Grow your Plant Biosecurity & Diagnostics Skills – apply now!

May 23, 2023

A fantastic partnership between the Crawford Fund’s NSW Committee and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is once again offering NSW university students the opportunity to undertake a six-week plant biosecurity summer internship in January and February 2024 in plant health, biosecurity, and diagnostics.

“Now in its third year, this is a rare opportunity for undergraduate students from NSW universities to get experience and training in surveillance, diagnostics, research, and emergency response operations as well as an understanding of policy, market access and stakeholder engagement,” said Dr Helen Scott-Orr, the Fund’s NSW Coordinator and former inaugural Commonwealth of Australia Inspector General of Biosecurity.

“The relationship between the Crawford Fund and the NSW Department of Primary Industries is particularly strong, with a number of on-going biosecurity and diagnostics projects in SE Asia benefitting both farmers and their families there and here in NSW through early pest and disease detection, prevention and mitigation,” Helen explained.

The successful 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, project and time management, and critical analysis.
• Build your professional network with NSW Department of Primary Industries, including Plant Biosecurity Research and Development and Product Integrity.
• Discover career path opportunities in government research and scientific services.

Previous interns have found the experience to be very valuable for both their studies and future career plans.

“My internship was a hugely valuable learning experience. It improved my practical skills, level of confidence, understanding of potential career opportunities, and my resume! It is undoubtedly one of the best things I’ve been able to do over my time studying,” said Charlotte Hogan from the University of New South Wales.

“The internship was a fantastic opportunity to consolidate much of my university studies. Now working in crop management and protection, I found the internship to be incredibly relevant to my career. I cannot recommend this opportunity enough!,” said Kate Smith from the University of New England.

The program is being run across two DPI research institutes:

• Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Sydney
• Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• Be an enrolled undergraduate student at a NSW university
• Have completed at least 96 credit points (or equivalent) at the time of application
• Have achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75 (or equivalent) in your degree.

Full details are here. Applications, via an online form, close Monday 31 July.