The University of Mons is seeking interns for one of the tasks of the AGRI4POL project (T2.2). The internship starts in September 2026.

Internship title: Faba beans and sunflowers: which variety is most attractive to pollinators? Biochemical analyses of faba bean (Vicia faba) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen within the framework of the AGRI4POL project

Topics: Biochemical analyses / Agriculture / Plant-pollinator interaction

Place of internship: Av. du Champ de Mars, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Preferred period: 14/09/2026 to 04/12/2026 (4-month window, to be discussed)

Work schedule: Full-time preferred (part-time to be discussed)

Stipend: No

Number of available positions: 1-2

What will the intern do?
• Task 1 — Dissection of faba bean flowers under a binocular and pollen weight measurements
• Task 2 — Lipid extraction from pollen and quantification by spectrophotometry
• Task 3 — Protein extraction from pollen and quantification by spectrophotometry
• Task 4 — Amino acid extraction from pollen and quantification by chromatography

What is the profile we are looking for?
• Student in a Bachelor's in Agronomy (2nd or 3rd year), specialising in Agro-industries and Biotechnology, Environment, or Plant and Animal Production Management, OR equivalent.
• Interest in plant-pollinator interactions, plant physiology and/or applied research.
• Precision and patience (dissection work), strong organisational skills, and the ability to work with small quantities of material.
• Team spirit (coordinating work in pairs or groups of three).

What we offer:
• Training in state-of-the-art techniques (spectrophotometry and chromatography) within a European research project (AGRI4POL).
• Individualised supervision by an experienced internship supervisor.
• A concrete contribution to an internship or final-year thesis on a promising and relevant topic.

How to apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter to Elif KARDAS, researcher for the AGRI4POL project, at elif.kardas@umons.ac.be before August 31, 2026.