The MATE ROV Competition is excited to announce that the Schmidt Ocean Coalition is generously continuing its support for team travel by funding stipends to the 2025 MATE ROV Competition World Championship in Alpena, MI. This funding is available for new and re-building RANGER, PIONEER, and EXPLORER class teams across the U.S. and around the world! 

Who should apply: Travel stipends for MATE ROV Competition teams are intended to support a community that:

• Can demonstrate need.
• Actively engage students interested in underwater robotics, providing opportunities to learn and apply scientific, engineering, and technical skills in innovative ways to solve real-world challenges. 
• Strive to build a sustainable program that inspires, challenges, and equips students to further their education in ocean technology. 

Priority will be given to new teams that demonstrate these qualities in their application.

Travel stipend scholarship amounts will be determined based on each team's application and typically range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on geographic location and financial need. These stipends are exclusively for covering airfare, ground transportation, and lodging expenses for current team members participating in the 2024-2025 MATE ROV Competition season. 

How to apply: Visit this link HERE to complete the application. Please select "2025 MATE ROV World Championship Travel Stipend Scholarship - 2024.2025 SOC" when selecting the grant/scholarship opportunity. 

Deadline: Priority screening begins on March 17, 2025, and will continue until one week after the final MATE Regional Competition concludes, May 27, 2025. All RANGER, PIONEER, and EXPLORER teams that earn a spot at the 2025 MATE World Championship through a MATE Regional Competition or qualify through online document & video submissions will be given an opportunity to apply for the 2025 MATE ROV World Championship Travel Stipend. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Tawni Gott, MATE Operations Manager, at tawni.gott@mtsociety.org. 

Each year MTS awards significant scholarship funding to undergraduate and graduate students who are accepted into or enrolled in full-time marine-related programs (with a focus on marine technology, marine engineering, or marine science). The 2025 Scholarship Program application period has closed. Check back in January 2026 Scholarship information.  

For additional information, including required materials, evaluation criteria, and FAQs, visit mtsociety.org/scholarships.

The EMERGE program is designed to provide networking opportunities and foster professional skill development for students and early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs). The 2025 EMERGE Program application period has closed. Check back in January 2026 EMERGE information. 

The 2025 SeaMATE Kit Scholarships funded by the Schmidt Ocean Coalition, are now closed for the 2024-2025 MATE ROV Competition season.  Check back for scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 MATE ROV Competition season in the fall 2025.

The 2025 SeaMATE Kit Scholarships funded by Motorola Solutions Foundation, are now closed for the 2024-2025 MATE ROV Competition season.  Check back for scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 MATE ROV Competition season in the fall 2025.

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet and UNOLS-designated research ships will host one long-term (approximately 6 months) and 12-14 short-term (2-12 weeks each) marine technical internships in 2025. Departure dates will depend on the schedule of each research cruise. We will first select candidates for internships starting in Winter, Spring, and then in Summer and Fall. Applications will stay on file the entire year until all positions have been filled. 

The selected interns will work with marine technicians and other crew members on shore and at sea and learn how to operate and maintain a variety of scientific and navigational equipment in support of shipboard scientific research. The program will pay a stipend of $600 per week plus airfare, lodging and other approved travel expenses. Interns will work, eat, and sleep aboard the research vessel, and be provided lodging and a meal plan off ship as needed. Internship projects will vary from one hosting organization to another an correspond to the objectives set by each specific cruise mission. Shipboard sleeping arrangements vary vessel to vessel. Previous interns have worked on cruises to support science projects ranging from chemical oceanography to marine biology, seafloor mapping surveys, geological studies, ROV missions, and much more! Many successful internships have resulted in job offers. 

How to apply: To apply, read the requirements listed below, prepare your documents and complete the online application. 

Requirements: 

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be U.S. nationals or U.S. permanent residents.
• A valid U.S. passport is required for internships that require international travel.
• Applicants must be enrolled in or a recent graduate from an accredited higher education institution in the U.S.
• Applicants should be interested in the field of Marine Technology in support of oceanographic research.
• Previous time at sea is not required, but highly desirable. Being on a multi-week research cruise is not a good time to learn you are not able to manage motion sickness.
• Applicants may be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and be tested before boarding the ship.

Required references and supporting documents (in PDF or Word format only):

• Contact information for three (3) professional references.
• Your must current professional resume.
• A letter of recommendation from an instructor or a supervisor, preferably someone who has knowledge of your technical skills. If your professional reference prefers to submit a letter directly to the Program Manager, please share this link with them: 2025 UNOLS-MATE Internship Recommendation Form. 

Deadline: Monday, January 6, 2025

Questions: Please email Maria Osiadacz, Program Manager, maria@unols.org, with questions about the program and life aboard research vessels. 

More Information: marinetech.org/internships

Read about past intern experiences: marintech.org/internship-blog