NNPC/Renaissance JV Sabbatical and Postgraduate Research Internship 2027

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, operator of the NNPC/Renaissance Joint Venture (formerly the Shell Petroleum Development Company JV), invites applications for its 2027 Sabbatical and Postgraduate Research Internship Programme.

The programme gives Nigerian university lecturers and postgraduate students the chance to spend a year working on real industry challenges with Renaissance's teams in Port Harcourt.

This programme is open to Nigerian universities, lecturers and students only.

Programme options

1. Sabbatical attachment (university lecturers)

Who can apply: university lecturers at the rank of Senior Lecturer and above.

Disciplines:

• Environment: impact assessment and biodiversity, environmental toxicology, air quality assessment, hydrobiology, water chemistry, hydrogeology, ecology
• Corporate relations: social performance, Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), stakeholder relations
• Community health: consultant community health, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics
• Nigerian content development: professors in any engineering discipline interested in process or project engineering
• Exploration: geology, geophysics, and AI in exploration workflows
• Centres of Excellence: geology, geophysics and petroleum engineering (University of Benin); marine/offshore engineering and naval architecture (Rivers State University)

2. Postgraduate research internship (university students)

Who can apply: Nigerian students currently studying for a Master's, MPhil or PhD.

Disciplines:

• Environment: impact assessment and environmental compliance monitoring
• Occupational health: health promotion, epidemiology, statistics
• Pipeline availability: PhD candidates in mechanical, chemical, materials or oil and gas engineering, with at least three years of pipeline engineering experience (design, construction or integrity assessment)
• Exploration: PhD candidates in geology or geophysics, with an AI-related exploration workflow

Duration

Both the sabbatical and the research internship last 12 months and cannot be renewed. Previous participants are not eligible.

Documents you need

All applicants:

• An application letter stating your team or discipline of interest
• A CV with your phone number, email address and contact details for three referees

Sabbatical applicants (lecturers):

• A titled one-page summary of how you will add value to Renaissance's business during your sabbatical

Research internship applicants (students):

• A research proposal covering the background, technical objectives, methodology, data needed and expected outcomes

How to apply

1. Choose one team or discipline from the lists above.
2. Prepare your application letter, CV and either your one-page summary (lecturers) or research proposal (students).
3. Email your application to [email protected].
4. Use your team or discipline of interest as the email subject line, for example "Environment – Impact Assessment".
5. Send it before 6 November 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

Key dates

Tips

• Match your proposal to a real industry problem in your chosen discipline, and show the data you'd need and the results you expect.
• Keep your one-page summary practical (lecturers): explain clearly how your expertise will help Renaissance's work.
• Save your documents as PDFs with clear file names.
• Applying is free. Renaissance does not ask for payment or work with agents, so never pay anyone who promises a placement.