Applications are open for 2027 CSIRO-UTAS Studentships!
The CSIRO-UTAS Studentships provide high achieving University of Tasmania (UTAS) undergraduate students (including Honours), the opportunity to work with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, across a range of projects and discipline areas. Students in the later stages of their degree are preferred; however, applications will be considered on overall merit, including academic achievement, relevant experience and alignment with the project.
Starting your Studentship in February 2027, you will receive $11,000 to work the equivalent of two days a week across Semester 1 and Semester 2 (including mid-term break). All projects are located on-site at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Hobart.
Successful applicants may also like to consider enrolling in KAA315 STEM Work Integrated Learning at UTAS in Semester 1 or Semester 2, 2026 if they wish to combine their Studentship with their studies.
Applications should be submitted by 5.00 pm, 8th November 2026.
What are the CSIRO-UTAS Studentships?
The CSIRO-UTAS Studentship program is an initiative of the Centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technology (CAST). The aim of CAST is to advance Antarctic and Southern Ocean research by enabling collaborative effort in technology and engineering innovation and development, education and training, and the sharing of resources.
Previous recipients of our Studentships and information about their projects can be viewed on CAST News here.
How to Apply
To apply for a 2027 CSIRO-UTAS Studentship please send an application with the following:
- A paragraph outlining your interest in the CSIRO-UTAS Studentship program, your goals for the future, and which project(s), from the projects listed below, you wish to apply for. You may nominate up to two projects you wish to be considered for. Separate applications must be submitted for each project.
- Your UTAS academic transcript.
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Applications should be emailed to claire.mulhall@csiro.au by 5.00pm, 8th November 2026
If you have any questions about the CSIRO-UTAS Studentship program, the projects, or your eligibility, please contact sm-cast_secretariat@utas.edu.au.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by CSIRO in early December and invited for an interview.
2027 Studentship Projects
The following projects are available in 2027. There is one placement per project. Note that there are two placements for project 3.
| 1. ICT Systems Management on the RV Investigator The Data Acquisition and Processing (DAP) team is seeking a student to assist with the management and ongoing improvement of ICT infrastructure onboard the Marine National Facility research vessel, RV Investigator. Working alongside experienced infrastructure specialists, the student will contribute to vulnerability management activities, assist with the commissioning and testing of new systems, and support the development of technical documentation and operational procedures. This placement will provide hands-on exposure to enterprise technologies and cybersecurity practices used in a mission-critical scientific environment. The student will gain practical experience with platforms and equipment including Tenable vulnerability management tools, Cisco networking infrastructure, Dell server hardware, virtualised environments, and supporting systems that underpin scientific data collection and vessel operations. | – Information Technology | Kieran Needham |
| 2. HydroHUB and Equipment Metadata System Supporting RV Investigator Operations NCMI Engineering & Technology (E&T) Software Team, working closely with the Data Acquisition and Processing (DAP) team, is seeking a motivated Software Engineering student to contribute to two impactful software projects. These projects support operational systems aboard RV Investigator and the development of mission-critical hydrochemistry data processing and visualisation applications. The placement offers exposure to modern software engineering practices, including full-stack application development, API and database integration, data engineering, cloud-native technologies, and scientific computing. The projects also provide opportunities to work with datasets and software platforms that support future machine learning and AI-enabled capabilities. The successful candidate will participate in all stages of the software development lifecycle and gain practical experience developing production software, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and solving complex real-world engineering challenges. | – Software Engineering | Jakub Razak |
| 3. Processing CSIRO-AusSeabed bathymetry datasets through the AusSeabed (ASB) pipeline CSIRO’s Geophysical Survey & Mapping (GSM) Team has developed a data management pipeline that allows bathymetry and backscatter data to be delivered effectively to the national AusSeabed program. The student will learn how to process bathymetry datasets (using software such as Caris) and apply/develop scripts (such as Python) to enhance the CSIRO-AusSeabed data processing pipeline. A second candidate may be considered for a cataloguing project demonstrating strong coding abilities (python or cold fusion) with a good understanding of geospatial sciences. There are 2 placements for this project. | – Hydrographic surveying – Earth Science – Geospatial science | Francisco Navidad |
| 4. Optimising Underwater Lighting for Robotic Imaging Applications The marine autonomy project uses camera systems on autonomous and remotely operated marine platforms for habitat mapping, species detection, and environmental monitoring. Obtaining high quality imagery is often challenging due to water clarity, suspended sediment, and backscatter, particularly in environments such as the Derwent Estuary. The student will investigate methods for optimising underwater lighting for robotic imaging applications. The project will evaluate how light selection, beam angle, mounting geometry, platform altitude, vehicle speed, and environmental conditions influence image quality and computer vision performance. The solution developed in this project may feature: – A workflow for optimising lighting while considering platform constraints, environmental conditions, and mission objectives. – Modelling and controlled testing of lighting performance across different platform configurations and environmental conditions. – Prototype mounting designs for robotic platforms. – Practical recommendations and supporting tools for future robotic imaging deployments. | – Electronic Engineering – Software Engineering – Mechatronics Engineering – Computer science | Polly Alexander |
| 5. Developing and Validating Vision Workflows for Marine Robotic Systems The marine autonomy project uses robotic platforms including Otter, SRV-8, RangerBot and Nemo to collect imagery, environmental observations and navigation data for habitat mapping, species monitoring and environmental assessment. While many computer vision tools exist, establishing reliable workflows and understanding the accuracy of image-derived and spacial data products remains a challenge. Ground truth is often difficult to obtain from field deployments, making it challenging to evaluate and compare different approaches. The student will investigate methods for developing and validating vision workflows for marine robotic applications by creating and using controlled synthetic environments. The solution developed in this project may feature: – Design and fabrication of synthetic targets and environments – Collection of controlled datasets using marine robotic platforms under different operating conditions. – Evaluation of vision workflows including species detection, measurement, 3D reconstruction, habitat characterisation and spatial mapping products. – Quantification of performance using known ground-truth data. – Recommended tools, workflows and validation approaches for future marine robotics projects. – Integration of imagery with navigation and environmental observations. | – Electronic Engineering – Software Engineering – Computer Science – Mechatronic engineering | Polly Alexander |
| 6. HydroHub Scientific Data Validation and Testing The NCMI Hydrochemistry team is seeking a motivated student to support the scientific validation and testing of HydroHub, a new software platform for hydrochemistry data processing and visualisation. Working alongside the Hydrochemistry functional analysts and software engineers, the student will compare outputs from the existing and new systems, analyse hydrochemistry data and QC results, and develop scripts to assist with efficient file and data comparisons. As HydroHub progresses from its initial basic functionality, the student will assist with expanding test coverage, investigating differences and defects, conducting additional testing and documenting findings. A strong interest or background in statistics would be beneficial to assess data variability and statistical significance and support the investigation and resolution of identified issues. The student may also assist in determining how supporting Hydrochemistry applications can be integrated into HydroHub and how analytical results, statistics, QC and user comments can be effectively presented and reported. The project will provide practical experience in scientific software validation, data analysis, statistical assessment and quality assurance, while contributing to the continued development and implementation of HydroHub. | – Software testing/Quality assurance – Data science – Statistics – Chemistry/Marine science | Alicia Camac |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the eligibility requirements?
You should be commencing the final year of an undergraduate degree offered in Sciences and Engineering at UTAS in Semester 1 or Semester 2 next year.
Do I need to remain enrolled at UTAS for the duration of the Studentship?
Yes. Students are required to remain enrolled at UTAS for the duration of their CSIRO-UTAS Studentship. If you are expecting to graduate during the Studentship period, please contact us to discuss your circumstances and eligibility.
I am commencing Honours next year. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. If you are commencing Honours (e.g., BSc(Hons)) next year, or your Honours program is embedded in the final year of your undergraduate degree (e.g., BE(Hons)), you are eligible to apply.
Can I undertake a CAST Studentship as part of my Honours thesis?
Honours students are welcome to apply for a CAST Studentship; however, the Studentship project cannot form part of your Honours thesis and must be undertaken separately.
I will be graduating at the end of Semester 1. Am I eligible to apply?
Applicants graduating mid-year may still be eligible. Intending applicants should contact CSIRO to discuss their preferred project(s). It may be possible, for example, for the project objectives to be reduced in scope and completed in a shorter period.
Is my degree eligible? What units should I be studying?
You must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree offered by Sciences and Engineering at UTAS. There are no specific prerequisite units for the studentships, but you should be studying in an area relevant to the discipline in which the CSIRO projects are offered. The projects and discipline areas vary from year to year.
Do I need a minimum GPA?
All students are eligible to apply if they meet the eligiblity requirements. A minimum grade point average (GPA) is not required.
Do I have to enrol in KAA315?
You do not have to enrol in KAA315 STEM Work Integrated Learning to undertake a CSIRO Studentship, but it is an option you might like to consider. Contact the KAA315 Unit Coordinator if you would like to know more about KAA315 and whether it can be counted towards your graduation requirements.
Are international students eligible to apply?
Yes.
Can I apply for more than one CSIRO-UTAS Studentship project?
Yes. You can nominate up to two different projects when you apply for a studentship, but if your application is successful you will only undertake one project.
When will I know the outcome of my studentship application, and if it’s successful when will I start my project at CSIRO?
CSIRO will contact shortlisted applicants by early December to discuss the project(s) they have applied for and their suitability. Successful applicants be notified before the end of the year and undergo CSIRO onboarding in January. Onboarding is mostly done online and then students are inducted to on-site during the first week of their placement. Placements commence in February.
What is the duration of the studentship and how many hours a week will I be working?
Studentships are spread approximately across the academic year, commencing in February and typically concluding in November. Normal working hours (spread as 60 days across the calendar year) apply or are as agreed by UTAS, CSIRO and the student.
What is the value of the scholarship and how am I paid?
The scholarship amount is AUD $11,000, paid by UTAS in 20 fortnightly instalments of $550 from February to November 2027.
What happens if I withdraw from my degree before the end of the studentship?
You must remain enrolled in your degree at UTAS for the duration of the studentship. If your enrolment ends during this period, your studentship and access to CSIRO facilities will be withdrawn.
Is my scholarship taxable?
Your scholarship may be taxable.
UTAS can provide general information about scholarships and tax that may be of assistance; however, the University and CSIRO cannot advise you directly as taxation depends on individual circumstances.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has an online tool to help you determine if your scholarship is taxable.
If you require further advice about taxation, please contact the ATO directly or your tax advisor.
Am I considered a CSIRO or UTAS employee?
No. Students undertaking a CSIRO-UTAS Studentship are not considered employees.
