Issue date: 28 January 2025

 

L’Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer) in accordance with its contract for polymetallic sulphides exploration with the International Seabed Authority, is offering one (1) at-sea onboard training opportunity for candidates of developing States within its 2026 training programme.

 

PROGRAMME OUTLINE:

The objective of the training is to provide practical experience about polymetallic sulphides exploration cruises and activities. The training will take place onboard one of Ifremer’s research vessel for a duration of approximately 45 days (including mobilization and demobilization – durations are indicative only) between February and July 2026, exact dates to be confirmed depending on ship’s scheduling.

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

  • Educational Background: As a minimum requirement, candidates should hold a bachelor or master’s degree of science in the relevant field of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, oceanography or have an equivalent educational background.
  • Professional Experience: Candidates should have at least one year of work experience in the relevant field.
  • Language Proficiency: Proficiency in either French or English (both written and spoken).
  • Other requirement: hold a passport with sufficient validity (at least 6 months) after the planned end of the exploration cruise and should be able to obtain a visa for the countries of the cruise’s port of mob/demobilization. The ports will be defined closer to the training dates and communicated to the selected candidate to enable timely initiation of the visa application process.
  • Important Note: The selected candidate will be required to submit a medical certificate, confirming their ability to work at sea and to board the exploration cruise. This must be signed by a licensed physician using a template that will be provided by Ifremer.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

Ifremer will cover the following costs:

  • International airfares (economy class, flight from the country of origin to the country of mobilization, flight from the port of demobilization to the country of origin);
  • Accommodation, local transports in the country of mobilization/demobilization if required, and meals for the duration of the training.

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  • The trainee will be required to sign the Code of Conduct for Trainees of the Contractors’ Training Programmeprior to the start of the programme.
  • The trainee will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with Ifremer.
  • No later than four (4) weeks after the training has ended, the trainee shall submit an end-of-training report to Ifremer and the Authority outlining, amongst other things, the training completed; the benefits of the training opportunity; the knowledge gained; and how the training will advance their career and/or education.
  • Upon successful completion of the programme and submission of the relevant report, the trainee shall receive a certificate from the Authority.

HOW TO APPLY:

All interested applicants are invited to register through the Authority’s CTP Application Portal through which they will submit their applications along with their supporting documents including:

  • A coloured passport sized photo;
  • A copy of valid passport biopage (with sufficient validity beyond the duration of training);
  • Duly completed and signed Nomination and Recommendation Form [docx | pdf] by the nominating entity;
  • Copy of degree/certificate;
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé; and
  • Proof of sufficient knowledge of English or French.

 

Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:

Contractor Name:            Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) PMS

Year:                                  2026

Programme Name:          at-sea

Specialization:                 N/A

Application Deadline:  28 April 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.

 

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 has pledged to allocate 50% of the training opportunities to qualified women applicants.