Research Intern (Cold Chain Technology Catalogue)

About WorldFish  

WorldFish is an international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish and other aquatic foods for their livelihoods and nutrition. Our work in countries advances progress on multiple 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation, with a vision of healthy people, healthy planet and shared prosperity.   

About the Position 

WorldFish, in partnership with the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), is developing the IPNLF Cold Chain Technology Catalogue for Small-Scale Fisheries. The catalogue consolidates the current evidence base on cold chain and related quality-improvement technologies for small-scale fisheries (SSF) into a practical assessment product that can guide investment, project design, and partner engagement.

Evidence on cold chain technologies is dispersed across supplier claims, project case studies, internal models, and grey literature, which makes it difficult to compare options on equal terms. WorldFish and IPNLF therefore require a transparent framework that distinguishes proven evidence from project-specific data, grey literature, supplier data, and expert estimates, and that assesses technologies against post-harvest loss reduction, fish quality, SSF context fit, governance, operating models, technical serviceability, water and energy requirements, carbon mitigation, gender inclusion, and market linkages.

To deliver this work, WorldFish is recruiting an Intern to be based at WorldFish Headquarters in Penang, Malaysia, for approximately 5.5 months. The intern will carry out desk-based research, with some field visits to fish landing sites and cold storage facilities in Malaysia and Indonesia, and prepare deliverables, under the supervision of a WorldFish scientist with technical guidance from IPNLF.

The work will focus on technologies relevant to fresh fish small-scale fishery value chains, covering at-sea and on-vessel, landing and first-mile, storage and aggregation, transport, processing, and cross-cutting business model innovations. External guidance to be considered includes the Cold Chain for Ocean Communities Playbook, particularly its project lifecycle logic: site viability, intervention design, ownership and operating models, procurement and implementation, and impact measurement.

Key Responsibilities

• Review existing WorldFish and IPNLF documents, spreadsheets, and models relevant to cold chain, ice provision, CO2 baselines, supplier options, business cases, and deployment barriers as well as grey literature.
• Map technologies by supply chain node, actor, and service model: at sea and on vessel; landing and first mile; storage and aggregation; transport; processing; and cross-cutting energy, refrigerant, traceability, and business model innovations.
• Update and clean the technology longlist, including internal examples such as solar ice makers, solar cold and ice storage, solar PV for processing facilities, vessel efficiency measures, low-GWP refrigerants, flash and freezing technologies, electric transport, and relevant case-study technologies.
• Conduct a targeted desk review to fill evidence gaps, drawing on credible sources such as FAO, CLASP, GSMA, Efficiency for Access, cold chain case studies, supplier technical sheets, and published project reports.
• Capture comparable evidence on CO2e reduction, baseline displaced, post-harvest loss reduction, quality improvement, capital and operating cost, power and water requirements, payback or ROI where available, and business case logic.
• Assign evidence-quality flags to quantitative entries and record assumptions separately from verified data.
• Conduct up to six short validation conversations with WorldFish or IPNLF staff, project partners, technology providers, or relevant external experts, subject to introductions and availability.
• Develop the scoring and prioritization method and produce a ranked shortlist of high-potential technologies for follow-up.
• Prepare final editable outputs and a concise handover note explaining how the catalogue can be maintained and updated after the assignment.

This opportunity might be for you if you have the below skills and qualifications:  

• Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a relevant undergraduate or graduate programme in fisheries, marine affairs, environmental science, development studies, energy systems, sustainable business, engineering, or a related field.
• Strong desk-based research, literature review, source management, and structured data extraction skills.
• Working knowledge of small-scale fisheries, seafood value chains, post-harvest loss reduction, cold chain development, renewable energy, or low-carbon technology assessment.
• Ability to interpret basic information on carbon emissions (carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO2e), life cycle assessment (LCA), energy use, upfront and running costs, return on investment and payback periods, and the reliability of that evidence;  at a screening level and without overstating precision.
• Strong Excel and structured data skills, and the ability to produce editable matrices and clear practitioner-facing summaries.
• Professional written and spoken English.
• Willingness and ability to travel for occasional field visits within Malaysia and to Indonesia.
• Eligible to undertake an internship in Malaysia.

 Desirable

• Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia language skills.
• Familiarity with Indonesian small-scale fisheries (an asset).
• Familiarity with solar refrigeration, cooling-as-a-service, PAYGO or similar delivery models.
• Experience applying evidence-quality or technology-readiness frameworks.

• This internship provides a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in an international research environment. The intern will benefit from close interaction with scientists and technical staff, building both technical and professional skills. Catalogue outputs are co-published by WorldFish and IPNLF.
• A monthly stipend will be provided.

Location and Internship Duration

The successful intern will be based at WorldFish Headquarters in Penang, Malaysia. We are aiming for the intern to commence by 1 October 2026 for a duration of approximately 5 ½ months. The internship is open to Malaysian applicants only. Interviews are expected to be held in September 2026, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified and expected to attend the interview.

 How to Apply

Your application must include:

• A copy of your curriculum vitae,
• A cover letter which addresses the key requirements stated above;
• A short writing sample (no more than five pages) of desk-based research or analysis you have authored; and
• Contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.

To be considered, applications must be submitted by no later than 23:59 (MYT), 15 September 2026. 

The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment 

Over 40% of WorldFish staff is women with some 30 nationalities represented and contributing to its dynamic multicultural work environment. WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion are valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions. 

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.