https://cobra.bigelow.org/master-class-and-fellowship
Overview of the COBRA Early Career Master Class and Fellowship
The Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator (COBRA) is an international research coordination network to accelerate research on the structure, function, resilience, and ecosystem services of the crustal ocean biosphere to inform decision making, particularly related to deep-sea mining and subseafloor carbon sequestration. COBRA has four primary activities to achieve this mission, as outlined in the COBRA Logic Model:
- Coordinate: Bring together interested parties to prioritize and plan research
- Accelerate: Leverage opportunities, support research exchanges, and harness data
- Translate: Bring findings to policy-makers, industry, and the public
- Educate: Train early career researchers in ocean exploration, science and policy
COBRA is an endorsed action of the United Nations’ Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
The centerpiece of the Education activity of COBRA is a “Master Class” that trains early career researchers (ECRs) in deep-sea expedition planning from start to finish. The Master Class – delivered virtually and ending with an in-person event over the course of 12 weeks – is designed to equip participants with the skills and tools to successfully design, propose, execute, and report on deep-sea oceanographic field research with a collaborative approach. Topics covered include reviewing the types of assets for conducting deep-sea research and exploration, funding and proposal writing tips, developing concepts through respectful and reciprocal engagement with others, cruise preparation how-to, at-sea operations planning, using telepresence for research and outreach, permitting and reporting, data management, and ocean law. Request access to COBRA Master Class course materials formerly available on the COBRA Master Class PubPub for examples of training materials. A variety of international subject matter experts provide instruction, broadening the participants’ networks. Participants apply their learning through the design of an independent project.
As an international network, COBRA seeks participation from around the world, with an intention to create a large collaborative pool of talent engaged in leading deep-sea research that addresses societal needs. With sponsorship of the 2027 COBRA Master Class by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, we will prioritize preparing participants to leverage the future cruise track and priorities of the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s RV Falkor (too). In this context, an ECR is defined as a senior graduate student, postdoctoral scientist, junior faculty less than 10 years from their terminal degree, and/or other junior professionals such as an early career employee of a government, non-governmental organization/non-profit, or company. Previous hands-on experience with deep-sea research, outreach, or policy is not required. Participants are considered COBRA Fellows for the 2027 calendar year and are eligible for additional COBRA leadership training opportunities.
Participants selected for the virtual Master Class training opportunity are eligible to receive travel funds to support their in-person participation in the final week of the Master Class April 12-14 at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in the U.S. State of Maine. Eligible travel costs include transportation, accommodation and allowed per diem for meals to be reimbursed after submission of expense receipts. Reimbursement for economy/coach fares only is allowable for the most cost effective route. If participants require visas for travel, we will fund those costs, but it is the responsibility of the participant to work with their home institution on securing the necessary visas. Funds will be reimbursed after submission of expense receipts and offered as either a bank account or PayPal transfer after submission of US Internal Revenue Service Forms W9 or W8, as appropriate depending on taxpayer status, to COBRA’s Managing Director. This training program, the 2027 COBRA Master Class, does not include any employment by the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, which administers COBRA funding.
Format and Schedule of the 2027 Master Class
The 2027 Master Class will be held for 12 weeks beginning January 12, 2027 and ending April 14, 2027. The first 11 weeks will be held as synchronous virtual sessions on Tuesdays from 12:00-2:00PM US Eastern time using Zoom (note: US time change on March 14 from UTC-5 to UTC-4), and the final week will be held in person April 12-14 at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in the U.S. State of Maine. In addition to these mandatory synchronous sessions, asynchronous learning and networking is supported by the Master Class website intranet and a dedicated Slack channel. NOTE: Please do NOT apply if you cannot commit to attending the synchronous virtual sessions or cannot commit to attending the final week in person (travel days April 11 and April 15). Virtual sessions on Tuesdays 12-2PM US Eastern time, AND the in-person final week are BOTH essential requirements of your application and participation.
In each week of the virtual Master Class, participants are expected to:
- invest about 30 minutes of asynchronous time on course preparation “homework” distributed through the COBRA Master Class website and/or Slack channel.
- participate in a synchronous live training and discussion session held using the Zoom video-conferencing platform. Note: these events will be recorded for internal distribution only, for participants who cannot make a class date or want to refresh learning. Recordings of discussion sections will NOT be made public, to protect vulnerable questions or conversations.
- engage in conversation with other participants and instructors using a dedicated Slack channel.
The virtual Master Class content will be offered in the English language, and participants are asked to communicate in English. We will use live transcription to facilitate accessibility and language translation. Though COBRA is an international network, the instructors are all US-based, but course-content will include non-US-based resources, programs, and guest instructors frequently.
Participants are expected to use their own computing devices with microphones, cameras, and internet access to participate in this virtual Master Class. If this is difficult for a participant to implement, accommodations are available for hardware and connectivity support. Participants are also expected to be able to connect to the Master Class using their own Google, Slack, and Zoom accounts, and to be able to access content on YouTube.
Schedule:
- August 27, 2026 – Application period opens
- October 1, 2026 – Application period closes, evaluation begins
- November 16, 2026 – Candidates notified of selection
- January 12, 2027 – Virtual Master Class begins
- March 23, 2027 – Virtual Master Class ends
- April 12-14, 2027 – In-person conclusion of the Master Class
Application Process
Complete the online application form by October 1, 2026.

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