AQUARIUS Funding Call – Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure Access: Open 02 September 2025 – 28 October 2025
Internship at the SOCIB Glider FACILITY
In the framework of the AQUARIUS project
Applications for this training opportunity closed on 30 June 2026.
The AQUARIUS Transnational Access Project ABACUS 2026 will execute two surveys south of Mallorca during spring and summer 2026, collecting high-resolution data from surface to 1,000 meters depth along the 320 SWOT satellite ground track.
There is an opportunity to host one early career professional at SOCIB (the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing System) to recover the Glider Data, from 22 September 2026 for 1 week.
SOCIB gliders will be equipped with CTD, oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity and integrating innovative methodologies, such as passive acoustic monitoring and passive samplers for emerging pollutants. The collected data will provide insights into water mass properties, mesoscale dynamics, biodiversity impacts, and pollutant distribution, while also serving as ground truth for satellite calibration, enhancing models, and advancing knowledge of contaminants like microplastic and pharmaceuticals.
Requirement
- Candidates must already have the necessary permits to be in Europe, as we are not in a position to support visa processes.
The reimbursement will partially cover the travel, accommodation and food.
The application will close on June 30th 2026.
How to apply
Applicants should complete and submit the electronic application form, at the link below, along with a letter of recommendation from their supervisor. The letter of recommendation must be written on the institution’s letterhead and signed by the supervisor.
On section 36 of the application form, please write the following: “Recovery at Socib on Glider after Mediterranean – ABACUS Summer 2026”.
Please note that the application form includes sections on the applicant’s background and educational requirements, a CV and a fellowship proposal. In case of unstable internet connections, we recommend creating this text in an offline document and then copying it into the online form.
If the candidate is shortlisted, he/she may be invited to an informal interview by telephone/video conference.
Applications and letters of recommendation must be written in English and submitted or uploaded in pdf format. It is recommended to limit the descriptive part to about 100 to 150 words. Please use a font size of 10 pt or larger. Only applications that are complete in every respect will be considered for the Fellowship.
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by representatives of AQUARIUS and the host institution. The selection committee will consider the following points when making its decision:
- Quality of the application;
- Curriculum vitae of the applicant;
- Letters of recommendation;
- Relevance – match between the research interest and the objectives of the internship.
Applications will only be considered if:
- They are written entirely in English;
- The applicant has a background in marine and freshwater sciences and/or is currently working in this field;
- Letters of recommendation specifically related to the on-board training opportunity.
For more information about the AQUARIUS training programme, please contact Dr Andrea Caburlotto at acaburlotto[at]ogs.it
Morning
- Welcome, presentation of participants
- Physical meeting at SLU-Aqua (Lysekil), with preparatory talks and introductory lectures on the different themes led by the course leaders, as follows:
- Introduction to the course
- Ground rules for seminars set by the students, together with the course leaders.
- Introduction to research and facilities at SLU Aqua
- Lecture 1. Hydroacoustics for quantitative fish stock assessment and ecosystem components (fish and zooplankton)
- Lecture 2. Remote video for monitoring of benthic fauna
- Students divide into three groups and prepare for the excursion, set-up of protocols and assignment of tasks
Afternoon
- Dinner at R/V Svea followed by presentation of the ship and crew, and familiarisation (security) to R/V Svea.
Expedition day 1
- Departure R/V Svea at 06:00 with destination Bratten (offshore Natura 2000 area)
- Data collection and methods demonstration in the Bratten area.
- Hydroacoustics using EK80; broadband echosounder.
- Pelagic trawling for groundtruthing X 2
- Sampling of zooplankton
Expedition Day 2.
- Demonstration and data collection of:
- Video surveys in trawled and protected areas.
- Deployment of baited remote underwater video (BRUV).
- Video transects using the UW-TV
- Data analysis, work on written reports and oral presentations.
- Submission of written report (deadline 19:00)
- Presentations of projects (groups)
- Course evaluation
- End after lunch
