Announcing the Biosecurity Summer Internship Program at DPI NSW

August 19, 2021

A partnership between our NSW Committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is providing the opportunity for NSW university students to undertake a six-week plant biosecurity summer internship in January 2022 in plant health, biosecurity, and diagnostics.

“This Biosecurity Summer Internship Program offers real world biosecurity and plant health science experience, a chance to work on real projects alongside lead scientists and researchers at NSW DPI,” said Dr Helen Scott-Orr, the Fund’s NSW Coordinator and former inaugural Commonwealth of Australia Inspector General of Biosecurity.

“This is a special opportunity for undergraduate students from a NSW university to work with DPI staff and scientists across the biosecurity spectrum. They will get experience and training in surveillance, diagnostics, research, and emergency response operations as well as an understanding of policy, market access and stakeholder engagement.”

“The relationship between the Crawford Fund and the NSW Department of Primary Industries is particularly strong, with a number of on-going projects in SE Asia focussed on plant and animal biosecurity, the diagnosis of plant diseases, pests and weeds, the development of appropriate control programs, and improving crop production systems.”

“The benefits of these projects flow both to farmers and their families in the developing countries and in NSW. Contributing our expertise to strengthen plant biosecurity in South East Asia reduces the likelihood that exotic threats will make it to NSW. Handling current biosecurity threats that are exotic to Australia in other countries also increases the likelihood our scientists will be better prepared to detect and identify exotic threats if they do make it here,” Helen explained.

The interns will:

• Work with biosecurity experts and renowned researchers on real world biosecurity activities and research projects.
• Develop and improve your laboratory and research skills, communication, and project and time management.
• Build your professional network with NSW Department of Primary Industries teams and collaborators.
• Discover career path opportunities in government research and scientific services.

The program is being run across two DPI research institutes:

• Jan 10 – 28 at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute
• Jan 13 – Feb 18 – at Orange Agricultural Institute

To be eligible to apply, you:

• Are an undergraduate student enrolled in a NSW university.
• Must have completed at least 96 credit points (or equivalent) at the time of application.
• Have achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of 70 (or equivalent) in your degree program.

Full details are here. Applications close COB 6 September 2021.