R&D Internship

Trevelyan's Pack & Cool Ltd; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 32,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living wage pay

Mentoring and support

Impactful contribution to harvest

Future opportunities with Trevelyan’s

Job summary

Trevelyan’s Pack & Cool Ltd in Te Puke offers two 10-week summer research placements funded through MBIE’s R&D Experience Grant. Positions are full-time, 32–40 hours per week, starting before 1 December 2026 and finishing by 31 March 2027.

You’ll work mainly on-site with mentoring and hands-on R&D in kiwifruit. Applicants should be current science/tech/business students with a practical mindset, eager to learn and contribute to harvest preparations for 2027.

Qualifications

• Currently studying science, technology, engineering, design or business.
• Willingness to learn and test ideas in real R&D in kiwifruit industry.
• Available for the full 10-week placement starting before 1 December 2026.

Responsibilities

• Project One: review and improve the short stalk tool design; plan and run R&D; 3D print prototypes.
• Project One: test tool robustness in orchard conditions and mentor meetings.
• Project Two: review Kiwigreen data; carry out leaf Brix monitoring; analyze pest pressure.
• Project Two: assess relationship between Brix levels and pest pressure.

Skills

Hands-on mindset

Curiosity to learn

Team player

Good communication

Education

STEM/Business student

Tools

3D printing

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

AtTrevelyan’s, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’ve got twoexciting summer research placements on offer this year, funded through MBIE’sR&D Experience Grant, giving a student hands-on exposure to real R&Dwork in the kiwifruit industry.

Eachplacement is full-time, 32–40 hours per week for 10 weeks, and must startbefore 1 December 2026 and finish by 31 March 2027. You’ll work mostly on-sitewith our team in Te Puke. Tell us in your application which project you’d liketo be considered for.

Project One: Short Stalk Tool Design & 3D Printing

Thisproject focuses on researching, developing and refining a hand-held tool forremoving short stalks ahead of the 2027 harvest. You’ll help design and 3Dprint the tool, test its robustness in the field across different kiwifruitvarieties, and explore wider opportunities for 3D printing in postharvestoperations, including producing a scaled 3D-printed model of a packhouse tosupport layout and flow discussions.

Whatyou’ll do:

• Reviewand improve the design of the short stalk tool
• Planand carry out further R&D to ensure the tool performs well in orchardconditions
• 3Dprint prototypes and components
• Meetregularly with a mentor for support and guidance

LeafBrix measures the soluble sugars and other compounds in plant sap, and is usedas an indicator of plant health and nutrient status. This project investigateswhether there’s a measurable relationship between leaf Brix levels and pestpressure in commercial kiwifruit orchards, an area with limited existingresearch.

Whatyou’ll do:

• Reviewhistorical Kiwigreen Monitoring data to identify orchards with significantpest pressure
• Carryout leaf Brix monitoring in affected orchards
• Analysethe data to assess any relationship between Brix levels and pest pressure

We’re looking for someone curious, practical and keen to get hands-onwith real R&D. You don’t need industry experience, just a willingness tolearn, and test ideas.

You’llbring:

• Currentlystudying science, technology, engineering, design or business
• Apractical, hands-on approach and curiosity to test and refine ideas
• Aableto work mostly on-site with our team in Te Puke
• Availablefor the full 10-week placement, starting before 1 December 2026 andfinishing by 31 March 2027
• Goodcommunication skills and enjoy working as part of a team
• Agenuine interest in the kiwifruit industry and R&D innovation

We’rea values-led business with deep roots in the community. We celebratewhanaungatanga (connection) and caring for our people and our place.

Weare committed to being a safe, inclusive and fair workplace for everyone -regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, orbackground.

• Hands-onexperience in real-world R&D within the kiwifruit industry
• Regularmentoring and support throughout your placement
• Livingwage pay
• Thechance to make a genuine, lasting contribution ahead of the 2027 harvest
• Some of our past interns have gone on to seasonal or permanent roles with us