Internship - Phytosanitary Treatments

Contribute to support research and development of phytosanitary treatments for fruit flies.

IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency

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Application deadline in 9 days: Friday 4 Sep 2026 at 21:59 UTC

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Overview

Contribute to support research and development of phytosanitary treatments for fruit flies.

You have:

  • Bachelor's Degree - University degree in Biology or Agricultural Sciences
  • Experience in rearing fruit flies of economic importance.
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Good written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian) an asset.
  • 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.

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 Insect Pest Control Section and Laboratory assist Member States with the development, dissemination and transfer of sterile insect and related environmentally friendly technologies for the area-wide integrated suppression, containment or eradication of major insect pests affecting crops, livestock and human health.

Main Purpose

The intern will contribute to support research and development of phytosanitary treatments as environmentally sustainable phytosanitary measures for fruit flies of economic importance at the Insect Pest Control Laboratory.

Functions / Key Results Expected

  • Contribute to the maintenance of fruit fly colonies used in phytosanitary treatment research, including preparation of larval and adult diets.
  • Participate in experiments evaluating the efficacy of cold, hot water, and irradiation treatments for fruit fly pests.
  • Dissect infested fruit used in experiments with cold, hot water, and irradiation treatments.
  • Record experimental data and conduct thermocouple calibration measurements support in phytosanitary treatment research.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree - University degree in Biology or Agricultural Sciences
  • Experience in rearing fruit flies of economic importance.
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

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.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience in rearing fruit flies and how it relates to this internship? This question helps assess your practical experience relevant to the internship responsibilities. Discuss specific techniques or methods you used in rearing fruit flies.
What research methodologies are you familiar with and how would you apply them to this position? The interviewer wants to understand your research background and its applicability. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize your tasks when working on multiple experiments? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of how you have worked in a team setting? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What interests you about working with the IAEA and specifically in the area of pest control? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you handle critical feedback from supervisors or peers? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you approach conducting thermocouple calibration measurements? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenging research problem you faced and how you resolved it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 4 days ago - Updated 9 hours ago - Source: iaea.org