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 Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences is responsible for assisting and advising Member States in research and development for the nuclear sciences, especially the physical and chemical sciences. Specifically, the Division provides support to Member States in the following fields: production of radioisotopes and radiolabelled products for applications in health care and industry; radiation source applications; research reactor utilization; applications of accelerators and nuclear instrumentation; nuclear and atomic data for applications; controlled nuclear fusion and isotope hydrology and geochemistry.

    The Isotope Hydrology Section is responsible for planning and implementing the IAEA's water resources programme. The programme assists Member States in the sustainable management of all aspects of their water resources, but with a particular focus on isotope hydrology. Major activities include internationally coordinated research, global isotope monitoring, capacity building, and technical assistance to Member States to help them with the assessment, development and use of water resources. The Section also operates a well-equipped laboratory for the analysis of stable and radioactive isotopes. The laboratory trains counterparts in using analytical techniques for high-quality measurements of isotopes in water samples.

     

    Main Purpose

    The main purpose of the internship is to support Isotope Hydrology Laboratory and Section with method and application development for the short-lived cosmogenic radionuclide radio-sulfur, and to assist with related technical meetings and data analysis conducted by the Isotope Hydrology Section.

     

    Functions / Key Results Expected

    Under the direct supervision of the Isotope Analyst, the intern carries out the key tasks related to the processing of samples for radio sulfur analysis in water samples and application studies:

    • Assist with processing of samples for radio sulfur analysis and hydro chemical parameters;
    • Assist with preparing and organizing sampling kits for radio sulfur analysis for counterparts;
    • Assist with measuring samples on the liquid scintillation counter and post-processing of raw data;
    • Assist with general laboratory tasks as needed, including registration of samples and management of workflows;
    • Assist with implementation of technical events on very fast recharge and flow paths;
    • Collaborate with Section and Lab staff on data analysis, scientific presentations and paper writing.

       

      Qualifications and Experience

      • University degree in environmental sciences, hydrogeology, hydrology, chemistry, physics, or related field.
      • Experience in organizing scientific events is an asset

         

        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.

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