Precision Farming Research Internship

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Kubota Holdings Europe seeks a Precision Farming Research Intern to support field experiments and AI/ML development for orchard disease management, using tractors and implements and contributing to sustainable productivity. This KTI-EU role covers planning, field trials, data preprocessing, and model development with sensor, image/video and GPS data, with a thesis option, and involves on-site work in Nieuw-Vennep and field visits in Randwijk. Applicants should be a BSc to PhD candidate in related fields, fluent in English, with Python and Git, and experience in AI/ML on image or video data. The key focus is robust experimental planning, high quality data collection, practical models, and clear reporting, plus teamwork. Tailor your CV to field trial planning and data workflows and include project links.

As a Precision Farming Research Intern, you will support the development of precision farming solutions, especially orchard disease management solutions, from planning and executing field experiments to data analysis and applying of AI techniques. Working with a wide range of Kubota Group machinery, such as tractors and agricultural implements, you will contribute to advancing innovative solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability. Your role is critical in driving technological progress and shaping the future of precision farming.

Place within the organization
The Precision Farming Research Internship is expected to be a contributing researcher under supervision; support the entire experimental and analytical work in precision farming R&D projects, specifically focusing on planning and executing field experiments in collaboration with team members and, on developing AI/ML models using the acquired data, reporting to the Project Manager/Theme Leader.
This role is a part of the Kubota Technology Innovation Europe (KTI-EU) department, which focuses on technology development for digital solutions and systems in agriculture.

Responsibilities
Participating in a joint research project in which Kubota is involved, planning/conducting field tests and developing AI/ML models and related data pre- and post-processing algorithms:

• Understand the past experiment results and test set-ups.
• Plan field experiments in collaboration with team members and crop-specific experts to ensure efficient execution and the collection of high‑quality data.
• Work with team members to carry out data collection at test sites according to the planned protocols.
• Use acquired data (sensor data, image/video data, point cloud data, GPS information or other agricultural data), and develop/improve the AI/ML models for precision farming applications.
• Develop additional programs necessary for AI/ML development, such as data pre/post processing, data annotations, etc.
• Write reports and communicate findings to team members.

Work Environment

• This role involves occasional/regular fieldwork at agricultural sites in the Randwijk area.
• Outside of the field work season, this role includes working at the Nieuw-Vennep office several days (flexible/negotiable) per week.
• Occasional driving of light vehicles at test sites may be required; this is preferred but not mandatory.
• A thesis project is possible under this role (to be discussed).

• A BSc, MSc or PhD student in the field of Precision Farming, Biosystems Engineering, Computer Vision, AI, Data Science, Information Science or related field.
• Internship period is at least 4 months (Longer is preferred).
• Knowledge of agriculture is nice to have, but not mandatory.
• Knowledge and experience of developing and evaluating AI/ ML models, preferably in image/video data.
• Knowledge and experience in Python and Git.
• Fluent in English.
• Dutch language skill is nice to have, but not mandatory.