This is an exciting opportunity to experience what a career in the science sector could look like — gaining hands-on experience, developing your skills, connecting with the science community, and building networks to support your future career.
Positions are available across Aotearoa New Zealand, and span a broad range of our capabilities.
We welcome applications from tertiary students studying at universities, institutes of technology and wānanga across Aotearoa. The Summer Internship Programme includes a range of opportunities across the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao, with pathways designed to support different student experiences and aspirations. This includes opportunities for tauira Māori to connect with Māori capability, networks and development initiatives as part of the wider programme.
Application closing date
Applications for most internships close 4 October 2026.
Internship dates
Internships will run from 23 November 2026 - 12 February 2027.
Auckland
-
Access and benefit sharing in action
Identify and analyse international benefit-sharing arrangements of indigenous flora and fauna, or knowledge – including academic articles on the subject matter. -
Identification of plant disease resistance-related protein interactions using yeast two-hybrid analysis
Gain hands-on experience in molecular plant science and biotechnology research, contributing to a project investigating protein-protein interactions involved in apple disease resistance. -
Protein purification of the PG genes
Learn protein, biochemistry and molecular techniques and undertake lab-based analysis while focussing on the optimisation of protein extraction, and then testing hydrolase activity against different substrates.
Hamilton - Ruakura
-
Engineering tools for the kiwifruit industry
Split time between the design office and the fabrication workshop to design, build, and test next-generation fruit imaging hardware alongside destructive and non-destructive quality assessment tools, turning complex engineering concepts into functional, field-ready prototypes for the kiwifruit sector. -
Heat stress in dairy cattle
Investigate the role of relative humidity in the heat stress response of dairy cattle by testing and setting up technology, collecting data, and preliminary data analysis. -
Supporting Māori land use change through social science research
Build practical social science research experience, and learn about engagement with Māori partners by supporting preparation for hui, kōrero, and relationship-based research approaches.
Te Puke
-
Effects of rootstock genotype-by-environment (GxE) on leaf function
Work alongside Bioeconomy Science Institute scientists and technicians looking at the role of different rootstocks in vine and tree productivity and how rootstocks can help overcome potentially damaging environmental stresses for example drought and waterlogging.
Rotorua
-
Bioresource Processing Alliance AI tool
Undertake the initial scoping and development work for a potential BPA AI search tool by collating information, defining priority user needs and use-cases, assessing available tools, and potentially developing a prototype. -
Climate drivers of terminal crook disease
Work on project aiming to develop epidemiological models that describe how environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and leaf wetness, influence key stages of the terminal crook disease cycle. -
Organic and analytical chemistry
Explore methods for extracting and characterising naturally occurring compounds from biological materials and gain hands-on experience in laboratory-based chemistry research, including sample preparation, extraction processes, analytical testing, and data interpretation. -
Reducing water use in moulded fibre packaging
Investigate fibre-foam technology as a way to reduce water consumption while producing more engineered and reproducible moulded fibre products. -
Screening radiata pine for resistance to terminal crook disease
Assess variation in resistance within Pinus radiata to select material of greatest value and produce plants for inoculation using established inoculation methods and key pathogen isolates. -
Smart packaging technologies
Leverage mechanical testing capabilities and BSI-developed gas sensors to develop, optimise, and evaluate a smart, wireless monitoring platform for high-value products, demonstrating the potential of digital packaging technologies for real-world applications. -
Tying processing conditions to biomass properties to develop biomanufacturing system
Investigate the effect of processing conditions in biomass twinscrew extrusion on biomass, e.g. wood and bark, supporting the Bioeconomy Science Institute's ongoing biomass conversion development.
Palmerston North
-
Characterisation of PG/PL fruit in tomato
By studying tomato fruit containing CRISPR edited POLYGALACTURONASE (PG) and PECTATE LYASE (PL), with other transgenic insertions, this project will combine post-harvest physiology with molecular and biochemical techniques to understand how fruit softening is regulated. -
Enabling microalgae-bacteria consortia for food production systems
This project aims to advance co‑culture of microalgae with lactic acid bacteria, with the primary objective of improving the yield and quality of fermentation products for novel food production. -
Screening native grasses for biological nitrification inhibition capacity
Investigate selected native grasses to identify species with strong biological nitrification inhibition potential. The research could contribute to the development of natural, locally adapted solutions for cleaner waterways, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and healthier farming systems, supporting te taiao. -
Wai Kānuka: Taonga food product development
Join our Wai Kānuka project, a collaborative initiative focused on developing unique and appealing beverage products using kānuka-based ingredients. Gain practical experience in food product development while contributing to research that combines science, innovation, and the potential of taonga species.
Mosgiel - Invermay
-
Exploring microbial epigenomics in livestock using long-read metagenomic sequencing
Process and analyse long-read metagenomic sequencing data from rumen and buccal microbiome samples, detect and characterise microbial DNA methylation patterns, and investigate relationships between microbial epigenetic variation, gene content, and host traits. -
Genomic characterisation of sheep immune function using targeted long-read sequencing
Process and analyse long-read metagenomic sequencing data from rumen and buccal microbiome samples, detect and characterise microbial DNA methylation patterns, and investigate relationships between microbial epigenetic variation, gene content, and host traits. -
Mitigation of N₂O fluxes from pastoral soils
Investigate the effects of sulphur application on N₂O emissions from urine deposited by grazing animals by conducting a field trial, measuring gas fluxes from soils, preparing soil extracts, data analysis, visualisation and reporting. -
Summarising and evaluating results from studies of animal wintering and ameliorating soil structural damage
Provide support to completed and ongoing research projects that are ultimately developing recommendations and improved practices for grazing livestock with reduced environmental impact.