TropWATER supports postgraduate students to work with us on ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience and key skills for their career development.
Below are highlights from past interns, reflecting on their experiences with TropWATER.
Ellie Pierce
Research area: Terrestrial landscapes and environmental monitoring
Field locations: Gilbert River
Internship duration: 4 months
Technical skills: Soil sampling, remote fieldwork skills, database development, drone imagery processing
What project did you work on during your internship?
"I worked across a couple of projects at different stages, each offering unique experiences! My primary focus was the Gilbert 1.3 project, which included a week-long trip to a remote field site west of Townsville, past Georgetown. I also assisted in work with the 2019 Flinders Flood and Recovery Project, NQ Water Quality monitoring project, and Gully Erosion Monitoring at SPYGLASS."
What experience from your internship stands out to you?
"The time out in the Gilbert Catchment was definitely a stand-out! Being in the field and out in nature amongst the elements was such a beaut experience. After first becoming interested in the ecology and biodiversity of Australian landscapes when travelling around Australia with my family when I was 10, it was truly a full-circle moment for me!"
Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you?
"Yes! I gained significant experience in 4WD driving, which boosted my confidence as I navigated the team and trailer through challenging terrain. I also developed skills in curating a database to support the Gilbert 1.3 project. Jack and I adapted our approach when lab results were delayed, focusing on creating a valuable resource by researching and organising relevant articles. This deepened my understanding of data organisation and its importance in long-term research."
"Another highlight was processing drone imagery in Agisoft Metashape. I built orthomosaics and digital elevation models (DEMs), enhancing my technical skills and showing the value of advanced technology in environmental monitoring. These experiences reinforced key skills in Environmental Science, Marine Biology, and Conservation & Management—my chosen career pathway."
"This experience has provided valuable insight into the daily responsibilities of a Research Officer and deepened my knowledge of the field."
Natasha Chik
Research area: Seagrass
Field locations: Cairns, Mourilyan, Gladstone
Internship duration: 3 months
Technical skills: Helicopter surveys, seagrass monitoring, seagrass restoration
What project did you work on during your internship?
"I worked on multiple projects during my internship, from seagrass restoration to monitoring seagrass reproduction in Cairns and surveying seagrass meadows in Gladstone. I also helped with the projects of Master's and PhD students in the lab."
What experience from your internship stands out to you?
"Doing helicopter surveys in Gladstone is a time that stands out from my internship. I was able to experience a whole new method of doing seagrass surveys with helicopters and could see how massive the seagrass meadows in Gladstone are."
Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you?
"I gained a better understanding of seagrass species located in Queensland and experience in how seagrass restoration is done."
"My internship experience not only helped me gain learning experiences in the field I'm interested in, but also broadened my connections and development of my career pathway."
Jacqueline Hintz
Research area: Freshwater habitats
Field locations: Babinda
Internship duration: 4 months
Technical skills: Laboratory-based experimental trials, eelgrass restoration, stable isotope analysis
What project did you work on during your internship?
"I was privileged to lead some research projects such as restoring eelgrass (Vallisneria nana), stable isotopes, and conducting a bivalve filtration experiment."
What experience from your internship stands out to you?
"Meeting the Wanjuru-Yidinji people, the Traditional Custodians of the lower Russell River catchment, was an absolute honour. Seeing their unique connection to waterways, including the stories passed through generations connecting the land, water, and the Wanjuru-Yidinji people made it even more inspirational to help restore their waterways."
Did you gain any skills or knowledge that surprised you?
"During this internship, I gained the vital skill of adaptability along with project management skills, helping me manage tasks from start to finish. Not only did this internship broaden my knowledge of vital wetland ecosystems, but it also expanded my career pathways by meeting people and making connections in Babinda, such as the Jaragun Rangers and government staff working in wetlands."
"As a student without any workforce experience, my internship was a great foot in the door of what to expect and learning opportunities. Thank you to everyone at TropWATER who helped me grow as a scientist."
