Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship Fund – 2nd call

The Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship Fund was established in 2018 to recognise academic achievement of young professionals and to provide financial support to pursue practical training or postgraduate studies in relevant biodiversity fields.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is pleased to announce a call for applications for internships in any of the following fields at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Newlands, Cape Town:

• Ex-situ conservation – Seed Banking and Restoration
• Horticultural Living Collections Management in Botanical Gardens, Cycad Conservation Research
• Useful Plants Conservation Research
• Conservation management, Estate management, Sustainability
• Environmental Education
• Communication & Branding (Biological Invasions)
• Species assessment & Genetic monitoring
• Plant taxonomy
• Science-based policy advice linked to mainstreaming biodiversity across a range of sectors
• Science-based policy advice linked to biodiversity and climate change adaptation

Requirements

Candidates must be enthusiastic and have a keen interest in the conservation of biodiversity. No prior working experience is required but a strong academic record at university will be an advantage. A driving license with at least one year’s driving experience will be an added advantage. These internships are only available to South African citizens and will be awarded in line with national equity targets. See below minimum qualifications for placement options: 

Field	Minimum qualification
Ex-situ conservation – Seed Banking and Restoration	BSc Honours Botany or BTech / Advanced Diploma Horticulture
Horticultural Living Collections Management in Botanical Gardens, Cycad Conservation Research, Useful Plants Conservation Research	BSc Honours Botany, BTech / Advanced Diploma Horticulture
Conservation management, Estate management, Sustainability	BTech / Advanced Diploma Nature Conservation
Environmental Education	BTech / Advanced Diploma / BSc / BA Environmental or Conservation fields or Bachelor’s in Education with Environmental Education as a specialisation
Communication & Branding (Biological Invasions)	BSc / BA Honours Botany / Communication / Environmental Management
Species assessment & Genetic monitoring	MSc Biology
Plant taxonomy	BSc or BSc Honours Biological / Life Sciences
Science-based policy advice linked to mainstreaming biodiversity across a range of sectors	Masters Conservation Biology; Environmental & Geographical Science; Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE); Natural Science, Social Science
Science-based policy advice linked to biodiversity and climate change adaptation	Masters Conservation Biology; Systems Ecology; Environmental & Geographical Science; Natural Science, Social Science

Conditions 

• Applicants must be South African citizens
• Applicants must not be enrolled for higher degrees for the 2023 academic year
• Applicants must be in the youth category
• Applicants can only apply for one of the positions.

Internship monthly stipend values

• Bachelors completed (or equivalent to NQF 7): R7 260
• Honours completed (or equivalent to NQF 8): R8 580
• Masters completed (or equivalent to NQF 9): R9 900

Application procedure

Applicants of the September 2022 call can apply again but they must provide the necessary documents listed below.

Each application is to be accompanied by a standard application form.

Applications must include the following documents:

• a letter of interest;
• full CV;
• certified copies of academic record/transcript and highest qualification;
• certified copies of ID and driver’s license;
• letter of academic reference.

Failure to provide the above will result in applications being disqualified.

Send all documents to students@sanbi.org.za and cc students.sanbi@gmail.com with “Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship internships” in the subject line.  All documents to be submitted as a single pdf file.

SANBI reserves the right not to fill these internships.

If no response has been received within 60 days of the closing date, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful. 

Enquiries:
Dr Ferozah Conrad
E-mail: f.conrad@sanbi.org.za

Ms René du Toit
E-mail: r.dutoit@sanbi.org.za