Student Internship – Click here to apply

We are currently offering summer internships for undergraduate students living in the Champaign-Urbana area. Interns will start around May 19, 2025, and end around August 8, 2025. During this period, interns will learn and gain hands-on experience conducting wheat and oat breeding program operations, primarily in the field. This internship is an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining experience working in an applied agricultural research program. Interns will also gain exposure to various research projects that we are conducting to accelerate genetic improvement.

Specific Activities

• Phenotype research plots for days-to-heading, plant height, disease resistance, and other traits.
• Rogue off-types from seed increases and hoe weeds from research plots.
• Collect individual spikes or panicles from plots to derive and purify lines.
• Hand harvest, thresh, and clean seed.
• Assist with grain sample collection during combine harvest.
• Pack, and arrange seeds in preparation for fall planting.
• Collect oat grain quality data.
• Assist with other tasks as needed.

Requirements

Applicants must be undergraduate students with a strong interest in hands-on work and working outdoors in a team setting. Applicants must be available to work for the entire internship period including during the June 19th and July 4th holidays. Possession of a valid US drivers license and the ability to drive a pickup truck would also be a plus.

Hours, pay, and location

Interns will work Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break. The hourly rate is $15 per hour. In a given week, hours worked over 40 will be paid as overtime, which is $22.50 per hour. Interns are to report to work at the Agronomy Seed House on the University of Illinois South Farms. Work will take place primarily on the South Farms, with occasional day trips to off-site locations.

International Student Internship

We have already hired our international student interns for 2025, but we will be hiring again for 2026. An online application form will be posted on this website in October. The opportunity is a 6-month internship for undergraduate students from any country. Interns will start on April 15, 2026, and end October 15, 2026. During this period, interns will learn and gain hands-on experience conducting wheat and oat breeding operations, primarily in the field. This internship is an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining experience working in an applied plant breeding program. Interns will also gain exposure to various research projects that we are conducting to help improve breeding strategies. 

Specific Activities

• Phenotype research plots for days-to-heading, plant height, disease resistance, and other traits.
• Rogue off-types from seed increases and hoe weeds from research plots.
• Collect individual spikes or panicles from plots to derive and purify lines.
• Hand harvest, thresh, and clean seed.
• Assist with grain sample collection during combine harvest.
• Pack, and arrange seeds in preparation for fall planting.
• Collect oat grain quality data.
• Perform other tasks as needed.

Eligibility

Applicants must be undergraduate students studying plant breeding, agronomy, or a related discipline. Applicants must communicate in English. Experience with agriculture or field work is a plus, but not required.

Logistics

Interns will receive a stipend that will cover their living expenses during the internship period. Interns must cover their own travel expenses and Visa fees. We will provide information on housing options and public transportation; however, interns are responsible for finding their own housing and transportation to and from work. 

Policies

Working environment

All group members must strive to create a respectful, pleasant, and productive environment where each person can learn and do their best work. Ensure that your words and behaviors are guided by the core values: 

• Respect- Show respect for people and property through your words and actions.
• Honesty- Speak and act truthfully.
• Optimism- Adopt a ‘can-do’ attitude. 
• Creativity– Develop new and better ways of doing things. 
• Growth- Continually improve yourself.

Health and safety

All group members should take measures to maintain a safe work environment. Understand and respect the safety precautions associated with equipment, chemicals, and other hazards in the workplace.

Publications

We believe that all our research is of high quality and worth sharing with the plant breeding community via publication in peer-reviewed journals. All graduate students and post-docs are expected to write 1 first-author publication per year on average. These publications may include a combination of review articles, germplasm release articles, and research articles.

Contact Dr. Arbelaez or Dr. Rutkoski for more information about expectations of group memebers