Taking part in a research cruise is a great experience that should be available to all oceanographers. However, news of cruise opportunities often travels by word of mouth or email lists within institutions. If you are not directly involved in a project that has upcoming cruises, you will need to talk to project PIs to see if they need more participants. Some opportunities are more widely advertised, and we have tried to compile a list of them below.
Transnational access call 2024 for using polar research infrastructure
The POLARIN project opened a call for access to major polar research infrastructure, including major research vessels. This call also targets early career scientists. Please refer to the call for further details.
Call for Participation: Research cruise offshore southern Mexico aboard R/V Marcus G. Langseth
There is an opportunity to join a research cruise aboard the R/V Marcus G. Langseth offshore southern Mexico in May/June 2025. Please see the call for participation for further details. The application deadline is November 1st, 2024.
Call for Participation: Research cruise I09N aboard the University of Washington vessel R/V Thomas G. Thompson
There is an opportunity to join the I09N research cruise aboard the University of Washington vessel R/V Thomas G. Thompson from Fremantle, Australia to Phuket, Thailand in mid-March for about 6 weeks. Please see the call for participation for further details. The application deadline is November 4th, 2024.
UNOLS cruise opportunities (U.S. Only)
If you are a graduate student based at a U.S. institution you may apply to take part in research cruises aboard UNOLS vessels. To hear about opportunities you need to sign up to their mailing list. More details are available here.
UNOLS Chief Scientist training
UNOLS occasionally run a cruise specifically designed to train chief scientists. It is open to students and early career researchers. More details here.
The GO-SHIP program
Try signing up to the GO-SHIP mailing list. This program conducts repeat hydrographic sections all over the world. They often need volunteers.
Also note that if you successfully receive a GO-SHIP postdoctoral fellowship, you will have the opportunity to be co-chief scientist aboard a GO-SHIP cruise.