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Solve Australia’s greatest challenges with the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Team!

Are you undertaking a degree in agricultural science, agricultural economics, environmental science, soil science, environmental, biosystems engineering or related field?
Get hands-on research experience with a team that fosters a shared vision to create measurable economic, environmental and social impact.
Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

The opportunities we are offering

CSIRO Agriculture and Food is helping to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability in cropping, livestock production, aquaculture, horticulture and the food industry.

Our Undergraduate Vacation Studentships run over the Australian summer holidays and offer undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate with leading CSIRO researchers in our world class facilities.

Students will have the chance to work on a real project in science, technology or a related field such as science communication.

Participation in the Vacation Studentship Program has influenced previous scholarship holders in their choice of further study and future career options. Many have gone on to pursue a PhD in collaboration with CSIRO or to build a successful research career within CSIRO, a university or industry.

For more information, please see our website at Agriculture and Food.

Locations: May include Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Narrabri, Hobart or Toowoomba (other CSIRO sites may be possible). Travel expenses will be covered if necessary.

Stipend: $1,988.70 per fortnight

Duration: Placements are for 11 weeks between 24 Nov 2025 & 6 Feb 2026

Reference: 99974

To be considered you will need:

To be enrolled in an undergraduate degree at an Australian university
Have completed at least 2 years of a (full-time equivalent) undergraduate course prior to commencing your placement.
An average academic record of a credit or higher
An interest in pursuing a research career in science or technology, or a career in a related discipline.
The ability to undertake a full-time placement for 8-12 weeks over the university summer vacation period.

Life at Agriculture and Food and how you can accelerate your career with us

CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Business Unit applies world class multidisciplinary science, technology and facilities, relevant IP and global networks across the value chain to create healthier, trusted, safer and more sustainable food and fibre for the future.

Agriculture and Food’s strategic focus areas are:

Future Crops and Animals - New genetics and breeding technologies designed for the future
Secure Food Systems - For Australia and the region- enhanced prosperity of the agri-food system with reduced environmental impacts, and benefits to human health
Profitable Agriculture Production - Innovative, sustainable and resilient animal and plant production systems
Trusted Value Chains - Agrifood value chains that improve the socioeconomic and environmental outcomes of agrifood and fibre systems
Value-Added Foods and Feeds - Enhanced prosperity of agrifood industries with greater human and animal health outcomes and reduced environmental impacts

As part of our growth strategy, we will work with you to strategically align your experience, skills, and expertise with our focus areas. We offer a structured program for our vacation scholars including a series of workshops, discussion panels and the opportunity to present the results of your project at a final symposium, which results in extremely positive feedback from participants every year.

Who is eligible to apply?

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship. The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

Appointment to this role may be subject to conditions including provision of a national police check as well as other security/medical/character clearance requirements.

Where to from here!

If you are interested in the Agriculture and Food Undergraduate Vacation Studentship Program and meet the above candidate requirements, please apply online today!

Agriculture and Food Directors, Group Leaders and Talent Acquisition are partnering together to review applications. We are excited to hear from you and will be in touch with you over the coming weeks where there is a potential match to a project.

If you prefer to have an informal chat before putting in your application, you can contact our Indigenous Talent Acquisition Team at IndigenousCareers@csiro.au for more information.

Apply Online

To apply you will be required to:

submit a Resume/CV and Cover Letter (as one document) in the ‘Resume/CV’ field which includes:
- the reasons why the research project/s you have selected are of interest to you and how your skills/knowledge meet the project requirements; and
- an outline of your longer-term career aspirations and how this program will help you achieve them.
upload your academic results in the ‘Cover Letter’ field;

If you experience difficulties applying online please email: careers.online@csiro.au.

Applications Close

Monday 30 June 2025, 11:00pm AEST

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