Are your students looking for a valuable internship opportunity this summer or even next fall? Why not share with them the opportunity to complete this experience in Australia or New Zealand? These internships provide valuable professional training and living in a foreign country allows students to improve on skills such as problem solving, independence, and critical thinking.

AustraLearn offers biological science internships for credit in Australia and New Zealand and gives 24/7 on-site support including a group orientation upon arrival in country. We have had over 150 internship locations in the past and we are constantly adding new placements. We custom build internships to meet students’ needs, and bring our experience as the largest and oldest study abroad provider in Australia and New Zealand to ensure a great internship experience.

We hand pick each internship organization to ensure that students are gaining maximum professional development and are not subject to endless menial tasks like many domestic internships.

We still have three pre-set Professional Development for Academic Credit (PDAC) internship intakes remaining in 2009. The dates and deadlines for each are:

May 26 – August 7 (Application deadline February 6)
June 30 – September 11 (Application deadline March 1)
September 22 – December 4 (Application deadline June 1)

In addition to the PDAC Internships, we also offer the Custom Designed Internship Program. For this option, students can indicate their preferred dates and lengths. All applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis and must be complete 4 months prior to the intended start date.

Internships are available in every field and you will find a brief description of several of our previous biological science internships below:

The University of Waikato and The New Zealand Department of Conservation - Hamilton, New Zealand

Numerous community groups, captive organizations, and Maori initiatives throughout NZ are all working together to help save the endangered kiwi bird. One of the most important requirements for effective conservation of an endangered species is extensive knowledge of that species’ biology. This project entails the use of cutting-edge genetic techniques to investigate various aspects of kiwi biology – kiwi breeding patterns, dispersal patterns, levels of inbreeding, and a determination of the overall “healthiness” of kiwi populations. To obtain such information, kiwi biologists throughout NZ pluck feathers from every kiwi that they handle. These feather samples are then sent to a lab where genetic analyses are undertaken. The intention is to establish a national genetic database that will be used indefinitely to provide information about the behavior and biology of New Zealand’s icon. Results from genetic analysis will be used to improve long-term management of kiwi in their natural habitat. Interns will help extract DNA from these samples for genetic analysis. Interns will also be taught laboratory methodology and how genetic data is used for improving conservation management practices. An effort will also be made to have interns work with a field project or captive organization for one week of their internship so that they can experience kiwi conservation in action.

The Howard Florey Institute, Centre for Neuroscience - Melbourne, Australia

The Howard Florey Institute is Australia’s largest brain research institute with over 200 staff.  Their scientists work together to solve the brain’s many mysteries and are piecing together complex puzzles in an effort to develop better treatments for the millions of Australians affected by brain disorders every year. Their researchers are at the forefront of the neuroscience revolution that promises to improve individual and community health around the world.

Interns will primarily be involved with lab base work, particularly concentrating on experience with animal models of drug and alcohol-seeking behavior. This will provide a strong introduction to experimental neuroscience.

The New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust - Dunedin, New Zealand

The Whale and Dolphin Trust was set up by researchers to foster research and effective conservation of whales and dolphins in New Zealand. The long-term goal is to enhance the current knowledge of behavioral ecology, distribution and genetic diversity of New Zealand's whales and dolphins and help create informed management decisions.

An intern will do field work, research and lab work with Hector's Dolphins, one of the rarest dolphins in the world. This will include taking photos of dolphins, data entry, basic data analysis, producing reports, graphs, and other visual plots of data, literature searches, creation of literature databases, and other lab and office work associated with research.

If you have questions regarding the program, or think this information would be valuable to other faculty, please contact Mike Green at mgreen@australearn.org or call us at 1-800-980-0033.



Mike Green
Internship Programs
mgreen@australearn.org
(800) 980-0033 ext 134