Agriculture & Food vacation studentships
For 20 years, our vacation studentships have offered high-potential undergraduate students the opportunity to learn alongside leading CSIRO researchers.
Learn how to become a program sponsor and check out our interactive map for details on the projects underway for 2024-25.
The Agriculture & Food Program
Agriculture & Food offers a 10-week placement for students to learn about impactful research. During their placement they are involved in a scientific project, designed by a practicing scientist. Our studentships aim to attract students to science careers by:
- exposing talented students in their final year of study, to the excitement of scientific research.
- involving students in CSIRO’s research efforts so they can learn about plant, animal, and soil science for the bioeconomy.
- increasing the student’s network and encouraging them to continue their science research studies.
Over the last 20 years more than 300 students have completed Agriculture & Food’s Vacation Student program with an estimated 90% of these continuing their research career in science.
In 2024-25, our students will participate in sixteen unique studentships at eight CSIRO sites across Australia. Our research topics reflect the wide range of our agricultural research, spanning plant & animal molecular biology, genetics, physiology, soil science, agricultural polymers, digital technology, crop protection and bioinformatics.
As part of our program, students also receive training in scientific communication and are asked to provide a symposium presentation and a project report about their experience. Check out our interactive map for details on the projects underway for 2024-25.
Benefits of the Program
Our highly sought after program attracts the best students in Australia and provides them with a unique opportunity to learn about research and our innovation system.
Students in CSIRO’s vacation scholarship program:
- engage with our industry partners to directly experience and observe the impact of real-world scientific research.
- learn the importance of collaboration and teamwork
- are coached and mentored by CSIRO scientists
The CSIRO vacation studentship offers Agriculture & Food and our industry partners the chance to:
- attract the best young minds to experience firsthand the challenges and satisfaction of research discovery.
- develop new ideas on a small scale to help solve our biggest challenges through science solutions.
- build a pipeline of talented future researchers keen to contribute to industry growth and improvement.
Industry Involvement
The Agriculture & Food program has been supported through partial sponsorship from our industry partners including Bayer CropScience, CSD, CRDC, GRDC and MLA. To be involved in future programs, contact:
CSIRO Agriculture & Food
Summer Vacation Student Program
Dr Hazel Parry
+61 738 335 681
hazel.parry@csiro.au
For more information visit our website
Undergraduate Vacation Studentships – CSIRO
