Project Description
Increasing concentrations of Rare Earth Elements (REE) plus yttrium (REY) are entering the environment, directly or indirectly, due to human activities. The similar chemical behaviour across the whole REY, i.e. the lanthanide series (lanthanum to lutetium) and yttrium, allows their use as tracers, fingerprinting interactions in earth science systems.
These interactions can be between water and rocks or between different water sources with either natural or anthropogenic components. The proposed internship will access existing data and generate new data from river samples already collected and awaiting analysis.
The candidate will be drawing from large ANSTO/UNSW projects assessing river water chemistry catchments with important agricultural activities in eastern Australia. The main objective of the research will be to identify if REY provide predictions on inputs of fertilisers to the studied rivers.
Industry: Nuclear Science Technology
Study area: Chemistry, Environmental & Biological Science
Partner: ANSTO
Suburb: Lucas Heights, NSW
Why:
ANSTO are partners to the LIFT Project, funded by ANSTO and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) program.
LIFT is designed to offer women in STEM a portfolio of skills and opportunities, including industry engagement, entrepreneurship, leadership and community outreach.
Paid
Yes
Selection Criteria
If you're a postgraduate research student who identifies as a woman, are studying a STEM FoR code and meet some or all the below we want to hear from you. We strongly encourage women, Indigenous and disadvantaged candidates to apply.
Required
- The intern will have experience in an environmental science related field and
- Have an interest or background in water and/or analytical chemistry
Preferred
- Knowledge or familiarity with statistical data treatment would be desirable and will determine the interpretative outcomes.
The project is designed to train on specific areas needed for its development, so please apply if you are interested
Research Outcomes
Expected Milestones:
Month one
- The intern will be familiar with available data and potential (non-analysed) samples available.
- Based on distribution maps and general geology we will identify data gaps and select samples for analysis.
- We will also explore interpretative approaches based on the specific intern strengths (i.e.: data management experience).
Month two
- Analysis of REY by SeaFast-QQQ-ICP-MS. This will involve learning to work in a clean lab, prepare standards, samples, mobile phases and process the analytical data.
Month three
- Explore interpretative approaches based on intern strengths.
- Interpretation of newly generated and previous results.
- Explore possibility of a publication output.
Other Information
The intern will receive $3,000 per month of the internship, usually in the form of scholarship payments, supported by the LIFT Project.
The intern is expected to undertake the iAccelerate Activate entrepreneurial training, the LIFT values and leadership retreat and community outreach as a condition of their scholarship. This may be asynchronous with their internship.
The intern will need to comply with ANSTO security clearance protocols, which can take 8-10 weeks once submitted. This should be factored into planning the internship commencement.
It is expected that the intern will primarily undertake this research project during regular business hours and maintain contact with their academic mentor throughout the internship either through face-to-face or phone meetings as appropriate.
The intern and their academic mentor will have the opportunity to negotiate the project’s scope, milestones and timeline during the project planning stage.
Please note, applications are reviewed regularly and this internship may be filled prior to the advertised closing date if a suitable applicant is identified. Early submissions are encouraged.
Duration
12 weeks full-time or 6 months part-time, noting Wednesdays are to be kept free during iAccelerate's Activate session
Reference
ANSTO-Cendón-001
Application closing date
18 October 2024
Contact information
Georgia Watson