POGO-SCOR Fellowship Programme 2026

The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) are pleased to announce that the POGO-SCOR Fellowship programme for 2026 is now open for applications.

The primary goal of the POGO-SCOR Fellowship Programme is to strengthen sustained ocean observations and their applications, with a focus on training and capacity development to support a global ocean observation framework. Since its launch in 2001, the programme has been highly successful, awarding over 200 fellowships to date.

While there are no specific areas of interest, priority will be given to applications that address any one or more of the following topics:

• Emerging and low-cost technologies for ocean observations
• Physical, biological and biogeochemical sensors on floats and gliders
• Floating litter observations and modelling
• Open and coastal ocean observation, modelling and management
• Data management & time series analysis
• Underwater sound, acoustic observations and modelling
• Optical measurements of living and non-living particles
• Fixed-point time-series observations (e.g. contributing to OceanSITES, OBIS, IODE Ocean Data Portal, WOD and/or other shared data systems)
• Large-scale, operational biological observations including biomolecular and biodiversity (e.g. biological EOVs, CPR, OBON and other programmes)

This fellowship programme is open to early-career scientists, technicians, postgraduate (preferably PhD) students and post-doctoral fellows involved in oceanographic work at centres in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Applicants must be citizens of developing countries or economies in transition, as defined by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD (see the list of eligible countries). Note that priority will be given to applicants with limited international experience.

The fellowship offers the opportunity to visit leading oceanographic institutions abroad for a short period (1 to 3 months) to gain hands-on experience in oceanographic data collection, analysis, and interpretation. It provides financial support to cover the return airfare from the fellow’s home country to the host institution, and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence for the period of the visit.

All applications should be made via the application form (link available on the website) by 1st May 2026 (23:59 UTC).

Please check the Frequently Asked Questions and other supporting documents on the training page before initiating your application documents. If you still have any queries, e-mail info@pogo-ocean.org. Feel free to circulate this announcement to anyone you think might be interested.
Required Supporting Documents

Candidates can access all templates and background information on the POGO-SCOR webpage.

Documents you will need to upload to the application form:

• proposal form (use template provided here)
• flight quotation evidence (must clearly show dates of outbound and return flights, departure and arrival airports, and total cost in EUROS (or with quotation currency specified))
• parent supervisor recommendation letter*
• host supervisor acceptance letter* (must state the standard costs per calendar month for accommodation in the local area)

*provided in English, on institutional letterhead, dated and signed by the supervisors