Internship
Programme

2024 Internship Applications are closed

In the context of our commitment to capacity development the Institute operates and invests in an internship programme. Its key features are as follows:

  • The overall aim is to contract five to ten interns on an annual basis
  • Each internship is generally of one year duration but might be extended, particularly if the intern is studying for a higher degree. There can be no assumption of employment at the Institute beyond the period of internship.
  • It is aimed at young professionals, particularly but not exclusively those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • Ideally the intern should be at least in the second year of masters’ level study. The minimum qualification for an intern is an appropriate honours degree and it is preferred that the intern is committed to further study.
  • Each intern is mentored by one or more of the INR’s senior staff and is deployed to conduct professional activities on the Institute’s various projects.
  • Tasks and activities allocated to interns are planned to develop their skill and capacity rather than simply to contribute to the completion of projects.
  • Each intern is provided with regular feedback on his or her performance and formal reviews take place on a quarterly basis. There is also a formal close-out review.
  • The Institute will also identify specific training for each intern on a case by case basis and provide support to secure this training.
  • The intern is an INR staff member but does not receive retirement or health benefits.
  • There is flexibility around full-time and part-time internships and this is geared to the needs of the intern and the INR.
  • Remuneration levels are flexible and largely dependent on whether the intern is part-time or full-time. They range from R 80 000 to R 120 000 per annum (R 6 500 to R 10 000 per month).

Interested interns can apply by emailing your full CV, together with references and copies of highest qualifications with academic transcripts to info@inr.org.za.

Feedback from our 2022/23 Interns

Samantha Chetty

Being an intern at the Institute of Natural Resources has been instrumental in exposing me to very important aspects of the environmental field, specifically climate change and sustainability, where my deepest interest lies. I appreciate the opportunity to improve my scientific and personal skillset, and the guidance it has provided me in pursuing the right direction in my career. My understanding of environmental project development, scientific  writing and confidence has definitely improved. The opportunity has assisted my development into a capable young  woman, who is confident in her abilities and what she can achieve.

Feedback from our 2020/21 Interns

Sim’lindile Mahlaba

I have worked at the INR as an intern, a senior intern and a junior scientist. I have been fortunate enough to work on projects that address my interests which lie in rural livelihoods, socio-ecological interactions, natural resource use and management as well as the spatial mapping of ecosystems, resources and their interactions with social networks. In my time at the INR, I have been involved an array of projects and have gained more knowledge on the socio-ecological relationships and interactions between different social groups and ecosystems and, therefore, improved my knowledge on efficient natural resource management methods. My time at the INR has been very insightful and intriguing. Not only have I gained more career-focused skills and knowledge through a variety of projects and project tasks but I have also gained some very valuable personal and inter-personal skills that I will carry through in my personal and professional life.

Nosipho Phungula

I joined the Institute of Natural Resources in September 2020 whilst pursuing my Masters at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The internship provided me with practical experience and the diverse nature of the work at INR, I have been exposed to a wide variety of projects which have helped me develop new skills. The INR contributed to capacity development and encouraged expanding skills and knowledge and I am grateful for the opportunity.

I would like to thank my mentors Jon McCosh and Dr. Brigid Letty for their mentorship and support throughout my internship

Nolwazi Ndimande

I joined the Institute of Natural Resources whilst pursuing my Masters Degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The INR has been a great stepping stone into my career and has exposed me to a range of projects which have given me practical real-world experience. The INR has also afforded me the opportunity and mentorship to learn and grow as a scientist.

Feedback from our 2019 Interns

Nomcebo Myeza

I joined the Institute of Natural Resources whilst pursuing my Masters at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The INR has been a great stepping stone into my career and has exposed me range of projects which have given me practical real-world experience. The INR has also afforded me the opportunity and mentorship to learn and grow as a scientist.

I would like to thank my mentors Ian Bredin and Leo Quayle for their mentorship and support throughout my internship. I would also like to thank the admin staff for their constant support and guidance.

Akosua Awuah

The INR became a safe space for my transition into the working environment and I gained valuable skills in sector and stakeholder engagement. It has been a year of growth and becoming confident in my field of interest, and will always be memorable.

Silungile Dlamini

I joined the INR in July 2019, whilst completing my MSc and I have gained so much practical knowledge since then. The internship provided me with practical experience in the field of environmental studies and encouraged engagement with professionals in the environmental field (and other fields). More importantly, the internship challenged me and assisted in improving my skills whilst learning new ones. Furthermore, the INR contributed to capacity development and encouraged expanding skills and knowledge.

The internship programmed is tailored to ease interns into professional space through the help of senior staff and to create space for capacity building and exposure to fields of interest. Overall, it has been a knowledgeable and pleasant experience

Theolin Naidoo

The INR’s internship programme was remarkably rewarding. It facilitated the transition from a university student to a professional operating within the broader scientific community exceptionally well.

I joined the organisation whilst in my final year of completing my Masters Degree. To my surprise, the internship programme streamlined the completion of my dissertation and provided me with a plethora of intellectual guidance, particularly from my mentors Fonda Lewis, Dave Cox, and Sian Oosthuizen.

In addition to my mentors, the admin team were brilliant individuals whom equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive within the organisation and function as an effective member of staff. Nisha Rabiduth and Londiwe Mnikathi were instrumental in this process and truly function as the heart of the organisation.

As I continue to grow and develop as a young scientist, the experience that the INR has given me will forever be the foundation which started it all.

Wesley Evans

I had the great fortune of joining the internship programme at the INR at the start of 2019. I had just finished my MSc Ecological Sciences degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal when the INR offered me the opportunity of a lifetime!

Due to the diverse nature of the work at INR, I have been exposed to a wide variety of projects which have helped me develop new skills. I undertook monthly water sampling at Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme which gave me the opportunity to get into the field on a regular basis. Additionally, the INR provided the room to work on projects which interested me as well as the support to venture out and try your hand at something new!

I will forever be thankful to my mentor, Leo Quayle, and the INR for the boundless support and opportunity that I was afforded during my internship.

Esinathi Sphumelele Ngcobo

I am grateful to have been given an opportunity to be part of the INR’s admin team for a period of 2 weeks.  I learned so much in such a short time. Having to be at the INR has shown me the importance of teamwork in an organisation. I now have some knowledge and hands-on experience of many admin/office tasks, from learning switchboard duty and welcoming guests to filing and reconciling spreadsheets etc. The warm atmosphere at INR is amazing, every day you come with a smile and look forward to spending the day with the INR family.  The INR admin team (Londi, Mandisa, Jackie, Sindi, and Nisha) are great mentors and made my time at the company both enjoyable and knowledgeable. A big thank you to both Belinda and Duncan for allowing me this opportunity.

Feedback from our 2018 Interns

Thembani Nxumalo

I joined the Institute of Natural Resources while I was at the verge of completing my Masters at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The organisation openly welcomed me and placed me in appropriate projects with the aim of broadening my skills, more especially in agricultural sector as per my qualification.

Interesting projects I worked on included:

  1. Department of Environmental Affairs and LIMA’s Umzimvubu Project which, besides being focused on controlling invasive alien plants, also aimed at training communities about the importance of land restoration for livestock productivity and enhancing livestock marketing opportunities.
  2. The WRC-funded project titled: Water use of Agroforestry Systems for food, fodder and or biofuel production project, which aimed at testing agroforestry systems on-station and with smallholder farmers for improved soil fertility, and food and fodder production.
  3. HSRC – Rural Innovation Assessment Tool project which aimed at documenting innovation practices for local economic development at Municipal level.
  4. Increasing resilience to water-related risks in the UK fresh fruit and vegetable system, which investigated farm and catchment level water efficiency and resilience of fresh fruit and water systems to droughts within selected South African catchments.

I am overly grateful for the opportunity provided by INR, which allowed me to have a deeper experience by working on different projects within a very organised and professional working environment.

I appreciated working under the mentorship of Brigid Letty and Jon McCosh as they were keen in ensuring professional and personal development for me. Thanks to the INR team for making it a marvelous internship period.

Matthew Dickey

I was fortunate enough to be accepted to the Institute of Natural Resource’s internship programme in April 2018 during my final year of Masters. The staff and mentors at the INR were very welcoming and helpful during my time as an intern. The wealth of knowledge and skills I developed while at the organisation prepared me for the working world and made me the young professional I am today.

The INR as an organisation is the ideal starting block for any post-graduate as it offers one a spectrum of opportunity in diverse fields such as agricultural, adaptation and resilience, ecosystems, and environmental sustainability and governance. This allows the intern to develop and acquire a host of skills which is beneficial for one’s future career.

During my year at the INR I was involved in 15 different projects, at the different project life cycle, and I saw projects through their entire life cycle as the project leader for an alien invasive assessment and bird and wildlife risk assessment. The projects I was involved in covered varies themes from ecosystems, agriculture, environmental governance and adaptation and resilience.

I am exceptionally grateful to the INR and my mentors, and I would recommend the INR internship to any post-graduate as the experience overall was incredibly valuable.

Lauren Canham

Lauren joined the INR in February 2017, after completing her Master’s degree in Economics. Her Master’s thesis was a cost-benefit analysis of a marine protected area. Lauren did her undergraduate in Economics and Environmental Management and Geography at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  This allowed for the combination of the three disciplines.

During her time at the INR, Lauren worked on a range of projects. These included a climate change adaptation related to payment for ecosystem services project in Lesotho, a conservation based enterprise project based in Limpopo, an agro-forestry cost-benefit analysis in KwaZulu-Natal and a tourism and inland water project based in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. These projects allowed Lauren to have a deeper insight into the practical uses of economics in environmental management and conservation as well as learn more about the social and environmental contributors to these projects.

The INR’s experienced and friendly staff created an environment conducive of learning skills both related to the practical project work, as well as skills in the administration of the business and projects. The INR also provided many opportunities to travel to interesting places for projects and attend workshops and conferences on topics which were relevant to Lauren’s field. Lauren is grateful to all of the staff at the INR for their kindness and willingness to help her learn, with special thanks to her mentors Fonda and Michelle.

Adwoa Awuah

I joined the INR in July 2015, a few months into my MSc degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. My Masters research looked at the wetlands in the Baynespruit catchment, in Pietermaritzburg, to determine if selected case study wetlands could be rehabilitated to improve water quality of the Baynespruit River. The internship opportunity came at the perfect time as my Masters research had a wetland services and rehabilitation focus and I came on to the INR Ecosystems team to work on a wetlands project.  I initially worked on the guidelines for the determination of buffer zones which was great exposure to the process of developing new methods and planning national training and development workshops.

Whilst working on research projects, I was also involved with more consultancy type projects and wetland assessments which I enjoyed. The time spent under my mentor learning how to conduct wetland assessments, writing reports and proposals was invaluable in helping advance my career as well as my studies.

During the internship programme I was afforded many opportunities which increased my skill set such as becoming SASS5 accredited, improving my GIS skills, attending and presenting my MSc research at the Society of South African Geographers Students Conference 2016 at Stellenbosch University and the National Wetland Indaba 2016.

I would like to thank the INR for the opportunity of the extended internship programme. The structure of the internship programme is great for promoting capacity development and allows students with minimal experience to gain exposure and experience in their fields of interest. I would also like to particularly thank Ian Bredin for his mentorship and the rest of the Ecosystems team who were always eager to teach and share their knowledge. You all contributed to creating a great working and learning environment.

Patrick Martel

In November 2015, Patrick began his internship at the Institute of Natural Resources. At the time he was in the final stages of his MSc in Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Patrick was initially tasked with applying the urban hydrosocial transition model to Durban, in a more research-focused internship. This task was directly linked with the International Water Security Network, under the guidance of Professor Chad Staddon of the University of the West of England and Duncan Hay (INR – Executive Director). This research project eventually became the theoretical basis of Patrick’s PhD, which he started in mid-2016.

Another project which he was drawn into was the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Programme at Dube Tradeport – under the mentorship of Leo Quayle. Patrick notes “I enjoyed being part of this project, which involved on-site water quality sampling, and thereafter water quality reporting from the analysis of laboratory results. This has greatly enhanced my knowledge and understanding of water quality monitoring”.

Over the period of his internship, Patrick has come to realise that capacity development of young staff is high on the agenda at the INR. He states “Throughout my internship, I have been given time off to attend a number of workshops and conferences – both local and international – which has been extremely beneficial for my professional development. In addition, I have always felt that the staff of the INR are friendly and approachable, from the Executive Director, to senior scientists, office staff and fellow interns. Overall it has been a great experience working at the INR.”

Nonjabulo Bambalele

I joined the INR while I was still busy with my MSc degree in agriculture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I completed my degree whilst working at INR. My MSc dissertation looked at water use efficiency of maize and legumes in an intercropping system.

When I started at INR, I had minimal experience in rural development. My internship has provided me the opportunity to be involved in participatory research, sustainable rural development and developing farm plans. Coming straight from the university theoretical background, these were all new concepts to me. Joining the INR team has been a great experience for me. I was exposed to different disciplines which gave me valuable skills.

I am grateful to my mentors Brigid Letty and Jon McCosh for the mentorship and experience they provided to me. To team Agriculture: Thank you for making it an exciting and wonderful experience for me.

Feedback from our 2016 Interns

Sylvester Selala

Having obtained a BSc. Honours degree in Hydrology from University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, I joined the INR while busy with my Masters in Bioresource Systems (Agricultural engineering). My thesis explored the development of models for sustainable operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of small-scale water infrastructure, with a case study involving rural communities of Makhudutamaga Local Municipality in the Limpopo Province.

Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods were unfamiliar subjects to me however, working as an intern under this theme at INR allowed me not only to learn to work under pressure but also sharpened my research skills. Working on unfamiliar projects at INR made me realise that my qualification is like a driver’s license and “I can drive any make of vehicle with it”. My 12 month (July 2015 – June 2016) internship was an interesting one and I worked on a Water Research Commission-funded project that focused on the water use of agroforestry systems, as well as being involved in a range of other projects.

The INR has been a good environment for both my professional and personal development. I would like to thank the INR professional scientists Brigid Letty and Jon McCosh who provided great mentorship, and made my internship a fun and stimulating experience.

Samiksha Singh

Samiksha began her internship at the Institute of Natural Resources (INR) in January 2016. During her internship she learned a number of different skills through working on a wide range of projects from environmental management projects, Water use license applications, water quality and biomonitoring to analysis of household surveys. Samiksha completed her MSc Environmental Science degree while working at the INR. Her masters looked at the role periphyton played as an indicator of water quality taking into account its relationship with nutrient and flow regimes and macro-invertebrates in a river system. The INR gave Samiksha the opportunity to attend a number of conferences at which she presented her master research.

During her internship the skills acquired where learned in a constructive, supportive and friendly environment. Her time at the INR during her internship was one of personal growth and learning. The emphasis placed by the INR on youth development and the development of early careers of young graduates is the reason the internship programme at the INR is highly valuable and successful.

Feedback from our 2015 Interns

Perushan Rajah

Perushan began his internship at the Institute of Natural Resources (INR) in September 2015. During his internship he gained numerous skills through working on a wide range of projects, ranging from climate vulnerability projects, water related risk projects, land degradation mapping projects and several other spatially based projects. Perushan completed his MSc in Environmental Science in 2015 and his masters research involved using remote sensing for varietal discrimination and yield prediction of the common dry bean.

During his internship at the INR Perushan has worked closely with several senior scientists, and gained insight into practical project based work. Exposure to a wide variety of projects has afforded him the opportunity to obtain a well-rounded understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods of applied research. His time spent at the INR encouraged learning and promoted self-development. The practical skills gained from his time as an intern were both valuable and provided a strong foundation for future endeavours.

Xolile Ngubo

Xolile Ngubo’s passion for the environment was established when she was still in high school. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree majoring in geography and economics in 2011. She then completed her honours degree in geography and environmental management in 2012.

Through her internship she has assisted with a variety of projects which required research, project management, and technical reporting support. The projects focused on areas including but not exclusive to; environmental planning, assessment, compliance, and reporting. She has also been involved in the public participation process within an EIA.

“I am most grateful to my mentor Mr David Cox as his guidance has increased my knowledge and enhanced my confidence in my career.” Being part of the INR team has been a wonderful experience for my career and personal growth. I have enjoyed the time that I have spent with the INR team. Working at INR has had a positive impact on my career as it has opened a new platform to grow as I move forward to my new position at Rand Water.

Feedback from our 2014 Interns

Manqoba Zungu

Hailing from the KZN Midlands, Manqoba enrolled at UKZN in 2008 and last year, submitted his MSc in ecology. Quietly confident of being awarded his Masters, Manqoba’s chosen field of study resonated well with the INR and its array of projects.

His thesis investigated aspects of fruit digestion by selected African fruit-eating birds with obvious relevance to the fruit-farming industry.

His relationship with the INR dates back to a studentship in 2012 and 2013 that was upgraded into a full internship last year.

His internship was a busy one, from working on a Water Research Council project analysing the interphase between aquatic protection and development, to investigating the impact of the Spring Grove Dam on biodiversity and working with rural communities in the Mbongwane area, near Eshowe, on utilising wetlands sustainably.

The year passed in a whirl of activity and Manqoba is deeply appreciative of the INR’s role in his development.

“The single biggest impact was working with professional scientists David Cox and Ian Bredin whose knowledge and expertise benefitted me enormously,” he says.

“I’m especially grateful for the GIS skills I’d learnt,” he says, “that experience you can’t buy.”

Kabir Peerbhay

Kabir considered a career choice in the study of the environment in his final year at Drakensberg Secondary in Estcourt and it developed into a full-blown passion after enrolling at UKZN.

Focussing on environmental management, Kabir submitted his PhD dissertation on the remote sensing of alien plants in commercial plantations.

His internship at the INR last year proved to be a valuable counterpoint and exposed him to both disparate and related aspects of his study.

These include a mapping project in Lesotho that helped to develop a tool to anticipate and mitigate the impact of climate change, a mountain forest mapping exercise,  a rainwater harvesting initiative, and an ecosystem goods and services investigation.

Kabir is deeply appreciative of his time with the INR and believes the experience prepared him for the next stage of his career – joining the Institute of Commercial Forestry Research as a research scientist.

“The work experience has been absolutely invaluable, maybe because it’s one of the best institutions where theory and practice meets,” he says.

“I’ve learnt so much from the professional scientists I worked with – John McCosh, Leo Quayle and Kate Pringle.”

Nokulunga Gasa

Nokulunga followed an unconventional route to the INR after finishing school at St Francis College in Marianhill. Keen to explore opportunities in agriculture, she enrolled at the Cedara Agricultural College to pursue a diploma. But she soon converted to a BAgric degree that paved the way for an honours degree at UKZN.

Her internship at the INR started in March last year in what was a seminal experience that, in her words, “accelerated my personal development and growth” and set her on course for a full scholarship towards a MSc at the University of Zululand.

Her principal involvement as an intern was with a Water Research Council project in the Eastern Cape to investigate water retention and storage in the cultivation of maize.

Other projects included a protein-block feed regime for cattle in the Matatiele area, a socio-economic investigation into small grower development in conjunction with Tongaat Hulett, and a desktop study on the sustainable use of a wetland in the Mbongwane area, near Eshowe.

Nokulunga was offered a position at the INR but the prospect of deepening her knowledge in the rapidly evolving science of food security could not be passed up.

“I’ll be back,” she says, “it will be time for me to give back to the organisation that has helped me immeasurably.”