Internship: Radioactivity Standards (24 months)

About the role

NMISA, a Type 3A public entity established under the Measurement Unit and Measurement Standards Act, offers a 24-month internship in its Biomedical Science unit, Radioactivity Standards section, based in Cape Town. The purpose is to give graduates practical training in the development and maintenance of measurement standards and their dissemination through the section's services, with support in developing measurement capabilities and client work.

Key responsibilities

• Work in an accredited laboratory following NMISA policies and procedures and the Total Quality Management System (TQMS).
• Assist with the development and maintenance of radioactivity measurement standards and new capabilities.
• Support client work, measurements, analysis, generation of certificates and checking of results.
• Help generate, validate and review measurement procedures, and keep detailed records of equipment and results.
• Assist with administrative duties such as purchasing laboratory consumables and initiating procurement of equipment and instruments.
• Maintain EHS and laboratory health, safety and environmental requirements, and take part in housekeeping.
• Take part in metrology skills transfer by attending courses and conferences and presenting project work.
• Support senior laboratory personnel with research, testing and method development, and help maintain laboratory documentation.

Required profile

• BSc Honours (NQF Level 8) degree in Radiochemistry, Nuclear Physics or Physics.
• No previous internship participation; only one application per person.
• Self-motivated, meticulous, dependable, honest and ethical, able to multi-task, meet strict deadlines and work in a team.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time-management skills.

Required skills

• Knowledge of radiation detection instruments.
• Basic understanding of radioactive decay processes, radiation interactions with matter and radiation protection.
• Mathematical and statistical knowledge; basic MS Office.
• Good communication and report writing skills.
• Added advantage: gamma-ray spectrometry, liquid scintillation analysis, alpha-spectrometry, radiochemical separation techniques, quality systems and GLP.

Applications are submitted by email with the subject "INTERNSHIP: RADIOACTIVITY STANDARDS" and three separate PDFs named CV, ID and Qualifications, before 16 November 2026. The salary range is R 7 478 to R 8 878 per month depending on qualification level.