Science Internships at DairyNZ

DairyNZ is committed to creating a new generation of world class dairy scientists through offering the opportunity for career development and postgraduate study from the security of a paid position within the company.

Each year, we are offering up to three opportunities for motivated graduates to join DairyNZ as science interns. A structured programme is in place which allows interns to experience different areas of work within DairyNZ. These include stints as technicians, shadowing scientists and finding out how the extension department works by going out into the field with our Consulting Officers and joining in with discussion groups. You will get to experience dairy science - literally - from the grass roots up.

DairyNZ Science Intern and FRST Fellowship recipient Julia Lee

If you decide that research is where you want to be, we will help you to find work within a suitable project in the research portfolio. There is a wide range of research in DairyNZ, from farm systems (including environment and sustainable production, technology and modelling), through nutrition, lactation management and feed grown, to production health (fertility and mastitis) and animal welfare. In addition to hands-on practical work, you will find yourself helping with analysis of the measurements made during the trial and extracting results from this data. Your name may even appear as a co-author in a scientific paper generated at the end of the project!

When you are ready, we will help you decide whether you wish to undertake a Masters or PhD degree and the appropriate university where you will be registered.

All through your time as an intern, you will be helped and supported, not only by the scientists with whom you are working, but by our Academic Committee, who will keep in touch with you regularly to make sure your course is progressing well and that everybody involved is happy with how things are going.

As your course nears completion, you may find you need more time to finish the work, and we will help negotiate the balance between your academic needs and work requirements.

At the completion of your studies, you will achieve either a Masters degree (and may then want to progress to a PhD) or become a full-blown Doctor of Philosophy! Wherever possible, DairyNZ will wish to continue to employ such new scientists and we may offer you the chance to do some further study at an overseas organisation to broaden your experience of dairying science before returning to New Zealand.

The choices are endless - the limitations lie only in how far you are prepared to go in your studies!