IAEA Internship 2026, Austria | Contaminant Dynamics in Seibersdorf | Biotechnology Candidates, Apply Now

Contribute to research supporting the remediation of radioactive contamination in agriculture. This IAEA Internship involves laboratory experiments, spectroscopy and predictive modelling to investigate how pollutants and nutrients move between soil solution and the solid phase. The 12-month opportunity offers practical experience within the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre’s Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory.

  • Position: Internship – Contaminant Dynamics

  • Reference: TAL-NAFA20261014-001

  • Department: Nuclear Sciences and Applications

  • Laboratory: Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL)

  • Location: IAEA Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Lower Austria, Austria

  • Duration: 12 months

  • Contract Type: Intern

  • Posted: 12 November 2026

  • Closing Date: 27 November 2026

About the IAEA and the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre

The IAEA internship programme accepts a limited number of students and recent graduates each year. Participants gain practical work experience, learn about the IAEA and the UN system, and contribute to the organisation’s programmes.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre helps Member States use nuclear techniques to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. Its work covers animal production and health, plant breeding and genetics, insect pest control, soil and water management and crop nutrition, and food safety and control.

Within this centre, SWMCNL develops improved soil and water management approaches for sustainable agricultural intensification.

IAEA Internship: Research Focus

The intern will support research on monitoring and predicting radionuclide uptake and dynamics to improve remediation strategies for contaminated agricultural environments.

The project examines the plant availability of pollutants such as radioactive caesium, alongside nutrients including potassium and ammonium. It combines incubation experiments, chemical extractions and Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS) to develop predictive models for high-throughput screening and contamination risk assessment.

Key Research Activities

  • Conduct soil incubation and laboratory experiments investigating the solid-liquid distribution of pollutants and nutrients.

  • Help refine methods for identifying soils with high potential for radiocaesium uptake by crops, including approaches using stable Cs-133 tracers.

  • Prepare samples and perform MIRS analysis, including work with Member State samples.

  • Compile and expand research datasets.

  • Refine MIRS-based predictive models.

Qualifications and Technical Knowledge

For this IAEA Internship, the posting lists a university degree in Biotechnology and Bioscience Engineering, alongside knowledge of:

  • Soil science and/or biotechnology focused on environmental management and assessment.

  • Data analysis and interpretation.

  • Spectroscopy.

  • Modelling and statistical analysis.

Internship Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 20 years old.

  • Have completed at least three years of full-time university studies towards a first degree.

  • Apply no later than one year after completing a BSc, MSc or PhD, if applying as a graduate.

  • Not have previously completed an IAEA internship.

  • Have good English; knowledge of other IAEA official languages is an asset.

  • Attach two signed recommendation letters.

Applicants should meet both the programme-wide eligibility criteria and the position’s subject-specific qualifications.

How to Apply

Click the APPLY link below to open the official IAEA posting for Internship – Contaminant Dynamics (TAL-NAFA20261014-001), sign in or create your IAEA careers profile, and submit your application before 27 November 2026.

Ensure that two signed recommendation letters are attached.

For candidates interested in environmental biotechnology and soil research, this IAEA Internship offers an opportunity to connect experimental methods with predictive modelling while contributing to international work on agricultural contamination assessment.

APPLY ONLINE HERE