Acknowledgement of Country
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.
Solve Australia’s greatest challenges with the CSIRO Energy Team!
- Are you undertaking a degree in any type of engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, geosciences, energy economics, data science, mathematics, building design, social science or related field?
- Get hands-on research experience with a team that fosters a shared vision to create clean, affordable and reliable energy solutions for all Australian communities.
- Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!
The opportunities we are offering
CSIRO Energy is building cleaner, more affordable and reliable energy solutions for Australia. We value working in genuine partnership, and we respect First Nations knowledges and perspectives as integral to creating real-world solutions.
Our Undergraduate Vacation Studentships run over the Australian summer holidays and offer undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate with leading CSIRO researchers in our world class facilities.
Students will have the chance to work on a real project in science, technology or a related field such as science communication.
Participation in the Vacation Studentship Program has influenced previous scholarship holders in their choice of further study and future career options. Many have gone on to pursue a PhD in collaboration with CSIRO or to build a successful research career within CSIRO, a university or industry.
For more information, please see our website at Energy.
Locations: May include Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart (other CSIRO sites may be possible).
Stipend: $2,056.33 per fortnight
Duration: Placements are for 8 - 12 weeks between late November 2026 and February 2027
Reference: 103373
To be considered you will need:
- To be enrolled in an undergraduate degree at an Australian university
- Have completed at least 1 year of a (full-time equivalent) undergraduate course prior to commencing your placement.
- A strong academic record (credit average or higher) and/or known capability in the field.
- An interest in pursuing a research career in science or technology, or a career in a related discipline.
- The ability to undertake a full-time placement for 8-12 weeks over the university summer vacation period.
Life at Energy and how you can accelerate your career with us
CSIRO’s Energy Research Unit applies world class multidisciplinary science, technology and facilities and global networks across the value chain to create clean, affordable and reliable energy solutions for the future.
Energy’s strategic research focus areas are:
- Electricity Transition - power systems engineering, energy economics, digital and data science, and building efficiency research.
- Decarbonising Industry and Transport – hydrogen, bioenergy, solar thermal systems and battery recycling.
- Carbon Management Technologies (CMT) – carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), carbon dioxide removal (CDR) including direct air capture, and carbon mineralisation, social and economic drivers for implementing CMT.
As part of our growth strategy, we will work with you to strategically align your experience, skills, and expertise with our research focus areas. We offer a structured program for our vacation scholars including a series of workshops, discussion panels and the opportunity to present the results of your project at a final symposium, which results in extremely positive feedback from participants every year.
Who is eligible to apply?
CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship. The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
Appointment to this role may be subject to conditions including provision of a national police check as well as other security/medical/character clearance requirements.
Child Safety
CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.
Where to from here!
If you are interested in the Energy Undergraduate Vacation Studentship Program and meet the above candidate requirements, please apply online today!
Energy Leaders and the Indigenous Employment Team are partnering together to review applications. We are excited to hear from you and will be in touch with you over the coming weeks where there is a potential match to a project.
If you prefer to have an informal chat before putting in your application, you can contact our Indigenous Employment Team at [email protected] for more information.
Apply Online
To apply you will be required to:
- submit a Resume/CV and Cover Letter (as a single document) in the ‘Resume/CV’field. Your cover letter should outline why a vacation studentship at CSIRO is of interest to you and how this will support your longer-term career aspirations; and
- upload your academic results in the ‘Cover Letter’ field
If you experience difficulties applying online please email: [email protected].
Applications Close
Tuesday 30 June 2026, 11:00pm AEST
