2023 Marine Robotics Summer School

Applications are Closed!

The 2023 Marine Robotics Summer School will take place from July 10 – 21 at Faial Island, in the Azores. The summer school is open to up to 24 students from MIT and Portuguese universities with a strong interest in marine robotics and oceanography, and especially in ocean observation, archaeology, and mapping of ecosystems.

The summer school will provide a broad perspective on current research in marine robotics via lectures with MIT and Portuguese faculty and other renowned experts in the field, workshops, hands-on experience, time on the water, as well as several social activities. In the weekend and evenings, students will have time to explore Faial and the surrounding islands. For more information, please check the website from the 2022 summer school.

Who can Apply?

The summer school is open to 12 Portuguese Master’s and first year PhD students, and 12 MIT (upper level) undergraduate and graduate students, in the fields of engineering science (e.g., mechanical, electrical, and similar), computer science, and oceanography. Students from other science fields such as bioengineering, geology, marine biology, geophysics, and that have a strong interest in marine robotics, are also welcome to apply. Participants will be selected based on curriculum diversity, motivation and their portfolio or previous project example.

Application Process

The application is open until April 24, 2023. The application platform is hosted by the SlideRoom platform and can be directly accessed here: https://mitportugal.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/71792 Applications may only be submitted by the SlideRoom platform. To prepare and submit your application, you need to register for a SlideRoom account. When registering, please pay attention to the contact details you list, as they will be used to send you reminders, notifications, results and other communications about the Summer School. To access the application form, please visit the above link and click on the button “Apply Now.” Login to your SlideRoom account or register to begin the application. The application form is always available to view and edit until the due date, and before you submit the application. As soon as you submit your application, you will not be able to un-submit or make any changes. Please note that you will need to include the following documentation:

Resume (2 pages Max).
Motivation letter (1-2 page)
Portfolio or previous project example, if you have it

The course is open to 24 participants, including 12 from Portugal and 12 from MIT. The applications are due by April 24, 2023, and accepted students will be notified by mid-May. The MIT Portugal Program will provide air travel to Portuguese students from Lisbon to Faial Island, Azores and will reimburse accepted MIT students with up to $1,500 for airfare to Faial Island, Azores. In addition, a shared dormitory accommodation on Faial and lunch during the summer school will be provided. Participants will be responsible for extracurricular expenses.

This summer school is an initiative jointly organized by the MIT Portugal Program (MPP), LSTS – Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory from Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), and Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar – OKEANOS, University of Azores, with the participation of CoLab +ATLANTIC; Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation; and School of the Sea of the Azores. The Summer course in under the High Patronage of the Regional Government of Azores.