Student Opportunities

 Opportunities
​A list of training opportunities for early and mid-career professionals in fields relating to marine science. For internship and postdoctoral opportunities, please have a look at the Vacancies page.
Opportunity
Institution
  
Closing Date
  
Starts 7 Aug 2023 | Online
There is a need for more African scholars and scientists to contribute to innovation and development on our continent and to enhance Africa’s participation in the knowledge economy. Due to the rapid increase in doctoral enrolments at African universities in recent years, many more well-prepared supervisors are needed at African universities. This CREST course offers a flexible study opportunity to academic staff members, particularly novice doctoral supervisors, who are interested in advancing their knowledge, skills and networks in doctoral supervision.  The course is presented over eight weeks of course work, followed by one month to complete a short Capstone Assignment. Applications are now open.
Stellenbosch University6/12/2023
The Seascape Ecology Research Group has one MSc and one PhD project available for zoology and/or ichthyology students. These projects are available from 2024 with full running costs, but students will have to apply to the National Research Foundation for bursary support (most institutional deadlines are near the end of June 2023). 
  • MSc: Fish habitat associations in the marine bay region of the Knysna Estuary 
  • PhD: Connectivity among different nursery habitats and ontogenetic shifts in Algoa Bay, South Africa
SAIAB Seascape Ecology Research Group 6/12/2023
4 - 29 September 2023​
The course aims to meet the ongoing need, within the African region, for training opportunities to enhance capacity and awareness in the various disciplines associated with ocean governance. The course further aims to contribute to building a core of experts on the continent. While the course highlights the importance of the global governance framework, it has a regional focus emphasising the benefits of harmonising ocean policies and a shared, integrated and common approach to ocean management.​ The course is intended for mid-career professionals, government officials, educators, researchers and civil society members that have coastal and marine related responsibilities, functions or interests, preferably from countries within the African region.
IOI-SA and SANBI6/15/2023
18-20 July 2023 | Cape Town & Online
The Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC) will be presenting a hybrid short course entitled "Introduction to Statistical Modelling and Data Analysis in R" from 18-20 July 2023. The course aims to equip participants with practical experience and skills in analysing data, using some statistical techniques frequently used in the sciences. The skills include designing experiments, choosing appropriate statistical methods for visual display and statistical modelling of data, model checking, interpretation and reporting of statistical results, and understanding limitations of statistical methods and data.
SEEC6/18/2023
The Marine Genomics and Climate Change Lab (University of Pretoria), in collaboration with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, the Southern African Fisheries Ecology Research Lab at Rhodes University and University of Namibia, is looking for MSc and PhD candidates to work on the following projects:
  • Phylogeography of Eagle Rays in the eastern Atlantic, using a genotype-by-sequencing approach - 1 MSc
  • Fine-scale population structure of shallow-water hake across Southern Africa, using a genotype-by-sequencing approach - 1 MSc
  • ​Genomic consequences of hybridization in the southern African kobs, including fieldwork in South Africa, Namibia and Angola – 1 PhD
University of Pretoria and partners6/24/2023
Start 1 September 2023
This studentship’s goal is to change our perspective of the carbonate pump by recognising the role of biodiversity and ecology in its magnitude, efficiency and variability. The studentship will work within the recently funded EU project Ocean-ICU (‘Improving Carbon Understanding’, involving 30 research institutes across Europe addressing knowledge gaps in ocean’s carbon-cycle.
Heriot Watt University6/30/2023

Online Short Course in Science Communication 

More than 400 participants across Africa and beyond have completed this course since 2015. Over six weeks, we explore theory and practice in science communication and public engagement with science and get to grips with critical challenges and trends in these fields. The course provides ample opportunities for professional development and linkages to everyday life and work and encourages critical reflection. Completing this course could also be a stepping-stone to further postgraduate studies in fields related to ‘science and society’. The course is taught 100% online and presented as six modules over six weeks. We deliver the materials via the online learning platform at Stellenbosch University, supplemented by one 'live' online lecture per week. Students complete weekly mini-assignments and a final project at the end of the course. The course will be presented by Dr Marina Joubert and Lili Rademan, with weekly guest speakers.
Stellenbosch University7/7/2023
​The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) award Master's and Doctoral Scholarships to South African citizens including permanent residents for postgraduate studies in any field at public South African Universities. Scholarship holders are eligible to apply for a short-term research stay to Germany.​
NRF-DAAD7/11/2023
This MSc project will assess the effects of warmer oceans and coastal acidification on subtidal seagrass (Zostera capensis) and macroalgae (Plocamium corallorhiza) via biomarkers including the health, growth, and photosynthesis of these primary producers. Biomarkers will give insight on the health of the individual, by measuring capacity of various physiological processes, after subjecting them to projected global change scenarios. This project will be based at NMU’s Ocean Sciences Campus and is available for biology and/or botany students. The project is available from 2024 with full running costs but students will have to apply to the National Research Foundation for bursary support (NMU internal closing date 30 June 2023). To apply send brief CV and academic record to Lucienne Human lr.human@saeon.nrf.ac.za, Carla Edworthy c.edworthy@saiab.nrf.ac.za and Nicola James nc.james@saiab.nrf.ac.za by the 15th July.
SAIAB & partners7/15/2023
PhD Studentship: CO2 emissions modeling​
Estimate carbon dioxide emissions from four urban areas in Canada. Develop urban CO2 concentration surfaces using satellite-based observations. The ideal candidate will have completed a graduate degree in computer, environmental or atmospheric sciences with a strong technical background in urban remote sensing, carbon sources, and analytics. No closing date specified. The appropriate deadline to begin studies is in January or May of 2024.​
Dalhousie University7/31/2023
​Are you a BSc or BA Hons graduate interested in the ocean and its environment? UCT-MARiS offers a 13-month programme, the Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) MSc Coursework + Minor Dissertation, offering a range of disciplines that will shape both your academic and technical skills with the applied aspects of oceanography and marine biology. This multi-disciplinary MSc course is joint between the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Oceanography. The AOS course commences in January 2024. Apply by 30 September 2023. Students wishing to apply for funding from the NRF will need to do so by 30 June 2023 (UCT internal closing date). UCT International and Refugee funding applications close on 31 July 2023.
UCT-MARiS9/30/2023