Marine Scientific Research Internship

Work LocationTo qualify for an internship with OSER, either remotely and/or on-site at the Headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica Expected durationThe internship is for at least three (3) months and is expected to begin as soon as possible. Exact dates will be confirmed based on mutual agreement Duties and ResponsibilitiesThis internship is based in the Office of Stewardship, Environment and Resources (OSER) of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The International Seabed Authority (ISA) Internship Programme offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and insight into the work of ISA. At the same time, it allows the ISA Secretariat to benefit from the skills and expertise of qualified candidates with specialized knowledge relevant to ISA’s activities. The call for marine scientific research internships is recurring and aims to establish a small team of interns at the ISA to support the promotion and facilitateion of marine deep-sea research activities.This aligns with the mandate set forth by the UN Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for ISA to promote and encourage the conduct of marine scientific research in the Area and to coordinate and disseminate the results when available. To put in practice this responsibility, the Members of ISA adopted in 2020 a dedicated Action Plan on Marine Scientific Research in support of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This framework outlines a deep-sea research agenda, setting forth six research priorities for the coming years. In this context, the objectives of the Marine Deep-sea Research Internship are to: • Provide the selected candidate with practical experience in the implementation of the global deep-sea research agenda • Enhance the intern's technical and scientific skills, contributing to the development of capacity in deep-sea research and management. • Enable the intern to identify emerging deep-sea research topics to expand the MSR Action Plan. In this context, ISA is seeking 2 to 5 highly motivated interns to assist in diversifying the ISA MSR. This UNPAID internship is situated in the Office of Stewardship, Environment and Resources (OSER) and will last for at least three (3)) months. This first round under internship is expected to begin in February 2026. Exact dates will be confirmed based on mutual agreement. Participants from developing countries and women experts are strongly encouraged to apply. The internship can be completed remotely or at the ISA headquarters. RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Marine Scientific Research, Office of Stewardship, Environment and Resources, and in collaboration with relevant officers within the ISA Secretariat, duties may include but are not limited to: 1. Compiling and analyzing facts and figures, including graphs, related to ISA’s mandate Assist marine scientific capacity development and marine scientific research initiatives, including women’s empowerment initiatives 2. Support mapping, analysis and research on topics prioritized by the MSR Action Plan. overview of the major scientific discoveries over the last decade. Qualifications/special skillsTo qualify for an internship with OSER of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) the following conditions must be met. Applicants must: - Be recently graduated or an early career in environmental studies, biology, geology, data, GIS oceanography, geochemistry, marine biology, or a related field - Have keen interest in deep-sea science and capacity building REQUIRED SKILLS - Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and database management software (e.g. Excel). - Possess familiarity with research methods including data synthesis and literature reviews. - Have strong organizational and analytical skills. - Ability to work independently and as part of a team. - Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. - Have high level of attention to detail. - Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and of the ISA, and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter - Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. COMPETENCIES Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the Office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the ISA Secretariat. For the internship advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. Additional InformationASSESSMENT Candidates will be assessed based on their Personnel History Profiles (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted for further assessment. A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include: - Title of degree you are currently pursuing; - Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme); - List of IT skills and programmes. - Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position. - In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, if any; IT skills and three references. - Due to high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted. SPECIAL NOTICE Applicants are asked to please indicate preferences which best match his/her suitability and do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both the intern and the receiving ISA Office. Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies and/or skills and expertise. Applicants are asked to please indicate preferences which best match his/her suitability and do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both the intern and the receiving ISA Office. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the ISA. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this instruction, \"child\" means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member's spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). \"Sibling\" includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child. Interns are not financially remunerated by the International Seabed Authority. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. The International Seabed Authority shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The International Seabed Authority Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. UNITED NATIONS CONSIDERATIONS According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in Inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. Intern Specific textInterns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.