Internship: Ecohydrology (Agricultural Water Management) at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job: 

• The CSIR has an internship opportunity in Agricultural Water Management. The successful candidate will contribute to and support ongoing research initiatives within the organisation. 
• The CSIR Internship Program offers an exceptional opportunity for a motivated student or recent graduate seeking practical experience in ecohydrology and agricultural water management.
• The successful candidate will work closely with our research team gaining exposure to both cutting-edge field instrumentation and data modelling techniques used to improve sustainable water use in agriculture.
• This opportunity is ideal for individuals looking to build a strong foundation for a career in water resources, environmental science, or agronomy. This position is based in Pretoria/Stellenbosch. 

Key responsibilities:

• Assist with the installation, calibration, and maintenance of field equipment, including weather stations, soil moisture probes, and potentially more advanced systems like sap flow sensors or eddy covariance systems, under expert supervision.
• Participate in field data collection activities, which may include, but not limited to, taking plant physiological measurements (e.g., using a pressure chamber or porometer) 
• Support the research team with data analysis using statistical software and assist in running ecohydrological or crop growth models to estimate crop water requirements and yield.
• Contribute to the development and testing of simple decision support systems or digital tools designed to help farmers with irrigation scheduling.
• Conduct literature reviews on relevant topics and assist in preparing technical reports, scientific papers, and project documentation.
• Support leading researchers and scientists in the field as part of mentorship.
• Practical and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art environmental monitoring technology.
• Exposure to real-world projects which seeks to address global challenges in food security and water sustainability.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours or Master of Science degree in the fields of Agricultural Science, Agricultural Meteorology, Environmental Science, Hydrology, or a closely related field.
• Registration with SACNASP as a candidate natural scientist, or eligibility for immediate registration as a candidate natural scientist.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with willingness to learn.
• Skills to write technical reports, and research papers for dissemination of project outputs 
• Familiarity with both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Good skills in statistical data analysis software and willingness to learn.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a research environment.
• Perform any other duties within the scope of the project, as required. 
• Willingness to travel to project sites for meetings, fieldwork, and data collection.
• A valid driver’s license may be beneficial for fieldwork.