OBVI Early Career Researcher Workshops

Raquel Flynn Raquel Flynn
The SUBSEA team and the OBVI ECR Capacity Building Subcommittee are excited to be hosting two in-person Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute (OBVI) Early Career Researcher Workshops this year!

The application form will capture your interest in this year's ECR workshops as well as other key details. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee your attendance at the workshop(s) you sign-up for. Our intention is for everyone to be able to attend one workshop, space permitting. The ECR Fall Workshop and SUBSEA Winter Workshop teams will reach out with an update on your application(s) in mid-late June. Space is limited, so your timely registration is imperative to ensure we can plan accordingly.

Please complete this application as soon as possible, and no later than 11:59 pm ET on Thursday, June 11. Please reach out to Shadi at ocean@schmidtsciences.org or your OBVI project ECR points of contact with any questions about the ECR Fall Workshop or SUBSEA PI Matt Church matt.church@flbs.umt.edu with any questions about the SUBSEA ECR Winter Workshop.

For the ECR Fall workshop, your ECR points of contact are:
  • Bioreactors: Sydney Wilkinson
  • InMOS: Julie Sherman
  • SUBSEA: Raquel Flynn, Luz Torres
  • OMI: James Brice
  • WAM: Raquel Flynn, Estel Font, Ole Valk

Eligibility
  • These workshops are in-person only and are open to any OBVI project team members who self-identify as an ECR, regardless of role.

ECR Fall Workshop Details 
  • Overview: This workshop will dive into the science of each OBVI project from the perspective of the ECRs, include a poster session, discussions, skills trainings (e.g. science communication, data), networking, work-life balance, career pathways, etc.
  • Location: Warren Conference Center and Inn, Ashland, MA (right outside of Boston)
  • Dates: September 8-11, 2026
    • Note: Arrival by September 7
  • Additional Information: A draft agenda can be found here.

SUBSEA ECR Winter Workshop Details
  • Overview: The OBVI SUBSEA (Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute Subtropical Underwater Biogeochemistry Subsurface Export Alliance) project is pleased to offer a workshop on Ocean Carbon Export. The workshop is available to early career researchers associated with OBVI projects.
  • Location: University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Dates: December 2-11, 2026
    • Note: Arrival by December 1
  • Additional Information: This workshop will introduce early-career OBVI researchers to the science of ocean carbon export and its importance in the global climate system. Through presentations, discussions, and hands-on data analyses, participants will explore the biological, chemical, and physical processes that drive the transfer of carbon from the surface ocean to the deep sea. The workshop will highlight mechanisms of export, emerging observational tools, and modeling techniques while fostering network connections across OBVI projects for the next generation of ocean scientists.

The workshop will offer:
  • Lectures on the biological carbon pump, particle flux, remineralization, and carbon sequestration
  • Method tutorials on use of sediment traps, optical sensors, isotopes, imaging systems, and autonomous platforms for estimating export
  • Data analyses sessions with carbon export datasets 
  • Modeling tutorials introducing simple biogeochemical and ecosystem export models 
  • Lightning talks where participants present short summaries of their work
  • Group discussions focused on influential or emerging studies

Workshop Objectives:
  • Gain familiarity with concepts, definitions, and methods used to estimate export of organic matter in the oceans
  • Analyze shipboard, autonomous, and remote sensing data and data products specific to ocean carbon export
  • Gain familiarity with publicly available data and data products specific to carbon export
  • Gain familiarity with data resources useful for contextualizing at-sea observations (e.g., satellite ocean color, altimetry, etc.)
Travel & Accommodations
  • The cost of your travel and accommodations will be covered for both workshops. Meals will also be provided. Please do not make any hotel or travel bookings directly, as the travel agent assigned to each workshop will reach out to you with next steps once you're confirmed for one of the events.
  • For the ECR Fall Workshop:
    • Schmidt Sciences unfortunately cannot reimburse any expenses paid for directly by participants.
    • Please fill out the following information so we are able to book your travel and accommodations accordingly.
    • Uber vouchers will be provided for your ground transportation needs to and from the airport.
  • For the SUBSEA ECR Winter Workshop:
    • The SUBSEA organizers will follow up separately with additional information regarding travel coordination, cost coverage, and reimbursement guidelines.