MIT Portugal

2025 Marine Robotics Summer School

Applications are now open

The 5th annual Marine Robotics Summer School1 will take place from July 7 – 18 at Faial Island, in the Azores. The summer school is open to up to 24 students from MIT and Portuguese universities who have a strong interest in marine robotics and oceanography, and especially in ocean observation, marine biology, marine ecology, 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, general ocean sciences talks and labs, as well as several social activities. In the weekend and evenings, students will have time to explore Faial and the surrounding islands. For details and a glimpse into last year’s summer school, please visit the 2024 summer school website.

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 marine biology, bioengineering, geology, 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 process is open until March 25, 2025, 11:59 pm Lisbon time zone. The application can be filed via slideroom, and will need to include the following documentation:

  1. Resume (2 pages Max).
  2. Motivation letter (1-2 page)
  3. Portfolio, a previous project example, or document (could be your thesis) that best represents your work so far.

Accepted students will be notified by early April. Accepted students will be required to pay a fee of €100 to enroll in the course. The organization will provide air travel to Portuguese students from Lisbon 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.

1 This summer school is an initiative jointly organized by the MIT Portugal Program, LSTS – Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory of the University of Porto, OKEANOS of the University of Azores, and +ATLANTIC CoLAB, Partners in this initiative are Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation; School of the Sea of the Azores, Instituto Superior Técnico; Marinha Portuguesa; IMAR; and FCT.

The initiative is sponsored by the Regional Government of Azores, and FLAD.