Internship: Ecohydrology (Agricultural Water Management)

About the Job

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) offers an internship in Agricultural Water Management. The successful candidate will support ongoing research projects within the organization.

This internship provides a great chance for motivated students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in ecohydrology and agricultural water management. You will work closely with our research team, learning about advanced field tools and data modeling to promote sustainable water use in farming.

This role is perfect for those starting a career in water resources, environmental science, or agronomy. The position is based in Pretoria or Stellenbosch.

Key Responsibilities

• Help install, calibrate, and maintain field equipment like weather stations, soil moisture probes, sap flow sensors, or eddy covariance systems, with guidance from experts.
• Join field data collection, including plant measurements using tools like pressure chambers or porometers.
• Assist with data analysis using statistical software and run ecohydrological or crop growth models to estimate water needs and crop yields.
• Help develop and test simple tools or digital systems for farmers to schedule irrigation.
• Review literature on related topics and help prepare reports, papers, and project documents.
• Support senior researchers through mentorship.
• Gain practical experience with modern environmental monitoring technology.
• Work on real projects addressing food security and water sustainability challenges.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Honours or Master’s degree in Agricultural Science, Agricultural Meteorology, Environmental Science, Hydrology, or a related field.
• Registration with SACNASP as a candidate natural scientist, or eligibility to register soon.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a desire to learn.
• Ability to write technical reports and research papers.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Skills in statistical data analysis software, with willingness to learn more.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work well in a team research setting.
• Ready to perform other project-related duties as needed.
• Willing to travel for meetings, fieldwork, and data collection.
• A valid driver’s license is a plus for fieldwork.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the CSIR careers portal.