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Internship - Diagnostics Development
Organization: NAFA-Animal Production and Health Laboratory
Primary Location: Austria-Lower Austria-Seibersdorf-IAEA Laboratories in Seibersdorf
Job Posting: 2026-11-04, 2:01:42 PM
Closing Date: 2026-11-11, 10:59:00 PM
Duration in Months: 12
Contract Type: Interns
Full Competitive Recruitment: No
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 Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Centre consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food and environmental protection.
The Animal Production and Health Section and Laboratory assist Member States in improving livestock productivity through the efficient use of locally available feed resources, reproduction and breeding practices, and disease diagnostic tools and control measures.
Main Purpose
Under the guidance of the Laboratory Head- Animal Production and Health Laboratory and a Technical Officer, the intern will assist and interact with staff in the laboratory to develop diagnostic assays and surveillance tools to detect animal and zoonotic pathogens The intern should benefit from interaction and hands-on experience in the laboratory work related to nuclear and nuclear related technologies in an International Organization environment.
Functions / Key Results Expected
- Provide assistance in the design, development and validation of diagnostic assays and surveillance tools for animal and zoonotic pathogens
- Assist in performing next generation sequencing (NGS) of animal and zoonotic pathogens including full workflows
- Contribute to the preparation of scientific publications, technical reports, and other materials for communicating project results.
Qualifications and Experience
- University Degree in biological engineering or related field
- Hands-on laboratory experience in the development, optimization, and validation of diagnostic assays for the detection of pathogens.
- Knowledge of NGStechnologies and workflows, including sample preparation, library construction, sequencing, and downstream data analysis.
- Ability to contribute to scientific writing, including the preparation of manuscripts, technical reports, and publications for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
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.
