CMRE Visiting Researcher Programme (VRP)

CMRE Visiting Researcher Programme

The CMRE Visiting Researcher Programme (VRP) offers the best and brightest students, university researchers and practicing professionals from NATO nations the opportunity to participate in a dynamic laboratory on the beautiful west coast of Italy, conducting research on subjects of interest to both the researcher and to NATO.  Visiting Researchers will have access to CMRE equipment, facilities, and data, and will gain practical experience through collaboration with CMRE scientists and engineers.

Applications are currently being accepted and will be periodically considered for existing project requirements.

Visiting Researchers (VR) fall into three categories:

1.    Research Interns (RI) must be full time undergraduate students. RI will receive 30% of a G11 monthly salary. Research Interns are responsible for arranging their own health and accident insurance.

2.    Research Fellows (RF) must hold a University Degree (Bachelor's or Master's Degree), but do not meet the qualifications as VS.RF will receive the equivalent of a G2 monthly salary. Research Fellows are responsible for arranging their own health and accident insurance.

3.   Visiting Scientists (VS) must hold a Ph.D. and possess at least 2 years post Ph.D. work experience in the field. Alternatively, a graduate degree and minimum 4 years' work experience in the field will be considered as commensurate experience. VS will receive the equivalent of a G11 monthly salary. Visiting Scientists are responsible for arranging their own health and accident insurance.

Successful candidates will contribute to CMRE's core competencies and current projects. CMRE's core competencies include:

• Underwater acoustics
• Sensors and signal processing
• Ocean observation and prediction
• Operations research of complex systems
• Remote sensing and adaptive sampling 
• Communication engineering 
• Ocean engineering
• Information theory
• Cognitive science
• Autonomy and collective intelligence
• AI
• Data exploitation
• Quantum Technology
• Computer Science
• Modelling and Simulation 
• IT
• Engineering.

Current research programmes based on these competencies include autonomous mine countermeasures, cooperative anti-submarine warfare, data and environmental knowledge and operational effectiveness, and maritime security. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the technical content of the Centre's current research efforts, and tailor their applications accordingly.

Please find the latest annual report at the following link: https://www.cmre.nato.int/research/publications/technical-reports/special-publications/1701-cmre-ar-2022

Notwithstanding the above mentioned core competencies, in 2024 CMRE is looking more specifically for experts in the following research areas/topics:

·       Underwater acoustics and communications

·       Maritime situational awareness and Critical Underwater Infrastructure protection

·       Climate Change impacts on the defence sector in a multi-domain context

·       Quantum related technologies in the maritime sector

• VR fall within the category of Consultants and chapter XVI of NATO CPRs regulates them.
• VR assignments will last a minimum of 90 consecutive days and may be extended by one further period not exceeding 90 days. On a case-by-case basis, assignments shorter than 3 months may be accepted.
• VR will receive paid travel to and from their place of residence to the CMRE in accordance with NATO travel rules, unless the assignment is less than 30 consecutive calendar days.
• VR are reminded that it is their responsibility to investigate with their appropriate Authorities in their home country whether a VISA is required for them to work in Italy and for their family members to join them in Italy.
• VR salaries are not exempted from taxation, therefore, VR are responsible to declare their stipends received from CMRE to the appropriate Fiscal Authorities, as required by legislation.
• VR are not automatically insured for accidents (to include accidents on duty), health problems or other risks, therefore, insurance coverage is mandatory. They need to provide evidence of insurance coverage for illness, accidents and accidents on duty for the whole period at CMRE.
• VR will be required to sign a statement understanding that all proprietary rights in any work carried out under the VRP shall be vested in the organisation. They will also be required to participate in a security briefing upon arrival.

Applicants should submit their applications through TALEO, and they may propose their own topic of research for consideration when aligning candidate interests with CMRE project requirements.

Application is limited to nationals of NATO member states: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.

Candidates must be at least 21 years old to enter the Visiting Researcher Programme. On a case-by-case basis, participation to the VRP may require the researcher to obtain a NATO Secret security clearance certificate or interim clearance issued by the researcher's country of origin prior to arrival.

Our recruitment process:

• Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries.
• Applications (including the most relevant publications, the diplomas - stating the highest level of education - and a CV) for this vacancy are to be submitted using the E-recruitment system; 
• Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the CMRE Medical Adviser.

Additional information:

• CMRE values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. We welcome applications of nationals from all Member States and strongly encourage women to apply.
• Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

For more information on how to apply:

How to apply for posts within NATO

6 tips to apply for posts within NATO

NOTE:

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.