International Blue Carbon Institute (IBCI) Fellowship Program

About

A two-year fellowship will select one experienced blue carbon scientist or practitioner and provide a USD 60,000 research grant plus learning opportunities to advance conservation, restoration and protection of coastal blue carbon ecosystems.

Benefits

• 💰Research grant
  A USD 60,000 grant allocated over two years to support new programs and projects or existing research endeavors, including research costs, travel for laboratory studies, purchase of equipment, publication fees and field assistants.
• 🤝Professional network
  Selected fellows may join a network of blue carbon professionals with current fellows and alumni, including the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group.
• 🔬Research collaboration
  Opportunities for laboratory exchange and research collaborations may be available.
• 🎓Skills training
  Skill enhancement training, including science communications, may be provided.
• ✈️Scientific meetings
  Fellows may receive funding to attend annual International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group meetings convened by the Blue Carbon Initiative and Conservation International, or other scientific fora.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: be an experienced blue carbon scientist or practitioner who has surpassed early career stages.
• Mandatory: hold an advanced master's degree or PhD.
• Mandatory: have at least five years of relevant expertise.
• Mandatory: demonstrate a commitment to research and/or application of natural and social sciences and to the protection, conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems.
• Eligible applicants may come from all regions.
• Preferred: researchers and practitioners working in the Global South, including Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Preferred for this cycle: applications from Africa are particularly encouraged.
• Preferred: applications from blue carbon scientists and practitioners from underserved communities are encouraged.

Participation Commitments

• Submit proof of employment or a Letter of Support from your institution
• Submit a Curriculum Vitae
• Submit a completed IBCI Fellowship Application Form
• Submit a completed Budget Sheet
• Upload the completed application and supporting documents through the official IBCI application portal
• Uploaded documents cannot be edited after they are uploaded
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the selection committee
• The fellowship is a two-year program
• Applications are open from 12 October 2026 to 23 November 2026
• The selected fellow will be announced in March 2027

Target Sector

Other

Target Location

Worldwide; applications are welcome from all regions. Researchers and practitioners working in the Global South, including Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, are strongly encouraged to apply, with applications from Africa particularly encouraged for this cycle.