The TropEcS Guest & Researcher Exchange Programme is a cornerstone initiative of ZMT’s Strategic Extension Modelling Socio-Economic Dimensions across Tropical Coastal Ecosystems and the Earth System (TropEcS). It is aimed at strengthening global collaboration in Earth System and Regional Modelling for tropical coastal environments linking researchers across disciplines, career stages, and continents. By fostering scientific exchange opportunities and capacity development formats, the programme aims to enable researchers to work side by side and collaborate on tropical coastal and marine modelling - in the context of our initial pilot regions in tropical Latin America, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Together, models that integrate biophysical, biogeochemical, and social-ecological dynamics will be developed and refined, addressing challenges such as coastal tipping points, compound climate events, and the transformation of tropical ecosystems under global change.
The exchange programme emphasizes equity, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and supports early-career scientists through targeted mobility schemes. In doing so, the initiative seeks to build a sustainable, interconnected community of tropical modellers who co-design innovative approaches, share knowledge, and collectively shape the next generation of Regional and Earth System Models for the tropics. Participants receive financial and institutional support, including travel support, monthly allowances and full access to research facilities at ZMT. Exchanges are designed to be collaborative and develop capacity, with clear deliverables such as joint model development, seminars, and contributions to publications or proposals.
While tools and frameworks will evolve, TropEcS is designed as a flexible, multi- and interdisciplinary platform. This approach advances the inclusion of tropical coastal processes in Earth system perspectives and deepens our understanding of global change dynamics in these regions. To best advance our scientific collaboration, our scientific exchange formats are designed to foster equitable partnerships, promote open-source collaboration and data sharing, benefit career development for Early Career Researchers (ECRs), improve diversity and inclusion targets in modelling, and address the underrepresentation of socio-economic and transdisciplinary dimensions essential to advancing this field of research.
Therefore, if your current research or research interests fall within one of the following research areas, consider an application for our programme:
- Earth system and climate modelling, regional coupled modelling
- Oceanography, hydrology, and environmental data science
- Ecology and ecosystem modeling, environment-biota interactions
- Social-ecological systems, integrated assessment and socio-economic modelling
- Transformation, knowledge co-production, and participatory science
- Sustainable governance, scenario planning, and international development
Early Career Target Audience and Programme Framework:
The programme is aimed at fostering and strengthening a diverse community of expertise of modellers and researchers working on tropical marine and coastal systems. The primary target audience includes:
- Modellers based in tropical countries, to increase collaboration and knowledge exchange
- Experienced modellers from any region working in the explicit thematic focus areas
- Researchers from adjacent and complementary disciplines to integrate broader perspectives into TropEcS
We particularly invite Early Career Researchers to apply and align their projects with TropEcS priority themes such as coupled ocean-atmosphere modelling, coastal tipping points, social-ecological systems, participatory modelling, and scenario analysis. Applications of individuals who seek to build skills, experience, and learning networks in modelling through structured opportunities for collaboration are explicitly encouraged.
The programme also welcomes the participation and inclusion of researchers from complementary academic disciplines or non-academic actors, whose engagement can enhance the relevance and impact of modelling tropical systems. This includes NGOs, citizen science initiatives, as well as relevant representatives from administrative, regulatory, or policy backgrounds where appropriate, since these are often highly relevant to climate change, fisheries, livelihood, and food security contexts, amongst others.
While in-person joint model development is not always required, direct in-person exchange and collaboration remain an important part of establishing a community of practice at ZMT, thereby creating a common understanding of research objectives, identifying and addressing critical knowledge gaps as identified under TropEcS, linking different research efforts and pilot projects, and co-developing joint pathways forward through sustainable and stable institutional partnerships that align their priorities and research questions in modelling.
Sustainability and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement:
The exchange programme is designed to keep practical and sustainability considerations in mind, including participants’ personal and family circumstances as well as the carbon footprint associated with international travel. Therefore, it facilitates flexible, targeted exchanges designed to achieve measurable effectiveness of its collaboration and capacity sharing formats.
Applications from researchers based in tropical countries, and from underrepresented gender groups are explicitly welcomed, in order to advance gender diversity and equitable opportunities within TropEcS and beyond.
Application Process:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please review the different TropEcS working groups (WGs) under this link.
How to apply: Please use only the provided application forms and supplement them with the other required materials. Combine everything into a single PDF file and send your application to
Please be aware that there are certain requirements and recommendations you must fulfill, thoroughly understand, and prepare for before you are eligible for an exchange at ZMT in Bremen, Germany. Therefore, please carefully read and prepare the requirements listed under "Further Documents and Links".
Eligibility for Application:
- M.Sc., or upwards in research experience.
- Proven track record in ESM/Regional Modelling, climate science, oceanography, marine ecology, social modelling, social-ecological modelling, or related fields.
- Preference for applicants from tropical regions and non-male researchers for diversity and inclusion targets.
Required documents for Application:
- Filled in Application Form.
- Up-to-date personal Curriculum Vitae [max. 1 page], including a Letter of Motivation indicating your qualifications, experience, and interest [max. 1 page].
- Appropriate research proposal [max. 2 pages, including a collaboration plan with the host TropEcS Workgroup, as well as expected outputs and timeplan where appropriate].
- Letter(s) of Recommendation, or 2 References.
- Signed Terms of Reference [TOR].
Further Documents and Links:
- Information on Financial Transfer Requirements.
- Information on Visa Regulations and other Research Exchange Logistics.
After applications are reviewed through our selection committee, shortlisted candidates will be contacted through TropEcS and invited to online interviews with our committee.
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