Duration
12 months
Internships
The IAEA accepts a limited number of interns each year. The internships are awarded to persons studying towards a university degree or who have recently received a degree (see Internship web pages for further details).
The purpose of the programme is:
To provide interns with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in line with their studies or interests, and expose them to the work of the IAEA and the United Nations as a whole;
To benefit the IAEA's programmes through the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.
The duration of an internship is normally not less than three months and not more than one year.
Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, \"Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection\". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.
The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Centre consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food safety and control.
The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section and Laboratory assist Member States in developing improved soil and water management practices for sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems, the conservation of natural resources and the effective use of external inputs through applied and adaptive research and development activities, technology transfer and capacity building
Main Purpose
The internship will support Research for Development activities at the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL) and will contribute to the continued advancement of methods for assessing and managing soil moisture in agricultural systems using nuclear and related techniques.
The internship will focus on integrating Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS), Gamma Ray Spectrometry (GRS), and Sentinel satellite observations to evaluate soil moisture variability within agricultural fields under different land management practices (e.g., tillage and no-tillage). The research aims to bridge the spatial gap of CRNS measurements, which represent field-scale averages, by linking them with GRSand high-resolution remote sensing data. Using field measurements, geospatial analysis, and data processing, the internship will contribute to developing approaches for monitoring soil moisture dynamics to support improved agricultural water management and climate-smart farming practices.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Under the guidance of the Technical Officer and the Head of the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL), the intern will:
Support field measurements of soil moisture using Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) and Gamma Ray Spectrometry (GRS) techniques.
Support the use of 4°K gamma emissions from GRSfor estimating soil moisture.
Facilitate process and analyze Sentinel satellite data to complement field observations.
Contribute to integrating CRNS,GRS, and Sentinel data for monitoring soil moisture variability under different land management practices.
Contribute to the preparation of data summaries, figures, and brief technical notes for internal reports and presentations.
Qualifications and Experience
Experience related to soil science, remote sensing, or agricultural water management.
Prior involvement in field or laboratory activities for soil or environmental data collection is an asset.
Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Python, R, or GIS software) is desirable.
Experience working with satellite data (e.g., Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2) or environmental sensors (e.g., soil moisture probes) is an advantage.
(This should give the expertise and experience required to complete the duties. Forfurther clarity, this section should not contain the qualification, expertise and experience of the consultant or state 'eVattached'.)
Applicant Eligibility
Candidates must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a first degree.
Candidates may apply up to one year after the completion of a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree.
Candidates must not have previously participated in the IAEA's internship programme.
Good written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian) an asset.
Candidates must attach two signed letters of recommendation to their application.