PIPS Opportunities: Learn to Discover (L2D)

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Big Brain Innovations Ltd. (BBI Ltd.), is a spun-out UCL enterprise creating and delivering advanced
training materials for professional technical development of bio and health science researchers. BBI Ltd. was formed by the members of the UCL Department of Cell & Developmental Biology who led the development of the MRC/BBSRC-funded L2D (Learn to Discover) platform for professional education in data science, machine/deep learning and AI approaches for research, discovery and innovation. BBI Ltd is the exclusive licensed provider of L2D training across the UK and around the world and now seeks to develop further, both the business and the advanced education services it provides.

The role(s) available:

There are currently four positions available, with example responsibilities listed but not limited to the following:

  1. Educational Content and Curriculum Developer
    ● Assist in the development of a brand-new AI module in partnership with Microsoft
    ● Developing a new, generic Basic Python module for cross-discipline learning
    ● Managing advanced case study development and workshops
    ● Construct core-material coding exercises, based on taught concepts: including, but not
    limited to, ecological, epidemiological, microscopical and biochemical datasets and
    problems
  2. Automation Specialist and Educational Technologist
    ● Analysing feedback, and creating action points and targets
    ● Automating business processes (certification, grading and issuing of feedback)
    ● Review course material, its compliance with accessibility standards, and update in line
    with findings.
  3. Digital Marketing and Web Analyst
    ● Website analytics, SEO, marketing: review and strategise
    ● Setting up a CRM and managing a monthly newsletter
    ● Managing our LinkedIn posts
    ● Running and curating the blog on the L2D website
  4. VR Programmer and Workshop Coordinator
    ● VR programming
    ● Managing advanced case study development and workshops
    ● High-dimensional datasets: contribute to immersive data analysis workshops and study

Experience offered

● Working with a small, highly dynamic and dedicated team
● An interdisciplinary role, with a unique opportunity to combine and synergise academic and
creative skills
● Experience managing an academic-focused start-up company with an excellent prior track
record, operating from within UCL
● Contributing to a unique, cutting-edge, award-winning course, empowering specialised
bioscientists and medics with skills in analysing large high-throughput scientific datasets and
supercharging discovery and innovation

Application process

BBI Ltd. staff are available for informal discussions at any stage. Please contact Hannah Heaven at
admin@learntodiscover.ai to arrange an appointment. All applications should be made through your DTP in the first instance.

PIPS Opportunity: Generation Research

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GenerationResearch is a charitable initiative that provides paid summer studentships, Masters
by Research and PhDs to students from underrepresented groups. Our mission is to widen
access to research and careers in STEMM in order to be inclusive and diverse in answering the
question; who will our next generation of scientists be?

GenerationResearch is run by volunteers at the University of York, and we are seeking a
placement student to assist with various tasks in running the GenRes initiative. The successful
candidate will work with the GenerationResearch team, various wider teams at the University of
York, as well as GenRes partner universities and employer partners.

Generation Research | Paid technical and research experiences for students

Project Overview

GenerationResearch is offering an exciting opportunity for a PIPS student to apply data
analysis, social media marketing and relationship management in a charitable STEMM context.

The tasks involved in the project include:

● Supporting the creation of fundraising messaging and donor relationship building.
● Support the creation and publishing of social media posts.
● Analysing, visualising and presenting anonymised data from studentship applications to
provide insights into demographics of students who have applied, students who have
been interviewed, and students who have been successful in gaining a
GenerationResearch placement.
● Attending the annual GenerationResearch Symposium at the University of York on
Tuesday 9th September, and assisting with tasks in the lead up to and after the event.
● Supporting the GenerationResearch team with marketing and fundraising planning in
the lead up to Giving Day, the University of York’s annual crowdfunding campaign in
early November.
● Other duties commensurate with the role as needed, and we are welcome to
suggestions from the candidate once they get to grips with the role.
The successful applicant can expect to have regular contact, guidance and support from
various members of the GenRes team, including Founder/Director Dr Jillian Barlow.

The successful applicant can expect to have regular contact, guidance and support from
various members of the GenRes team, including Founder/Director Dr Jillian Barlow.

Timeframe

The exact timing can be confirmed with the successful applicant, though we expect the role to
begin on Tuesday 26th August and end on Friday 14th November. The project is anticipated to
run for 12 weeks. This is a contract for Monday to Friday 9-5pm, with a one hour lunch break.

Candidate Requirements

The successful candidate would ideally have experience in content creation, relationship
management and data analysis. The candidate will be expected to work independently,
alongside regular contact with the GenRes team.

The role is a hybrid between working at home and in the office at the University of York. The
balance of this can be agreed with the candidate.

Benefits to student undertaking this project

This project is a great opportunity to gain and develop experience in charitable STEMM
communication, data analysis, fundraising and relationship management, with opportunities to
develop contacts which could be helpful to someone considering a future career in STEMM
research or industry. The successful applicant can be expected to be treated as a member of
the GenerationResearch team that sits within the University of York, and as such, will benefit
from professional development, cross functional working, interaction with wider stakeholders
and an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of higher education fundraising.

How to apply:

A CV and covering letter should be sent to the GenerationResearch team at
gen-res-project@york.ac.uk with the email subject: “PIPS Application: {Your name}” before
11:59pm on Monday 30th June 2025.

Interviews will take place in mid July prior to the project starting in late August.
Should you have any questions prior to applying, please do not hesitate to get in touch at
gen-res-project@york.ac.uk.

PIPS Opportunity: MetalloBio Antimicrobial Coating

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MetalloBio is an antimicrobial development company working on completely novel types of antibacterial compounds. With two compound series, MetalloBio is developing Series 1 compounds as candidate antibiotics for complicated and difficult-to-treat infections. Series 2 compounds are the basis of new coatings for medical devices such as catheters and orthopaedic implants. Both series of compounds have novel but distinctly different modes of action in killing bacteria, reducing the risk of the emergence of resistant bacteria.

Project Overview

Healthcare-acquired infections represent a significant cost to the NHS, and increase the occupation of critical NHS bed space, whilst posing a lethal risk to patients. Infections are also among the top reasons for attending A&E with the most deprived communities of the UK having the highest rates of infection and A&E attendance, leading to higher rates of admissions and deaths compared to the rest of the population. To tackle this, MetalloBio is developing antimicrobial materials, that utilise the Series 2 compounds, to prevent and control the spread of infection in primary healthcare settings.

MetalloBio’s antimicrobial plastics have demonstrated activity against relevant bacteria at low loadings showing the potential for a more cost-effective performance than what is currently available. To fully understand the relevant product design requirements, MetalloBio utilises multiple sources of information, one of which is competitor products. Whether they are in development or clinically available, these products highlight what other companies or researchers deem as required. It will also involve conducting interviews with industry professionals through events such as trade shows.  Understanding the needs of this market helps to direct product development towards materials that compete with, or preferably perform better than, currently available products. MetalloBio will provide training enabling you to prepare for and conduct such primary research. Training will also be provided to enable you to confidently and clearly communicate with industry professionals during interviews and discussions.

Example project endpoints of the project could include a Pugh matrix that compares MetalloBio’s technology to currently available products and a product description that contributes to MetalloBio’s continued business justification.

Essential Skills

  • Ability to conduct methodical research
  • Experience conducting literature reviews
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Ability to disseminate complex scientific research to a non-scientific audience

Skills Developed

  • Independent working & working as part of a small team
  • Competitor analysis and insights
  • Product development
  • Interview skills
  • Working under Prince2 Project Management
  • Understanding regulatory aspects of medical device development
  • Presenting a business case

Possible Timeframe

3 months part time with flexibility to start from September.

Application Process

To apply please email CV and short cover letter to matthew.culbert@metallobio.com.

Isabelle Boon – Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Leeds

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I completed my internship at the Leeds FBS Mass Spectrometry Facility, where I was primarily involved in a range of projects related to proteomics and intact mass spectrometry. My main responsibilities included sample preparation for proteomics analysis and overseeing the running and analysis of intact mass spectrometry samples as part of the facility’s service.

A key aspect of my role was method optimisation—I worked on refining protocols for a new column in the intact mass spectrometer, ensuring improved performance and reliability.

I was also involved in method development for a liquid handling robot, which aimed to automate sample preparation of proteomics samples, thereby increasing efficiency and consistency in laboratory workflows.

Outside of the lab, I was responsible for driving the application for our LEAF Bronze Award, which recognises laboratories implementing sustainable practices, and we were awarded the LEAF Bronze award recently. I also created a poster showcasing the facility’s capabilities and potential applications, which was presented at the Astbury Open Day 2024—and it was awarded first prize!

What made you want to do that particular PIPS?

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool with a wide range of applications. As I previously had only limited experience with running mass spec samples as part of my own PhD project, I was keen to learn more this technique, from sample preparation to data analysis, and gain some more hands-on experience.

Beyond the technical aspects, I was also interested in understanding how a research facility operates. This internship provided valuable insight into the day-to-day management, service provision, and method development processes that support a wide range of scientific projects in a variety of disciplines.

What skills have you gained from your PIPS?

From a technical standpoint, I gained hands-on experience in intact and proteomics mass spectrometry, whilst also improving my proficiency with commonly used analysis software, writing SOPs for other users to assist in their data analysis.

Furthermore, I gained experience in science communication through the design and presentation of a facility poster showcasing our capabilities and potential applications. Leading the application for the LEAF Bronze award also strengthened my project management skills.

Developing a method for the liquid handling robot required a lot of problem solving, and for both this, and many other aspects of my PIPs, I needed to be able to understand and apply a wide variety of information. This allowed me to build upon the skills developed during my PhD, but challenged me to employ these skills to digest a much broader range of material, on topics I was unfamiliar with.

What has been the impact (or likely future impact) of your PIPS?

Starting out in the mass spec facility was more challenging than I thought it would be, as I was moving from a lab where I was an ‘expert’ in my own project, to an environment where I had little to no technical expertise. This meant a steep learning curve! However, by being involved in running the facility and developing my technical skills dramatically improved my confidence, as I realised there were many transferrable skills that I had gained from my PhD which I could utilise during my placement in the facility.

I hope that my contributions, such as method optimisation, SOP development, and automation improvements, have streamlined workflows and will benefit future users. Leading the LEAF Bronze Award application also promoted sustainable lab practices with a lasting impact.

Most importantly, I’ve built lasting friendships with the amazing mass spec team, making this an incredibly rewarding experience both professionally and personally.

How would you sum up your PIPS experience?

Overall, my internship provided valuable hands-on experience in mass spectrometry, method development, sustainability initiatives, and scientific communication, allowing me to develop both my technical expertise and transferable skills.

What advice would you give to other PGRs about PIPS?

I would encourage other PGRs to choose a PIPS placement that challenges them and helps them develop new skills. It’s a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an area you’re interested in but may not have had formal training in.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to places that aren’t actively recruiting— many opportunities aren’t advertised, but asking around or just having chats in the corridor can lead to unexpected opportunities!

PIPS Opportunity: QIAGEN Manchester (multiple intakes)

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Overview

QIAGEN is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions to transform biological materials into valuable molecular insights. QIAGEN sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective molecular testing workflows. QIAGEN provides these workflows to more than 500,000 customers around the world.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: QIAGEN Manchester (multiple intakes)

Andrew Cowan – Open Innovation Team (Department of Education)

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I completed my PIPS placement at the Open Innovation Team (OIT) who carry out policy work for different UK government policy departments. The primary focus of the team is to bring academic voices into the policymaking process and to provide policymakers with up-to-date research on an issue.

Whilst at the OIT I worked on several projects across a diverse range of policy areas. Initially, I was placed on a team who were looking into decarbonisation strategies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). I was involved in interviewing academics and other stakeholders and was able to lead a few of these interviews towards the end. I also was involved in the report drafting stage and delivered the final presentation to DESNZ in their Whitehall offices.

Following this, I then worked on a project looking into the adoption of generative AI in schools which was commissioned by the Department for Education (DofE). I helped to organise a series of panel discussions by identifying academic experts who were invited to discuss several key questions areas on this topic.

As a cohort of placement students, we attended training sessions to get us up to speed on conducting interviews, drafting OIT reports/slide decks, and also to provide a more general understanding of the civil service structure.

What made you want to do that particular PIPS?

I was open to a number of PIPS options, though I was leaning towards a policy-based placement as this is an area where I had little experience. The diversity of topics that the OIT worked on was also attractive.

What skills have you gained from your PIPS?

Carrying out and conducting interviews was an area which I had little to no experience in before my PIPS placement. At the end of the first project, I was confident enough to lead several 1 hour + interviews which required prior research of the academic and the generation of a tailored set of questions.

The drafting process involved in producing OIT output for the client was very fast paced, dynamic, and different to what I had experienced before. Initially, this was a big learning curve, but I soon got to grips with the process.

Lastly, owing to working on a diversity of policy areas it was important to be able to orientate yourself with the general background research of that topic in a timely fashion.

What has been the impact (or likely future impact) of your PIPS?

I was able to contribute to several projects at the OIT, some of them still ongoing. Owing to the small team at the OIT, PhD placement students are necessary to facilitate the project work. In return the placement offers an experience whereby you are given a good deal of responsibility early on.

The impact the PIPS placement has had on me has been to continue my interest in working on research that has policy impact. It has also provided me with a greater understanding on the different ways that academics can achieve policy impact with their research.

How would you sum up your PIPS experience?

My PIPS experience was entirely positive. It provided me with a supportive and interesting environment to experience what it is like to work in policy.

What advice would you give to other PGRs about PIPS?

I would take time to think about what skills/experience you have and what areas you would like to gain experience in. It is very rare in your career path that you are going to be given the freedom for 3 months to try something completely different so don’t waste it.

Read more about the Open Innovation Team.

PIPS Opportunities: yet2 (open deadline)

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Open Innovation & Technology Scouting Placement Opportunity

yet2 is a global open innovation and technology scouting services company with offices in the US, Europe (Liverpool and Nottingham) and Asia and works across a range of company sizes and engages with: Global 1000, Small/Medium Enterprises, Venture Capitalists, Incubators, Accelerators, Research Institutions and Technology Brokers.  They work across all disciplines but have a strong client base in consumer healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and agricultural technology – see the Active Projects page for an overview of the variety of work we cover. 

Read morePIPS Opportunities: yet2 (open deadline)

PIPS Opportunity: Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)

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12 weeks PIPS project 2025: Science Communication – STEM education

The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines. They represent companies of all sizes who invest in discovering the medicines of the future.

Their members supply cutting edge treatments that improve and save the lives of millions of people. They work in partnership with Government and the NHS so patients can get new treatments faster and the NHS can plan how much it spends on medicines. Every day, they partner with organisations in the life sciences community and beyond to transform lives across the UK.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)

Sophie Fountain – Exciting Instruments

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I completed my PIPS placement at Exciting Instruments, an innovative start-up specialising in the development of high-throughput scientific instruments. My primary focus during the placement was performing Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS) experiments to support the development of their latest high-throughput instrument. This involved optimising experimental protocols, analysing data, and troubleshooting technical challenges.

Read moreSophie Fountain – Exciting Instruments

Abby Walklett – Diamond Light Source

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I went to the Diamond Light Source (DLS) in Didcot, Oxfordshire. I worked alongside crystallographers at the VMXi beam, and was supervised specifically by Dr. Halina Mikolajek. The VMXi beam at DLS specialise in in situ crystallisation, wherein X-ray crystallography data is collected from crystals at room temperature from inside the 96-well plates within which they initially grew. A benefit to collecting data in situ is that you can collect data from multiple microcrystals in time-resolved crystallography experiments.

Read moreAbby Walklett – Diamond Light Source

Isaac Reynolds – Sense About Science

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I did my PIPS with the charity Sense about Science, an organisation that was set up to promote the public interest in sound science and evidence. Through various projects Sense about Science advocates for transparency in all areas across Government, research, and industry. I was able to get involved in many of these projects, the biggest of which was Evidence Week.

Read moreIsaac Reynolds – Sense About Science

PIPS Opportunity: Academy of Medical Sciences Policy Internship Scheme 2025/26 (deadline: 3rd February 2025)

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The Academy of Medical Sciences is welcoming applications for its open policy internship scheme in 2025/26. Our policy internship is designed to give PhD students first-hand experience of the medical science policy environment, to gain insights into how research can impact on policy, and to build valuable networks with the UK’s most eminent medical scientists and key science and health stakeholders.

This internship builds on over ten years of experience of running internships at the Academy and broadens access to a wider range of PhD students.

We are looking to work with PhD funders, HEIs, DTPs or research institutes to offer UK-based PhD students the opportunity to join the Academy’s policy team for a three-month internship to gain insights into how research can impact on policy, develop new skills in communication and influencing, and build valuable networks with the UK’s most eminent medical scientists.

Read on for more details and the link to apply.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: Academy of Medical Sciences Policy Internship Scheme 2025/26 (deadline: 3rd February 2025)

PIPS Opportunity: Sygnature Discovery (open deadline)

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Sygnature Discovery is a world-leading integrated drug discovery Contract Research Organisation based in the UK and Canada with its headquarters in Nottingham and additional facilities in Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Glasgow, Montreal and Quebec City. Its staff of over 1,000, which includes 900 scientists, partners with global pharma, biotech and NFP organisations.

Since 2004, Sygnature Discovery has delivered over 40 novel pre-clinical and 22 clinical compounds, with its scientists named on over 170 patents. Therapeutic areas of expertise include oncology, inflammation and immunology, neuroscience, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, fibrotic diseases and more. To find out more, please visit www.sygnaturediscovery.com.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: Sygnature Discovery (open deadline)

PIPS Opportunity: The Company of Biologists: Community Site internships

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The Company of Biologists is looking for one or more interns, through the BBSRC DTP/PIPS or equivalent schemes, to work on our community sites – the Node, preLights and FocalPlane. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the rapidly growing online science communication environment, to develop writing skills, and to learn about academic publishing.

Together, the Company’s three community sites provide platforms for the research community to share news, discuss issues relevant to the field and read about the latest research and events. The Node is a field-specific site for developmental biologists, FocalPlane aims to bring together the microscopy and biology communities, and preLights is focussed on highlighting the preprint literature and exploring the journey from preprint to publication. The intern will be involved in the day-to-day running of one or more of the sites, and will be mentored by the relevant Community Manager(s). The internship will be based in the office in Cambridge.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: The Company of Biologists: Community Site internships

PIPS Opportunity: The Company of Biologists: Citation Metrics 2025

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The Company of Biologists is a not-for-profit organisation and publishes the three internationally renowned, established journals Journal of Cell Science, Development and Journal of Experimental Biology, as well as the two fully Open Access journals Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM) and Biology Open (BiO). The organisation has an active programme of charitable giving for the further advancement of biological research, including travelling fellowships for junior scientists and contributions to academic societies and conferences.

They offer Professional Internships for PhD students. Each internship is carefully defined, both with the institute and the individual, and usually involves projects with our journal teams. 

Each year they recruit an intern (usually through the PIPS programme) to work on a project in Citation Metrics.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: The Company of Biologists: Citation Metrics 2025

PIPS Opportunity: Random42 Scientific Communication (open deadline)

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Random42 Scientific Communication provides digital scientific communication solutions to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Random42 consists of scientists, artists, animators and programmers, who collaborate to effortlessly intertwine the worlds of science, art and technology, producing some of the most impactful scientific imagery, stories and interactive experiences. The team of in-house scientists hold PhDs in areas of molecular biology, and work across the full range of therapeutic areas we cover.

Address: Random42 Scientific Communication, 114-116 Marylebone Lane, London, W1U 2HH, UK

Website: https://random42.com/ 

Read morePIPS Opportunity: Random42 Scientific Communication (open deadline)

PIPS opportunity: MORF (open deadline)

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MORF is a web-based platform for storing, sharing and interrogating multi-omics data. It was custom built in the Thomas group at York as part of the DETOX project, for which it is a key resource for analysing and disseminating project data. MORF is now being developed as a service for academics and industry to use for their own data, either for their own primary analysis and use or for data dissemination through publications and other routes.

Read morePIPS opportunity: MORF (open deadline)

PIPS Opportunity: MetalloBio, Sheffield (open deadline)

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Please see below PIPS opportunity with MetalloBio Ltd in Sheffield. There is no set deadline for the placement.

A BBSRC-PIPS PhD student placement is available at MetalloBio, which will focus on customer discovery work aimed at furthering our understanding as to whether or not there is a market need for new wound-care products functionalised with our antimicrobial compounds.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: MetalloBio, Sheffield (open deadline)

PIPS Opportunity: ConsoneAI, deadline Friday 20th September

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We are looking for a PIPS intern with a strong interest in programming to work in the ConsoneAI team, developing the platform and delivering accuracy in prediction for clients.

The intern will be required to review and technically evaluate similar public models (examples TBC) and apply to ConsoneAI data. You will be required to set up and implement the technical machine learning (ML) model ensuring integrity of output and best practice in developing the ML, assess these existing tools for value to embed or enhance our technology and review public literature and compare outputs.

Read morePIPS Opportunity: ConsoneAI, deadline Friday 20th September

PIPS Opportunity: Academy of Medical Sciences, Deadline: 7th October 2024

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PIPS Opportunity: 2025 Grants and Programmes Internship, Academy of Medical Sciences

The Academy of Medical Sciences Grants and Programmes internship scheme is now open for applications for internships beginning from January 2025.

More details can be found on the website and the application form can be found here.

Applications are welcomed for 3-month internships between January and December 2025.

 

The deadline for applications is 16.00, Monday 7 October 2024.

The scheme is designed to give students first-hand experience of the research funding and career development sectors, and to build valuable networks with the UK’s most eminent medical scientists and senior science and health stakeholders. There is a booklet of case studies of previous holders of both the grants and programmes and policy internships which has more information on the kind of work interns can get involved with.

 

The Academy works in a hybrid, agile way and most staff split their time between the office and home working. We can consider remote internships (some office attendance may be required initially for induction); however, interns can also use the office at 41 Portland Place, London.

 

If you have any questions, contact Holly Sinclair, Grants Manager Holly.Sinclair@acmedsci.ac.uk

Charlie Stevenson – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), specifically the MSF South Asia team. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my PIPS was completed by working from home. I reported to the Medical Innovation Lead for MSF South Asia and was tasked with looking into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infection, prevention, control (IPC) in Bangladesh and creating dossiers on each topic. Initially, I performed a search of all available literature into the two subjects in Bangladesh and then filtered them appropriately for relevance, date, language etc. I then reviewed each source comprehensively, extracting the relevant data which aligned with the MSF dossier structure (including current burden and management protocols, major challenges and MSF’s response). These reviews were then summarised into the dossier structure and infographics of relevant data were made. The dossiers were further summarised into short PowerPoints which I then presented to the MSF Bangladesh team.

Read moreCharlie Stevenson – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Rebbekah Menday – Uni of Sheffield

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I stayed at the University of Sheffield, however, I did not do any research. Instead I undertook a purely teaching placement with Dr Liz Alvey, deputy director of education at the School of Bioscience. This placement was an amazing opportunity to develop my teaching skills. I fostered a foundational year tutor group providing them with pastoral support and marking their end of semester project. I led large practical classes where I had to engage with the technical staff and GTAs to make sure the practical sessions ran smoothly. I delivered pathogenicity lectures to foundation year students where I developed a pandemic game to bring interactivity to the lecture theatre. I taught mathematics to level 1 bioscientists which involved a blended teaching approach of online resources and a face-to-face small-scale workshop. Lastly, I engaged in my own pedagogical research on digital accessibility in practical classes and have been invited to give a flash talk at the Microbiology society annual conference this year to discuss the results I found.

Read moreRebbekah Menday – Uni of Sheffield

2 x PIPS Opportunities: Fera Science Ltd

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Fera Science Ltd have PIPS opportunities in 2 departments. The placements are both due to start mid-May 2024 so there is a short turnaround time, but if you have been struggling to find a placement, or your planned placement has fallen through, this could be the ideal opportunity!

For more information and descriptions of the placements, keep reading:

Read more2 x PIPS Opportunities: Fera Science Ltd

31st May 2024- Public and Schools Engagement at the John Innes Centre, Norwich

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The John Innes Centre in Norwich is offering a PIPS placement with the communications team. 

A PIP placement is available for those who wish to gain experience within a communications and engagement team to support the delivery of public engagement events and to learn skills in communicating science, event management and delivery, and stakeholder engagement.

Read more31st May 2024- Public and Schools Engagement at the John Innes Centre, Norwich

Phytoform Labs- Tools & traits team

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In addition to their previous PIPS opportunity, Phytoform Labs are offering a further PIPS placement within their Tools & Traits team.

Phytoform Labs Ltd (Phytoform), a fast-growing AgBiotech startup located at the Rothamsted Research science park, is offering a PIPs placement for a motivated plant scientist.

You will be part of the Tool and Traits team to scout and develop novel genome editing tools and will contribute to engineering plant traits. You will be trained and gain expertise in the latest plant genome editing technologies and will directly report to the Lead Genome Editing Specialist.

Read morePhytoform Labs- Tools & traits team

Royal institute- 11th March 2024

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Royal institution logo

The Royal Institution (Ri) is looking for 3 PhD students to join them for a three-month internship across two different teams within the Ri: Public Programme (x2) and Digital Media (x1). These placements are ideal for students interested in science education and communication, and education outreach. 

For more information on any of these internships please see the attached job descriptions on the website here:  Science Engagement Internships May-Dec 2024 (x3) | Royal Institution (rigb.org). 

Read moreRoyal institute- 11th March 2024

Sense About Science – varying deadlines

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Sense about Science logo

Sense About Science are currently advertising for internship vacancies and now have a new dedicated webpage for internships on their website.

Sense About Science offer rewarding internship opportunities for PhD students to gain experience of working in a busy campaigning charity across science communications, policy and public engagement. They typically offer three-month placements in their London office and only consider short-term internship applications as part of a funded scheme, such as the PIPS professional internship scheme for PhD students.  

 

Read moreSense About Science – varying deadlines

Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox

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Want a real life ‘Lessons in Chemistry’? Then this is the book for you!

I’m going to be honest; I completely judged this book by its cover. A Rosalind Franklin biography written in 2002 with a classy sepia photograph on the cover did not seem like an exciting read to me. I began reading expecting a dry but informative account of Franklin’s scientific career that would do me good but would probably feel like a bit of a chore. Well, the famous idiom was right yet again, because from the first chapter of this book I was hooked. What this book actually is, is an incredibly moving and motivating account of an exceptional scientist’s battle to do her ground-breaking research in the face of sexism, antisemitism and the aftermath of WWII.

Read moreRosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox

Academy of Medical Sciences Grants and Programmes internship scheme – deadline 5th February 2024

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The Academy of Medical Sciences Grants and Programmes internship scheme is now open for applications for internships beginning from March 2024.

More details can be found on the website and the application form can be found here. 

Applications are welcomed for 3 month internships between March 2024 and January 2025. The scheme is open to BBSRC-funded PhD students through the PIPS scheme.

Read moreAcademy of Medical Sciences Grants and Programmes internship scheme – deadline 5th February 2024

White Rose DTP students attend the Synthetic Biology Grand Challenge

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Jack Stenning (University of York) and Andrew Cowan (University of Leeds) took part in the Grand Challenges in Synthetic Biology skills school this summer. This was a four-day residential event hosted by South West Biosciences DTP and funded by the BBSRC, held in Bristol.  We interviewed them about their experience…

Read moreWhite Rose DTP students attend the Synthetic Biology Grand Challenge