Lincoln Agritech internships have helped two undergraduate students from the University of Canterbury learn more about the many careers open to them as scientists.

Aniisa Firdaus and Aidan Murray both enrolled for the university’s Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) course. This places them in unpaid internships where they can apply what they’re learning and develop workplace skills and confidence.

Aniisa, a medicinal chemistry student, has just finished working with our Precision Agriculture team every Tuesday, assessing the potential of Raman spectroscopy for detecting minerals and compounds in hydroponic culture.

And Aidan, an environmental science student, worked with our Braided Rivers team every Friday, reviewing groundwater data to determine where the best place to collect radon samples is.

For many years Aniisa wanted to be a GP or a pharmacist – helping people lead healthy lives. But in the last two years of secondary school, she wondered about the people behind the scenes who created and manufactured the drugs. That led to her choosing medicinal chemistry as her major.

She did wonder how an internship with an agritech company would relate to her career but came in with an open mind.

“I’ve worked with spectroscopy stuff in the lab, but I’ve never touched on Raman spectroscopy, which is what I’m doing here. I realise it’s pretty similar actually.”

Along the way, she has learned important analytical skills and how to do reports and literature reviews.

“I’m enjoying it! I’m enjoying how it’s kind of a mix of practical and office work – which is kind of what I really want to do.”

Exchange programme

Aidan is at the University of Canterbury on an exchange programme with the University of California, Santa Cruz. The exchange staff at Santa Cruz told him about the PACE programme and he decided it was something he wanted to do.

“I wanted to experience the workforce of environmental science first-hand,” Aidan says. “I wanted to see if I would relate to the people who were in the field, and I also wanted to develop some skills.

“I’ve never worked in a research setting before. It can be quite satisfying. There’s a good balance of field time and lab time.”

His verdict? “I really like it! I really enjoy the people as well. I think it’s a wonderful spirit and environment you guys have at Lincoln Agritech.”

Lincoln Agritech Human Resources Manager Kirsty Macdonald says the programme benefits the company and the interns.

“Students provide a different perspective to tasks we are undertaking and provide an opportunity for our staff to support and mentor the next generation of researchers entering the industry.”

Both Aniisa and Aidan are now thinking more broadly about their careers.

“I came in with an idea to learn and get better with lab skills,” says Aniisa. “I’ve now seen what day-to-day research looks like. It’s given me a different perspective and expanded my mind to different pathways,”

Aidan is thinking of a career that can combine his recently acquired passion for scuba diving and his desire to help undo some of the environmental damage humanity has caused over past decades.

“Research at Lincoln Agritech is very impactful and important for our future. I want to be part of the generation and the work that helps undo some of that negative impact of humanity. I really feel like Lincoln Agritech has reminded me of that.”