THE next crop of Hart interns will have more opportunity to grow with the Hart Field-Site Group deciding to extend the program to a two-year tenure.
Applications are open for the 2021 Regional Internship in Applied Grains Research, with students who have completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences or equivalent in the past five years encouraged to apply for the position to begin in Clare in February next year.
The Hart Field-Site Group is one of the country's most highly-regarded for its work across almost 40 years in grains research including weed management and control, soil fertility and crop nutrition, crop entomology and agronomy and seeding systems.
The regional internship program is in its sixth year and has been developed in conjunction with Hart, the South Australian Grains Industry Trust, and SARDI.
Hart chairman Ryan Wood said the new two-year internship model takes the program to a new level and would enable next year's intern to play a significant role in grains industry research in SA.
"We're proud of the opportunity we're able to offer graduates to take a hands-on role in valuable grains research being undertaken in the Mid North," he said.
"The beauty of this internship is that research options can be tailored to meet the successful applicant's specific interests in a supported environment, working alongside the Hart research and extension manager.
"Expanding the internship to a two-year role will provide even greater opportunity for the 2021 intern to sink their teeth into grains research while gaining skills in trial design and management, sampling, statistical analysis of data as well as, importantly, having direct communication with growers and advisers."
Mr Ryan said the successful applicant also played an important role in the preparation of Hart's feature events including the Getting the Crop In seminar and the annual Hart Field Day.
SARDI crop sciences research director Kathy Ophel Keller said the Hart regional internship program gave the successful applicant an ideal opportunity to kick-start their career in grains research.
"The regional internships are a fantastic way for students to gain exposure to a wide range of research activities which support the grains sector and to understand the bigger picture of the industry," she said.
"The internship provides a great opportunity for students to make valuable contacts with other researchers, growers and advisors.
"Previous interns have commented that they weren't aware of the full scope of exciting, applied research in the grains sector. The internship has been important in furthering their careers."
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Six months in to her Hart internship, successful 2020 applicant Brianna Guidera said she would recommend the program to any graduate interested in applying theory to the field, is an active learner and a critical thinker.
"The internship is also ideal for somebody who has an interest in extension of industry research to the farming community," she said.
"Coming out of a university degree, there is still so much to learn about farming systems and the constraints they face.
"The internship has allowed me to learn about a range of areas of agriculture such as variety selection and performance, herbicides and efficacy, disease identification and control, to name a few.
"It has also taught me a lot about trial planning, execution and data analysis which I have enjoyed, and opened up a larger network of researchers, agronomists and farmers, which is an important link.
"The internship is designed to develop your skills as an upcoming researcher, and the outcomes are very rewarding."
Applications for the Hart 2021 Regional Internship in Applied Grains Research close on August 28.
- Details: hartfieldsite.org.au in the Careers section.
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