The Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (HWK) offers funded research fellowships in collaboration with two of the foremost global centers for marine research, Bremen University’s MARUM Center and the Alfred-Wegener Institute (AWI).  

The MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences offers the opportunity to engage in fundamental scientific research on the role of the ocean and the ocean floor in the total Earth system. It focuses on research in climate, the marine carbon cycle, the ocean floor, natural hazards, biodiversity, and underwater technologies. With the Bremen ice core repository, its specialty in marine robotics, and the CB sediment trap observatory, MARUM offers an outstanding basis for advanced experimental research. 

The AWI focuses on polar and marine research in both the Arctic and Antarctic, the North Sea and the Western German coast. Combining innovative approaches, outstanding research infrastructure and years of expertise, the AWI explores nearly all aspects of the Earth system – from the atmosphere to the ocean floor. 

Residential HWK fellowships at MARUM or AWI of up to 10 months are available to outstanding marine scientists and include deep integration in the HWK’s interdisciplinary, multicultural, and highly liberal campus life on the outskirts of Delmenhorst. 

Apply now for the HWK’s Annual Call 2025! Applications close 15.7. Conditions apply. 

Despite being located far from any ocean, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) brings together leading expertise on marine zoology and biology. Among them, Professor Dr. Petra Quillfeldt and her research group study a range of seabird species and subspecies to develop a better understanding of their populations and ecology. These seabirds pose special challenges to researchers as they spend close to the entirety of the year at sea and come to shore not even to feed but only to breed. This also means that these species are particularly vulnerable to changes in the marine ecosystem. To face these challenges, to better understand populations and ecology and to ultimately inform, and to advise conservation efforts, Petra Quillfeldt and her team cooperate internationally and apply innovative methods and technologies such as GPS tracking and DNA-Metabarcoding. 
Learn more about her research here.

Europe’s waterborne transport is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 13% of overall transport emissions. Thus, meeting ambitious climate targets is imperative and requires accelerating the transition to sustainable, climate-neutral fuels in this sector. The research project SAFeCRAFT seeks to address these challenges by developing, demonstrating the safety and viability and accelerating the adoption of sustainable alternative fuels (SAF) in waterborne transport. 

Scientists from the Institute of Water Chemistry of TUD Dresden University of Technology are focussing on the environmental impact and hazard assessment of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) technology in maritime applications. They will conduct holistic assessment of LOHC technology for maritime energy storage, use and transport in desktop study. Read more.

An ESA-funded study, led by researches of TUD Dresden University of Technology, reinforces confidence in our understanding of global mean sea-level rise by putting precise numbers and accuracy measures on individual causes of sea-level rise. It shows how the sum of sea-level contributions assessed on a month-to-month basis matches the total sea-level change observed by satellites. 

Scientists test their understanding of sea-level-change processes by comparing the observed sea-level change with the sum of assessed contributions, that is, by assessing the sea-level budget. For this purpose, the project advanced and extended the analysis of data from earth observation satellites as well as from oceanographic measurements and numerical modeling. Read more. 

In February and March of 2024, four researchers and a student from TUD Dresden University of Technology participated in an Antarctic expedition. The research vessel Polar Star set sail from Australia and landed at the field camp on Gaussberg in East Antarctica. Measuring stations were set up on the mountain to track changes in the ice volume and obtain accurate information about the effects of climate change. 

Gaussberg is an extinct volcano that erupted under the Antarctic ice around 56,000 years ago. It was discovered in March 1902 during the first German South Polar expedition led by Erich von Drygalski. In addition to modern geodetic methods and drone photogrammetry, TUD’s scientists used geophysical measurements and detailed geological sampling to understand the mechanisms that influence the ice sheet in its current state and future formation. Read more about the research and check out the expedition diary.