabed Authority to training@isa.org.jm  by the 25 September 2017 deadline.

Applications must be accompanied by:

a)    Application form to be completed by the applicant;
b)    Nomination form (docx | pdf) to be completed by the institution or governmental department; 
c)    Copy of certificate of degree;
d)    Proof of sufficient knowledge of English.

 

Issue Date: 29 August 2017

 

 

BGR 2017 (Closed)

UPDATE 31 July 2017  
The following candidates have been selected for the at-sea training places:

First Ranking

  1. Eric Arthur-Mensah (Ghana)
  2. Sumran Praphat (Thailand)
  3. Alyaa A.M. Zidan (Egypt)
  4. Thomas Whiddon (Cook Islands)

Alternates

  1. Essam KI. El-Shorbagi (Egypt)
  2. Solomon Felix Dan (Nigeria)

_____________________________

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR), in accordance with its exploration contract for polymetallic sulphides with the International Seabed Authority, is offering four (4) at-sea training places for candidates from developing States within its 2017 training programme.

The training programme aims to provide on-board and laboratory work and scientific techniques for exploration of polymetallic sulphides by developing investigative planning skills, on-board work experience and data analysis and interpretation skills. The programme is planned for 21 August to 13 October 2017, and will be conducted in three phases:

  1. Pre-cruise training will consist of the planning of research activities and on-board works (3 days). 

  2. At-sea training will include rock, sediment, water and fauna sampling, handling and analysis of samples as well as research report writing. Vessel navigation techniques, the use of equipment (rosette water sampler, geophysical survey techniques, geological sampling instruments, seafloor observation techniques) and planning of surveys and selection of sampling sites will also be addressed. (54 days).

  3. Post-cruise training will be provided at BGR and in cooperation with German institutions specialized in marine geology, deep sea mineral resources. The training aims to give the trainees an introduction to detailed analytical treatment and experience of mineralogical and geochemical compositions and physical properties for sample material collected during exploration cruises. (4 weeks). 

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

  1. Education: hold a bachelor/master degree in science or engineering in the relevant field of geology, geophysics, mineral processing, mining, marine biology/ecology/environment, oceanography or have an equivalent educational background; 

  2. Work experience: at least one year of work in the relevant field;

  3. Language: have sufficient knowledge of English for daily conversation and training;

  4. Health: have a good mental and physical health, suitable to work at sea;

  5. Other: have seagoing experience.

The trainees will be required to submit reports on the outcome of their training to BGR and the Authority. The trainees will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with BGR.

BGR will pay for a round-trip airline ticket (economy class); provide local travel within the scope of the official programme according to the current official travel cost regulations in Germany. BGR will also cover the costs of accommodation in Hannover and daily allowance according to the current official travel cost regulations in Germany. 

Applications should be submitted by email, in one of the official languages of the International Seabed Authority to training@isa.org.jm  by the 26 June 2017 deadline.

Applications must be accompanied by:

a)    Application form to be completed by the applicant;
b)    Nomination form (docx | pdf) to be completed by the institution or governmental department; 
c)    Copy of certificate of degree;
d)    Proof of sufficient knowledge of English.

Issue date: 29 May 2017
 

UPDATE (20 July 2015) 

The list of candidates nominated for the BGR Training Programme (ISBA/21/LTC/14) are as listed below:

First-ranked        
    1.    Mohamed Hassan (Egypt)
    2.    Chuanshun Li (China)
    3.    Javier Ignacio Peroni (Argentina)
    4.    Unyime Udoudo Umoh (Nigeria)
    5.    Pei San Helen Wong (Singapore)
    6.    Yanina Berbeglia (Argentina)
Alternates        
    7.    Emmanuel Quayson (Ghana)
    8.    Soisa Tanad (Thailand)
    9.    Elizabeth Perez Gonzalez (Mexico)
    10.    Bamidele Oresajo (Nigeria)
    11.    Farid Yuniar (Indonesia)
    12.    Francisco Ponce Nunez (Mexico) 
    13.    Miao Yu (China)  
    14.    Ibrahim Amadou (Mali)
    15.    Semi Bolalailai (Fiji)
    16.    Christian Kenfack (Cameroon)
    17.    Mohammad Hossain Mahtab (Bangladesh)
    18.    Sathaporn Kavinate (Thailand)

As part of its training proposal and in line with its contract with the International Seabed Authority for the exploration for polymetallic sulphides, the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (BGR) is offering opportunities for six trainees from developing States to attend its at-sea exploration training programme for 2015-2016.

The candidates will be selected by the Legal and Technical Commission during the 21st Session of the Authority in July 2015.

Nominations

All nominations should be received by 30 June 2015 and must be submitted with a duly completed Nomination Form [ docx | pdf ] along with an Application Form, in electronic format to training@isa.org.jm in one of the official languages of the Authority. 

Date and Duration of Training

The training programmes are planned between October and December in 2015 (cruise INDEX2015, 2 Legs, with one trainee on each leg) and between January and February 2016 (cruise INDEX2016, four trainees). Each cruise starts with a 3-day pre-cruise training, 28 days onboard INDEX2015-Leg 1; 22 days onboard INDEX2015-Leg 2 and 32 days  onboard INDEX2016 together with four weeks of post-cruise training at BGR.

General Qualifications of Candidates

Candidates should:

  • Hold a qualified bachelor/master degree of science or engineering in the relevant field of geology, geophysics, mineral processing, mining, marine biology/ecology/environment, oceanography or have an equivalent educational background;
  • Have at least one year of work experience in the relevant field;
  • Have sufficient knowledge of English for daily conversation and training;
  • Have a good mental and physical health, suitable to work at sea;
  • Be less than 40 years of age; and
  • Have seagoing experience.

Cost-bearing

BGR will cover the cost of international travel expenses (economy), local travel, accommodation in Hannover, and a daily allowance according to the current official travel cost regulations in Germany.

 

2014 [CLOSED]

German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)

At-Sea Exploration training programme from April to May 2014. The training will be for a duration of approximately 25 working days and will include recovery and processing of sediment samples from a deep-sea environment for nodule resource evaluation and biodiversity studies. The cruise will also offer an opportunity for training in swath-beam bathymetry and sediment echosounding. The trainees will also visit BGR in Hannover for four-weeks as part of their post-cruise training. [Training Proposal]

Selected Candidates [17 July 2013]: 

  1. Khaled Sinoussy Mohamed (Egypt)
  2. Daniel Armando Pérez-Calderón (Mexico)

Alternate Candidates

[should any of the above candidates be unable to participate]:

  1. Lei Qiu (China)
  2. Renee S. McDonald (Jamaica)