My name is Luke and I’m about to undertake my PIPS placement with the Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge. This is a citizen science project designed and run by Jacob Torres, a contracted engineering plant scientist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (although this placement is not affiliated with NASA!). While the placement will be based in Sheffield due to COVID restrictions, it’s sure to be an ‘out of this world’ experience!
Have you ever considered that social media could actually prove useful in your research? In this blog, Dr Daisy Shu, postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Medical School, reflects on how sharing her scientific research journey through social media has benefited her career. If you are keen to find out what academic Twitter is all about from a fellow scientist, have a read!
Read moreTwitter for academics: Why should scientists start tweeting?
Are you an interdisciplinary scientist working in biology? We want to hear from you! More details after this article.
When I first walked into my new lab, what bewildered me wasn’t the sheer amount of nondescript bottles and expensive machinery. It was the ability of my labmates to move between the -70 freezers, the centrifuges, the thermocyclers, and the gel stations and know exactly how to use each of them. As a mathematician who hadn’t ever ventured out of the library to apply my formulae to the real world, how was I supposed to keep up with everyone else?
Read moreLost in Translation: Being a Mathematician in a Biologist’s World
The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines. We represent companies of all sizes who invest in discovering the medicines of the future.
Website: https://abpi.org.uk/#03c6c108
Our members supply cutting edge treatments that improve and save the lives of millions of people. We 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, we partner with organisations in the life sciences community and beyond to transform lives across the UK.
As part of ABPI’s work to communicate on the discovery, development, regulation and manufacture of medicines, we have an award-winning Resources for Schools website (https://www.abpischools.org.uk/) with interactive content and animations to support science teaching and learning for teachers and young people. The resources are in line with the curriculum, and many of them link topics studied in school to their application in industry and research. All our resources link science topics covered in school to the world outside and, particularly, to the treatment of disease.
The ABPI is offering an exciting opportunity for a PIPS student to apply bioscience knowledge in a science communication context. In Quarter 3 2021, the ABPI will be launching a new schools’ website which will be aiming to broaden its audience from the existing regular user base.
This 12 week project centres around medicine development and the student will conduct online research and liaise with subject experts and other external stakeholders to produce written and interactive content which will inform on the research requirements for developing medicines and wider associated curriculum areas, whilst engaging a variety of audiences across the school education pathway.
The output of the project is expected to include:
The student will be working within the Research, Medical & Innovation team and will liaise with colleagues across ABPI and within our member companies. Should there be any opportunities for attendance at internal meetings or on pharmaceutical site visits, the student will be able to take advantage of these.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who would meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face-to-face meetings depending on Government guidance in relation to Covid and company policy.
The exact timing can be confirmed with the successful applicant, though we would expect this to be undertaken with a start date in Quarter 2-3 2021. We anticipate the project to run for 12 weeks. This is a contract for Monday to Friday 9-5pm, with a one hour lunch break.
The project is currently entirely remote working. There may be some scope for days at the ABPI office, 105 Victoria St, London SW1E 6QT, dependant on Covid developments. All IT equipment required to undertake the project will be supplied to you.
This project is a great opportunity to gain and develop science communication experience, with similar projects in the past having provided opportunities to develop contacts which could be helpful to someone considering a future career in industry. The successful applicant can be expected to be treated as a member of the ABPI Research, Medical & Innovation Team, and as such, will benefit from professional development, cross functional working, interaction with wider stakeholders and an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.
Normally we would reimburse modest travel expenses however, we are currently working remotely. If during the project you are required to travel to our offices in London Victoria or to a pharmaceutical site visit, travel expenses and reasonable lunch expenses will be fully reimbursed.
A CV and covering letter should be sent to Andrew Croydon, Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director, ABPI (acroydon@abpi.org.uk), by close of business Tuesday 27th April 2021. Should you have any questions prior to applying, these should be sent to Alice Coburn, Education Executive, ABPI (acoburn@abpi.org.uk).
The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines. We represent companies of all sizes who invest in discovering the medicines of the future.
Website: https://abpi.org.uk/#03c6c108
Our members supply cutting edge treatments that improve and save the lives of millions of people. We 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, we partner with organisations in the life sciences community and beyond to transform lives across the UK.
One role undertaken by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is delivery of the professional ABPI Medical Representatives Exam, taken by those who call upon doctors, dentists, and other UK prescribers and/or promote medicines based on their therapeutic properties. This includes representatives from virtually all pharmaceutical companies with UK operations.
Integrity of the Exam is crucial to building and maintaining the trust and reputation of the UK pharmaceutical industry.
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, paper-based exams that were held monthly at venues across the country were cancelled and the ABPI have since moved all examinations online. In the coming months, we are introducing a new examination platform which will provide for increased focus on digital learning.
Please note: since the Covid pandemic reached the UK, the ABPI has successfully undertaken virtual onboarding of several interns.
Following on from previous successful PIPS internships for other projects, we are once again, seeking a PIPS student to apply their scientific and project management experience in an examinations and education context.
This 12 week project seeks to contribute to the development of the online ABPI Medical Representatives Examination learning materials. The output of the project will be the successful delivery of the newly formatted exam learning content which will be important in maintaining integrity of the industry as the world continues to move to remote learning. The online resources will significantly support our candidates on their learning journey.
The applicant will be expected to support the ABPI Education and Examinations Executive with development through liaising with internal teams, external providers, and the ABPI Exam Governance Committee and Exam Steering Group. Alongside this role, there may be the opportunity for the applicant to contribute to updating and/or incorporating new material to the exam, and development of new qualifications.
The intern will be working within the Research, Medical & Innovation team and may also need to liaise with individuals within ABPI member companies. Should there be any opportunities for attendance at internal meetings or on pharmaceutical site visits, the intern will be able to take advantage of these. Whilst we remain working remotely, opportunity for face-to-face contact will be minimal, however there will be many virtual opportunities to engage with members.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who will meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face-to-face meetings depending on Government guidance in relation to covid and company policy.
The exact timing can be confirmed with the successful applicant, though we would expect this to be undertaken with a start date in Quarter 3 2021. We anticipate the project to run for 12 weeks. This is a contract for Monday to Friday 9-5pm, with a one hour lunch break.
The project is currently entirely remote working. There may be some scope for days at the ABPI office, 105 Victoria St, London SW1E 6QT, dependant on Covid developments. All IT equipment required to undertake the project will be supplied to you.
This project is a great opportunity to gain and develop science communication experience, with similar projects in the past having provided opportunities to develop contacts which could be helpful to someone considering a future career in industry. The successful applicant can be expected to be treated as a member of the ABPI Research, Medical & Innovation Team, and as such, will benefit from professional development, cross functional working, interaction with wider stakeholders and an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.
Normally we would reimburse modest travel expenses however, we are currently working remotely. If during the project you are required to travel to our offices in London Victoria or to a pharmaceutical site visit, travel expenses and reasonable lunch expenses will be fully reimbursed.
A CV and covering letter should be sent to Andrew Croydon, Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director, ABPI (acroydon@abpi.org.uk), by close of business Tuesday 27th April 2021. Should you have any questions prior to applying, these should be sent to Alice Coburn, Education Executive, ABPI (acoburn@abpi.org.uk).
Somehow it’s March again and, with the unseasonably warm weather, many flowers are already making an appearance. One of my personal favourites are daffodils, with their bright flowers bringing some colour to early spring.
The Latin name for this genus is Narcissus and it’s often linked to the Greek myth of the youth falling in love with his own reflection. It’s said that the nodding flowers represent him staring into the pool. However, there is no evidence that this was the original intention of the name, with Pliny writing that it was in fact derived from “narkao”- I grow numb, in reference to the intoxicating fragrance of some of the Greek species. In the modern world these plants are mostly used for decorative purposes, but they have a few chemical surprises up their sleeves!
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants- Daffodils
Remote working opportunity
The Babraham Institute undertakes world-leading research into understanding the biology of how our bodies work, including what changes as we age and during disease. Our research is split into three programmes: Epigenetics, Signalling, and Immunology, and is supported by strategic programme grants from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) with additional funding from research councils, the EU and charities.
We maximise the impact of our research through Knowledge Exchange, Commercialisation and Public Engagement activities. We do this by collaborating with other academics, policy makers, charities, schools, the general public and industry, including companies on the Babraham Research Campus. Commercialisation is achieved in collaboration with the Institute’s wholly-owned trading arm, Babraham Institute Enterprise Limited.
Biomedical and Biotechnology Innovation Evaluation and Technology Transfer
The Institute’s Commercialisation team is seeking a student interested in working on a range of projects that will provide training and insight into activities typical of a technology transfer professional in an academic environment, and the activities undertaken to enable research to have a real-world impact. As the commercialisation team is small, the student will have an opportunity to contribute to a wide range of projects, with their work having a real impact on the group’s activities.
Internship projects would be assigned in consultation with the student, according to their interests and expertise, when considering those projects active at the Institute during placement period. As the team deals with potentially valuable, cutting-edge innovations specific project details cannot be provided before the student signs an undertaking to treat all data in confidence, however activities would likely involve:
An interest in technology transfer activities. Although not essential, a candidate would ideally have research expertise in the fields of immunology, cell signalling or epigenetics.
To express your interest in this placement, please send a CV and covering letter to the contact email included below. We will then follow up to discuss your interests, skills and which tech transfer project would best suit you.
Dr Emily Boyce
Knowledge Exchange Manager
email: kec@babraham.ac.uk
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. QIAGEN employ approximately 5,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide.
Our mission is to make improvements in life possible by enabling our customers to achieve outstanding success and breakthroughs in life sciences, applied testing, pharma and molecular diagnostics.
Our commitment to the markets, customers and patients we serve drives our innovation and leadership in all areas where our Sample to Insight technologies are required. The exceptional talent, skill and passion of our employees are key to QIAGEN’s excellence, success and value.
Website: https://www.qiagen.com/us/
QIAGEN Manchester Ltd
Skelton House
Lloyd Street North
Manchester
M15 6SH
NB You may need to enquire about remote-working depending on the coronovirus lockdown rules and organisational structures in place at the time of applying.
In QIAGEN Manchester we focus on delivering solutions which facilitate personalised
healthcare. You will join a highly motivated team working on developing Molecular diagnostic PCR based assays. Duties that will be required:
Submit your application to the following contacts at QIAGEN:
James Curran (James.Curran@qiagen.com)
Clement Larcher (Clement.Larcher@qiagen.com)
Brandon Foster (Brandon.Foster@qiagen.com)
(please include the following in email subject: PhD placement – “your name”)
Possible timeframe: flexible between August 2021 to September 2022
No. of placements offered: flexible
Website: http://www.senseaboutscience.eu/
Sense about Science’s Dublin office is providing an exciting opportunity for a volunteer intern who has a keen interest in science communication. The successful candidate’s role as intern would involve organising events, building of the Voice of Young Science (VoYS) network and communicating with scientists, citizens, the media and civil society organisations.
Sense about Science’s Dublin office focuses on building the VoYS network in Europe, and working with research groups through public engagement partnerships. Voice of Young Science is the growing network of dynamic early career researchers who are trained, motivated and committed to communicating about research. VoYS was started by Sense about Science in the UK and has grown into a supportive international network. Members meet at our Standing up for Science workshops where they are trained in engaging with policy makers and the media, challenging misrepresentation of research and, ultimately, standing up for science in public life.
Sense about Science is a small team working with thousands of supporters, from world leading researchers to community groups. It is a diverse band of people who share the goal of better representation of evidence in public life, and it is growing.
Our primary areas of focus are:
What we do:
We are looking for an intern from April 2021 (flexible start dates throughout 2021) to be based in Dublind (initially remote-working), with the following skills:
• University degree
• Some years of research experience
• Fluent in English
• Strong interest in public engagement
• Candidates should be familiar with and share the Voice of Young Science (VoYS) ethos of taking responsibility in discussions about evidence in public life.
This internship opportunity is available from April 2021 onwards. The start date is flexible and we recruit for interns on a rolling basis through the year.
Remote-working until further notice. For the Dublin office.
Flexi-time but generally 9 am – 5 pm. Potential working pattern: full-time, total hours per week approx. 35, with some evening events. 2 days per month granted as leave.
Ilaina Khairulzaman
Head of International Public Engagement, Training and Marketing
Sense about Science
Email: ilaina@senseaboutscience.org
Tel: +353 83 450 9758
To apply, express interest to Ilaina Khairulzaman – contact details above – to arrange a video interview
No fixed deadline; rolling programme of applications throughout 2021
The restrictions on social contacts have brought about an abrupt halt to in-person public engagement events for almost a year now. How can you do science outreach online? We spoke to White Rose DTP final year student Michaela Agapiou (@MichaelaAgapiou) and fellow PhD student Isabel Birds (@IzBirds) from Dr Julie Aspden’s lab in Leeds who organised an online public engagement activity that was all about decoding DNA as part of the Be Curious festival! Read our interview below about how the event came together.
This week DTP student Emma White is back giving us all another insight into the science of cooking, with one of everyone’s favourite foods.. pizza!
Lifebit is a UK based start-up that specialises in bioinformatics software and AI. We have hosted BBSRC-DTP PIPs students in the past and are looking to host more PIPs students in 2021.
We are currently fully remote-working, so there will be no need for students to travel. We are looking to host students from April 2021 for the foreseeable future. We also have flexibility if students wish to break up the internship into two parts.
For further details about the company and the internship, click the button below:
Send your CV & a short explanation of why you are applying to: tom@lifebit.ai
There is no deadline as such but Lifebit is looking for interns to start from April 2021 onwards in the first instance.
Tom Sharrock
AI Engagement Manager | Lifebit
Mindspace – 9 Appold St, Hackney, London EC2A 2AP
Email: tom@lifebit.ai
In 2017 it was estimated that the global chocolate market was worth approximately 103 billion USD and it is expected to continue growing! Certainly, I suspect many of us have been consuming more of it than we normally would over the past year so let’s have a closer look at the science of Theobroma cacao, the plant from which chocolate is derived.
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants- Chocolate!
Catriona Walker is a third year PhD student at the University of Leeds with Tom Bennett. Her research focuses on the roles of phytohormones in the control of carpic dominance and the end of flowering. Carpic dominance is the process whereby developing seeds exhibit dominance over newer seeds, with results varying from mild (a decrease in fruit size) to severe (total inhibition of fruit development). This process acts as a significant limit on yield, as it occurs in situations even where resources are not limiting. Similarly, the end of flowering signifies the final point at which seed and fruits can develop and as such is also a large limiting factor to yield.
She carried out her PIPs placement remotely, during the first lockdown of 2020, with the plant science journal, New Phytologist.
While 2020 was an unprecedented year for conferences, 2021 looks to be no different. With conferences going virtual, such as the WRDTP symposium in December, many of you may have had the opportunity to present a poster in this unique style but there are a whole host of upcoming opportunities to show off your research this year.
In this blog we give a run-down of our top tips for your poster presentation and, in case you missed it, a summary of the ‘Research poster workshop’ hosted by Dr Emily Goodall, part of the monthly online skills sessions for WRDTP students back in November.
With another lockdown underway many of us have much less time in our labs than we would wish and it looks as though this could continue for some time! So, to help take people’s minds off of all the doom and gloom we’ve put together this list of popular science books for some escapism (or not, topic dependent, we take no responsibility if the escapism isn’t sufficient!). Whether you’re looking to read more in your own field or something totally new, I’m sure there’s something for everyone here. Please try and support your local bookstore where you can!
An internship the new LAMP testing facility at the University of York is available for BBSRC White Rose DTP students. The placement will be 3 days a week for 12 weeks with a flexible start date.
This internship will enable you to play a key part in the national effort in fighting Covid-19 by directly supporting the NHS in delivering a scaled-up and rapid testing service. The skills you will gain will look great on your CV: you will gain insight into the how clinical labs and industry interact to set up and deliver a critical service. Aspects of the placement may include logistics, administration, public engagement, as well as undertaking lab techniques. Although the post may have highly repetitive elements, the attention to detail throughout this placement will be critical.
Reproducibility in science is of central importance for medical research, and this experience will demonstrate your competence when applying for future positions. In addition, an opportunity to apply for and gain competency certification from GENQA and Joint Covid-19 Certificate of Completion from IBMS upon application and completing a competency based assessment.
Download the standard Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this placement to see more detail about what you will be doing:
There is also a standard health and safety checklist:
PIPS-Host-Health and Safety Checklist-2020-12-11
NB Contact Sophie Thompson as below before you complete any of the paperwork.
To apply, please email Sophie Thompson m.s.thompson@york.ac.uk with your name, your supervisors’ names, which university you are attending and what year you are currently in. Indicate the dates you are available to start and any other details you think are relevant.
Please copy Phil Lang phil.lang@york.ac.uk and your supervisors.
Remote-working opportunity – Flexible deadline
CamBioScience is the life sciences brand within OBRIZUM X, a division of the OBRIZUM GROUP LTD. CamBioScience is a premium global provider of education and educational technology founded in Cambridge by life science researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK. Working with world-leading experts we provide intensive training courses and conferences in a broad spectrum of emerging and established life science technologies for academic and industry professionals. In-Person courses and conferences take place in various locations around the world including the United Kingdom, Austria, South Korea, and China.
Michelle Ware
email: michelle@cambioscience.com
Tel: 07791481346
OBRIZUM GROUP LTD.
Unit 3 Duke’s Court
54-62 Newmarket Road,
Cambridge, UK
CB5 8DZ
Interns will be involved in self-guided training course development. Activities will include:
– Collating and arranging content for on-demand digital courses through our e-learning platform OBRIZUM®
– Writing material for the website, for marketing purposes and for social media
– Provide support with the promotion of the courses
– Designing questions for the course exams
– Hosting webinars
– Scientific background
– Highly Organised
– Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written
– Excellent project management skills
– Ability to work in a team
The student will gain a greater understanding for how scientific events are be run. By the end of their internship, they will be confident with all aspects of organising a technical life-sciences course. Key skills developed include: sales, marketing, organisation, time-keeping and project management.
The starts dates available are flexible. Each placement will be 3 months (12 weeks). There is no deadline for applications. To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to: michelle@cambioscience.com
Until further notice, internships will take place remotely from home, with regular calls with the team.
Some of the earliest flowers to appear in the new year are from the genus Crocus. With careful management these bulbs can flower from September all the way to April, making them a valuable source of pollen and nectar for bees waking up from hibernation.
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants- Saffron
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is offering a PIPS working as a Research and Membership Intern. The placement will be undertaken virtually/working at home.
The closing date for applications is Monday 4th January 2021.
Download the flyer for more details and how to apply:
www.senseaboutscience.org | @senseaboutsci | Facebook
2 Stephen St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1AN | +44 (0)20 7490 9590
We are looking to host one or more interns between January and June 2021.
Download the flyer for more details – PIPS TTP PhD Internship 2020-flyer
Singer are now looking to fulfill placements for 3 month periods from May 2020 onwards.
Note: There is a rolling deadline for applications. However, certain times of year are more competitive than others, and early application is suggested to avoid disappointment.
The Research team aims to use Science! to achieve “A Responsibility to Science”. This means actively enquiring, and devising experiments that prove that our equipment facilitates, automates and accelerates scientific research – more so these experiments should be rigorous enough to reveal truth, free from investigator bias.
Singer Instruments is a fast paced SME environment. As such projects are subject to change as
required by business need. Generally speaking, each project includes:
Singer Instruments has a rolling intake of internships. It is usual for the Research team to have one intern at any one time. However this is subject to change based on project requirements. A
maximum of 2 internships could be offered simultaneously within the Research team.
A three month block is the usual placement mode, flexibility can be considered in special
cases. Certain times of year are more competitive than others, and early application is
suggested to avoid disappointment.
Note: Certain times of year are more competitive than others, and early application is suggested to avoid disappointment.
Dr. Oliver Jack Severn Email: Oliver@singerinstruments.com Tel:(0) 1984 640226
Please apply through the Singer website at: www.singerinstruments.com/jobs/
Brand new PIPS opportunity – offered for the first time in Jan 2020!
CamBioScience is a brand of the OBRIZUM GROUP LTD, an educational technology company founded in Cambridge, UK, by life science researchers from the University of Cambridge. The Courses & Conferences Department works with world-leading experts to provide intensive training courses and conferences in breakthrough life science technologies for academic and industry professionals. CamBioScience offers both in-person and online training courses. In 4 years, 800 scientists have been trained from over 80 leading academic and industrial institutions from more than 30 countries worldwide.
The intern will be required to help with the day-to-day logistics for upcoming courses. The internship will be flexible depending on the needs of the department at the time and interests of the intern. Activities can include:
The intern will also have the opportunity to be involved in the design of a new scientific course alongside the Head of Courses & Conferences.
You will gain a greater understanding for how scientific events are run. By the end of the internship, you will be confident with all aspects of organising a technical life-sciences course. Key skills to be developed include organisation, sales, marketing, problem-solving and project management.
CambioScience
OBRIZUM GROUP LTD
Unit 3 Duke’s Court
54-62 Newmarket Road,
Cambridge, UK
CB5 8DZ
The placement will be for a block of three months (12 weeks). The start date is flexible.
For informal enquiries, contact Michelle Ware, Head of Courses and Conferences
T: +44(0)7791481346
T: +44(0)1223 470647 (UK, Headquarters)
E: michelle@cambioscience.com
There is a rolling deadline. If you are interested, apply by sending a CV and cover letter to: michelle@cambioscience.com
TTP is an independent technology company where scientists and engineers collaborate to invent, design and develop new products and technologies.
Working across a wide spectrum of industries, we create breakthrough solutions that bring strong commercial value to clients and the benefits of technology to all.
Website: https://www.ttp.com/
We are always happy to hear from PhD students and Post-Doc researchers who are looking to undertake an internship.
As a technology consultancy, we work across a wide range of industries, from healthcare, to industrial technology, to aerospace & defence (to name just a few). An internship here will see you working within one of these sectors, putting your technical and research skills to work within a commercially focused context. Whilst you can expect to develop your existing skill-sets, you will find yourself growing in new ways: interacting with clients, seeing how business operates and being a valuable contributing member to multi-disciplinary teams. This is the opportunity for you to see how your academic knowledge and skill-sets could be used within an industry setting.
As a postgraduate student/researcher, your placement will be shaped around a project – this could be an internal TTP project, or one of our current external client-focused projects – and the process of concluding what this should be is very much a two-way one. We are interested to hear what your interests and skill-sets are, and this will form part of a conversation throughout the application process so that we can determine what project(s) may be a good fit. Of course, once here, there is scope for engaging in work occurring throughout TTP and having as varied an experience as possible – in fact, such collaboration and involvement is very much encouraged.
We would be able to accommodate internships for individuals who are, broadly, within the following disciplines: Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics, Software, Aerospace), Physics, Mathematics, Biology/Life Sciences.
As a consultancy, we can’t always be sure exactly what we’ll be working on 6 months down the line, and for that reason, we can’t guarantee we will always be able to accommodate you as an intern. However, at a minimum, we will always consider your application and investigate the possibility. We are open to applications year-round and the dates of any placement can be discussed on an individual basis; in general we do, however, have a slight preference for postgraduate internships to occur outside of the busy summer months (July-August) when we host a high number of undergraduates.
TTP is an employee-owned business operating from pleasant surroundings on our own Science Park in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire. Our working culture encourages entrepreneurship, shared ideas and technical collaboration, while providing you the freedom to do your best work. Employee benefits include:
Rebecca Bradley I University Interactions & Outreach Liaison
Email: Rebecca.Bradley@ttp.com
Tel: +44 1763 262626
Feel free to contact Rebecca with any queries or for an informal discussion in advance of applying.
There is a rolling deadline therefore you can apply anytime. However, please do not delay, as there will be lots of competition for these placements. Application is via an on-line form.
Exciting BBSRC PIP opportunities are now available at TU Delft (Netherlands) – For students that are looking for placements in science communication and research data management.
Remote working: Both these internships can be offered for someone willing to work remotely. (Re-location to the Netherlands for the internship period is not necessary).
Upcoming internship projects @ TU Delft:
1. FAIR Support Team – case study development
Funders and policy makes increasingly require researchers to make their data and research code FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable. Most researchers, however, do not know how to do it or where to get started. Therefore, in September 2020 TU Delft is launching its FAIR Support Team pilot. The FAIR Support Team is a pool of Data Managers and Research Software Engineers available ‘for hire’ (at no cost) by researchers to help them make their work more FAIR.
The purpose of this internship is to develop case studies which will help to evaluate the pilot. You will interview researchers who receive support of the FAIR Support Team, as well as Team members, who are providing this support. Subsequently, based on the interviews, you will develop case studies. The case studies will be published on the website advertising the service, as well as dedicated blog posts on the Open Working blog.
The intern will also have an opportunity to present their work at meetings and conferences, and, if there is interest, to summarise their work in a peer-reviewed publication.
This internship will help develop various interpersonal skills, such as networking, communication, writing, presentation, talking & listening; as well as an opportunity to better understand how a large, research-intensive organisation works.
2. Top 10 FAIR things – community building and writing sprints
Funders and policy makes increasingly require researchers to make their data and research code FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable. Most researchers, however, do not know how to do it or where to get started. Therefore, TU Delft would like to help research communities develop short, disciplinary guidelines on how to make things FAIR in the format of ‘10 FAIR Things’.
The purpose of the internship is to help research communities develop such guidelines. To do this, you will work with Data Champions community of TU Delft, the University of Cambridge, EPFL and the University of Melbourne to decide on three priority disciplines where such guidelines are most needed. Subsequently, you will organise writing sprints during which these guidelines will be produced. The guidelines will be offered for publication to the Carpentry organisation and for endorsement by the Research Data Alliance (international organisations for global cooperation on data and code management practices).
The intern will also have an opportunity to present their work at meetings and conferences, and, if there is interest, to summarise their work in a peer-reviewed publication.
This internship will help develop various interpersonal skills, such as networking, communication, organisation, presentation, leadership skills; as well as an opportunity to develop international networks and collaborations.
BBSRC student Clare Constance, who undertook her PIP at TU Delft last summer, is more than happy to chat with students about these opportunities and her personal experience of working with the team 🙂 (constance.clare1@nottingham.ac.uk).
To apply, contact Marta Teperek at m.teperek@tudelft.nl
Closing dates – The projects are flexible with no immediate deadlines. Students can negotiate a start date and organise remote working arrangements with Marta.
Click the link below to access the PIPS opportunity details and information about how to apply:
Note that the funding offered by Cambridge Cancer Genomics is in addition to your standard PIPS allowance for travel and accommodation (£2,050 @ the time of writing).
Oxford University Innovation (OUI) is the technology transfer company of Oxford University.
Oxford University Innovation has created a new and exciting internship opportunity. Interns in our Licensing & Ventures Group will work alongside members of the core team in the management of projects, assisting with other activities in the Licensing & Ventures Group and enabling the transfer of as much technology as possible from Oxford University. For further information:
Click here to download PDF, including video links
This is an open call with no specific deadline. If you are interested, please send a CV with accompanying letter stating relevant experience and interests to Brendan.Ludden@innovation.ox.ac.uk. During the significant disruption caused by COVID-19, the current programme is expected to be largely home-based and will be subject to UK government guidance on safe working practices.
It’s time to hang up your lab coats and don the festive jumpers! Christmas is just around the corner and for many of you, it will be a very different, smaller occasion this year. Whether it is now your responsibility to cook a big roast dinner, you’d like to try something new in the kitchen or you simply want to find out why roast potatoes are so great – this blog post will be for you!
This week our guest writer, festive foodie Scientist and 1st year WRDTP student, Emma White is ready to give you the low down on some of the science behind cooking those delicious crispy Roasties.
Read more#thescienceofcooking – How to make the best roast potatoes!
It’s that time of year again! Many of you are probably putting up Christmas trees this weekend- some real, some fake. If you’re using a real tree there’s a good chance it could be an immature Norway spruce, Picea abies. This is the same species of tree used for the Rockefeller Christmas tree each year but yours probably isn’t 75 ft tall!
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants- Norway Pine
This year, Naomi completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield. Her project focused on rice leaf development, looking in to when the leaf pattern is set, and how the final mature leaf develops from undifferentiated cells. After being awarded her PhD in August, Naomi is now working as a trainee clinical bioinformatician at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Read moreLife after the thesis! An interview with WRDTP alumni Dr. Naomi Cox
Ioannis Tsagakis immersed himself into the life of a scientific editor by undertaking an editorial internship at FEBS Press in his third year of PhD. The timing coincided with COVID-19 lockdown hence the internship was completed ‘virtually’ from Leeds, instead of the Cambridge office.
Lizzy Parker is a PhD student at the University of Sheffield who spent 6 months working part-time at Hope for the Future. Hope for the Future is a national climate communication charity which works to equip communities, groups and individuals across the country to help communicate the urgency of climate change with their local politicians. Keep reading to find out more about what Lizzy’s role involved and why she chose to do this particular placement!
The deadline was originally 8th December but has been extended to 15 December 2020 16:00 UK time
Now open for the third call for applications from UKRI-funded doctoral students, the scheme will support travel, living and research costs for the students in their chosen field of study.
A new and exciting opportunity for UKRI and Canadian doctoral students to participate in a UK-Canada research exchange scheme.
UKRI has partnered with Mitacs, a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 20 years, to deliver the £2.5 million programme.
Supported by UKRI and Mitacs, up to 200 UK doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to develop into global citizens, with international competencies, during 12-week research placements in Canadian universities. A similar number of Canadian students will visit UK universities.
The scheme supports the UK government’s target of 2.4% GDP spend in research and development by 2027, helping the UK make the most of its world-class research, supporting its researchers to stay at the cutting edge, forge international collaborations, and encourage global talent to work in the UK.
As a collaborative scheme between the UK and Canada, an equal number of Canadian doctoral students will have the opportunity to undertake research placements at UK universities.
If you are interested in this scheme, do not waste any time in applying. There is a lot of paperwork involved and you will need to seek the help of your PIPS contact to access Je-S.
Deadline: 15th December 2020 16:00 UK time
The second virtual DTP skills session was aimed at helping students cultivate writing habits to make writing enjoyable and more productive. In this interactive writing workshop under the guidance of Dr Jenny Rivas Perez, students reflected on writing goals and exchanged advice on overcoming writing barriers.
Research in the 1990s categorised academics as snackers or bingers, based on those who were writing often and those who only wrote when there was an impending deadline, cramming all writing in a couple of days. Exploring this concept further, students in the DTP skills session discussed the benefits and drawbacks of writing and not writing. Highlights from this discussion included “a better understanding of the topic” and “helping pick out knowledge gaps” as benefits of writing. Surprisingly, there are benefits to not writing, such as “having a moment of reflection” or “stepping away from writing to be in the lab or going about your daily activities”. However, prolonged writing inactivity can have drawbacks too since “it can be really hard to fill the gap(s) of not writing”. For instance, having to refer to potentially five lab books when writing your thesis can be a big time-sink. Conversely, allocating time to write a summary of your daily endeavours is essentially writing to yourself in the future, making information readily available.
What do the classic european winter dishes of cauliflower cheese and mince pies have in common with traditional indonesian semur? The answer- nutmeg.
Nutmeg is the seed of the tree Myristica fragrans, with its close relative, Mace, being the seed covering. These days it is cultivated around the world in tropical regions but it originates from the Banda Islands of Maluku. In the Middle Ages it was traded across to Europe by the Arabs but, in 1511, the Portuguese annexed the islands. This was the start of the enslavement and murder of the Bandanese and over 100 years of bloody battles with the Dutch and English.
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants- Nutmeg
Hi, my name is Rhianna and I’m a 4th year PhD student at the University of York. I work at YSBL focussing on human lysosomal enzymes which breakdown various glycoconjugates within our bodies. Inherited deficiencies in these enzymes leads to range of metabolic diseases called lysosomal storage disorders. My project aims to structurally characterise these enzymes and aid in the development of chemical probes, inhibitors and chaperones for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Coming from a Masters year in analytical chemistry, this project has been a real challenge. Working with membrane-associated proteins, delving into insect-baculoviral expression systems and the dark art of protein crystallography has all been new to me, but I chose this project because I felt it would allow me to explore protein chemistry/structural biology with real-life applications in human health and disease.
Why did you join the DTP Communications team?
I enjoy scientific writing and saw this as a great opportunity to improve my writing skills whilst further engaging with the White Rose DTP and its students. I hope to learn more about the exceptional research conducted by White Rose students and to share/showcase this with other students in the DTP through blogs and the use of social media. I also see this is a chance to share non-scientific content which I hope students (including myself!) will find helpful in coping with PhD life and maintaining a healthy wellbeing.
Read moreGet to know … your WRDTP Comms Team: Rhianna Rowland
The Academy of Medical Sciences Grants and Programmes internship scheme is open for applications for internships in 2021.
Applications are welcomed for 3 month internships between January-December 2021. The scheme is open to BBSRC-funded PhD students through the PIPS scheme.
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 case study of a recent intern here that gives some examples of the kinds of projects that interns in our team will be involved with.
We expect the internships to be full-time positions for the full three-month period. However, in exceptional circumstances, the Academy will consider requests for a reduced duration. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we expect internships beginning in January 2021 will be supervised remotely. Place of work for internships from April 2021 onwards will depend on the Academy’s policy in response to the pandemic, however we will discuss with interns the feasibility of any travel, either to the Academy offices or elsewhere in the UK for internship activities, in light of government guidelines and personal circumstances.
More details can be found at https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about/administration/internship-schemes
The deadline for applications is 22 November 2020.
Contact for any queries:
Dr Kim Hutchings
International Grants Manager
The Academy of Medical Sciences
41 Portland Place
London W1B 1QH
+44 (0)20 3141 3234
Please note my working days are Tues-Fri
BBSRC DTP PhD student Matthew Chadwick undertook a PIPS with the Human Performance Service in the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department of the University of Leeds, providing technical consultation and training to research teams. In case you wanted additional reasons to watch those cat videos on the internet, keep reading.
Read moreSport, psychology, and animal video clips with PIPS
I’m Rachel, a PhD student at Sheffield and one of your 2020 comms committee members for the BBSRC White Rose DTP. I joined the committee primarily to help gain more experience in social media management and develop my writing skills but I have really enjoyed the insights I’ve gained into other people’s work and really enjoy highlighting all your achievements!
Prior to joining UoS, I worked for 5 years as a Genomics Scientist at Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC), developing molecular markers for Hevea brasiliensis (natural rubber) clonal variety confirmation to aid in field misidentification in Malaysia. This role really highlighted to me the fundamental necessity for global crop improvement efforts to meet food security targets, and directed me down my career path.
The focus of my PhD project is primarily to look into what underpins the virulence of Striga asiatica, a parasitic plant which devastates cereal crop yields in Central and Eastern Africa. I’ve found my research focus in the crop improvement/food sustainability field, and is something I’m very passionate about!
Alongside working with plants in my academic life, I also have an allotment which keeps me very busy on the weekends. I also enjoy running and somehow completed my 4th half marathon in the brilliant Sheffield half in 2019.
I’m looking forward to bringing lots of plant-focused content to the DTP blog, twitter and more in the future!
It’s spooky season! Whether you call it Autumn or Fall one of the most spectacular plants at this time of year is the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum). It’s native to Canada and the far north of the United States but is sometimes cultivated abroad.
Read moreExploring the science behind everyday plants – Maple
Our next WRDTP student rep profile is here… This week we are introducing you to Molly Patterson, a freshly minted DTP rep with a passion for the very relevant as of recent topic of virology!
Molly joined the DTP in 2018 at the University of Leeds after her integrated masters at Leeds. Remaining at the Mcdonald lab, she resumes addressing central questions in the field of virology and cancer. Read about her recent publication here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32555725/
Check out our Q&A session in full!
Read moreGet to know.. your WRDTP student reps – Molly Patterson
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) delivers the professional ABPI Medical Representatives Exam, taken by those who call upon doctors, dentists, and other UK prescribers and/or promote medicines based on their therapeutic properties. This includes representatives from virtually all pharmaceutical companies with UK operations.
When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, paper-based exams that were held monthly at venues across the country were cancelled and the ABPI have since been working on a project to move all examinations online.
Integrity of the Exam is crucial to building and maintaining the trust and reputation of the UK pharmaceutical industry.
Please note: since the COVID pandemic reached the UK, the ABPI has successfully undertaken virtual onboarding of a number of interns.
Following on from previous successful PIPS internships for other projects, we are once again, seeking a PIPS student to apply their scientific and project management experience in an examinations and education context.
This project seeks to contribute to the development of the online ABPI Medical Representatives. The output of the project will be the successful delivery of the newly formatted exam which will be important in maintaining integrity of the industry as the world continues to virtually evolve.
The applicant will be expected to support the ABPI Education and Examinations Executive with development of the exam, liaising with internal teams, external providers, and the ABPI Exam Governance and Exam Steering Groups. Alongside this role, there may be the opportunity for the applicant to contribute to updating and/or incorporating new material to the exam, and development of new qualifications.
The project will also include scope to improve ABPI’s engagement with member pharmaceutical companies from the Research, Medical and Innovation team in other formats such as written communication. The applicant will have the opportunity to help develop better communications on research, medical & innovation topics.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who would meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face to face meetings depending on Government guidance in relation to COVID and company policy.
Interested students should email Andrew Croydon – contact details below – in the first instance, or they can apply directly to Andrew with a CV and covering letter.
Final application deadline: by close of business Wednesday 28th October 2020.
Note: ABPI has successfully virtually onboarded a few interns since lockdown and Andrew is happy to answer any questions specifically relating to this aspect of internships.
Andrew Croydon
Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Direct: +44 (0)2077471436
Email: ACroydon@abpi.org.uk
A company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales number 09826787 | Our Privacy policy
7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines. Representing small, medium, and large pharmaceutical companies, the ABPI is a large trade association that greatly values engagement and high levels of member satisfaction.
By representing members and gathering their insight and experiences, the ABPI tells the story of how they change the lives of millions of people every day.
Please note: since the COVID pandemic reached the UK, the ABPI has successfully undertaken virtual onboarding of a number of interns.
Following on from previous successful PIPS internships for similar projects, we are once again, seeking a PIPS student to apply their scientific and project management experience in a policy context.
This project seeks to improve ABPI engagement with member pharmaceutical companies as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. The output of the project will be the set-up and delivery of the ABPI Research, Medical and Innovation (RM&I) member webinars and virtual networking events (with support and input from the RM&I and Events Teams). These will cover a range of research, medical and innovation topics.
The applicant will be expected to liaise with ABPI colleagues, member companies, and external stakeholders to deliver successful events with high levels of engagement. The applicant will also be expected to analyse feedback on events and suggest areas for improvement for future events.
The project will also include scope to improve ABPI’s engagement with member pharmaceutical companies from the Research, Medical and Innovation team in other formats such as written communication. The applicant will have the opportunity to help develop better communications on research, medical & innovation topics.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who would meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face to face meetings depending on Government guidance in relation to COVID and company policy.
Interested students should email Andrew Croydon – contact details below – in the first instance, or they can apply directly to Andrew with a CV and covering letter.
Final application deadline: by close of business Wednesday 28th October 2020.
Note: ABPI has successfully virtually onboarded a few interns since lockdown and Andrew is happy to answer any questions specifically relating to this aspect of internships.
Andrew Croydon
Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Direct: +44 (0)2077471436
Email: ACroydon@abpi.org.uk
A company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales number 09826787 | Our Privacy policy
7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is a UK trade association representing small, medium, and large pharmaceutical companies who invest in discovering future medicines. The ABPI’s Research, Medical and Innovation Team (RM&I) operates four strategic leadership groups (SLGs) that support and contribute to the ABPI’s mission to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use the medicines of the future.
The ABPI Appropriate Prescribing, Ethics and the Code (APEC) SLG comprises senior medical directors from member companies. APEC’s purpose is to provide medical leadership, lead appropriate prescribing policies, champion the ABPI Code of Practice, improve patient and public involvement in research, research transparency, and support medical education activities. APEC have been involved in the ABPI’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic which has strongly emphasised the importance of the group and its remit.
Please note: since the covid pandemic reached the UK, the ABPI has successfully undertaken virtual onboarding of a number of interns.
Following on from previous successful PIPS internships, we are seeking a PIPS student to apply their scientific and project management experience in a policy context.
This project seeks to work closely with senior members of pharmaceutical companies to contribute to ABPI policy positions relating to ethical aspects of developing medicines and companies obligations supporting the appropriate prescribing of medicines. This includes work to support future development of the ABPI Code of Practice.
The applicant will be expected to co-ordinate activities, organise and attend meetings, and integrate insights from stakeholders and ABPI members into policy papers.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who would meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face to face meetings depending on Government guidance in relation to COVID and company policy.
Interested students should email Andrew Croydon – contact details below – in the first instance, or they can apply directly to Andrew with a CV and covering letter.
Final application deadline: by close of business Wednesday 28th October 2020.
Note: ABPI has successfully virtually onboarded a few interns since lockdown and Andrew is happy to answer any questions specifically relating to this aspect of internships.
Andrew Croydon
Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Direct: +44 (0)2077471436
Email: ACroydon@abpi.org.uk
A company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales number 09826787 | Our Privacy policy
7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is a UK trade association representing small, medium, and large pharmaceutical companies who invest in discovering future medicines. The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines.
In 2020 the ABPI has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, regulators, and academic partners on how ABPI member companies can best support the UK Government.
One ongoing avenue is participation in the Government’s COVID Therapeutics Taskforce whereby knowledge on therapeutic targets and early drug candidates is crucial to understanding the fast-moving landscape and developing policy.
Following on from previous successful PIPS internships, we are seeking a PIPS student to apply their scientific and project management experience in a policy context.
This project seeks to analyse the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) and Cell & Gene therapies landscape by undertaking desk-based research and extracting and interpreting information from a wide range of data sources.
The output of the project will be to create an ongoing report, with the potential for publication by the ABPI, and a slide set which can be used in presentations to showcase the global effort in this area and to input to AAC (Accelerated Access Collaborative) workstreams in due course.
The successful applicant can expect to have a supervisor who would meet regularly for virtual guidance and support at the current time, with potential face-to-face meetings depending on Government guidance and company policy.
Please note: since the covid pandemic reached the UK, the ABPI has successfully undertaken virtual onboarding of a number of interns.
Interested students should email Andrew Croydon – contact details below – in the first instance, or they can apply directly to Andrew with a CV and covering letter.
Final application deadline: by close of business Wednesday 28th October 2020.
Note: ABPI has successfully virtually onboarded a few interns since lockdown and Andrew is happy to answer any questions specifically relating to this aspect of internships.
Andrew Croydon
Skills & Education Policy and Examinations Director
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Direct: +44 (0)2077471436
Email: ACroydon@abpi.org.uk
A company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales number 09826787 | Our Privacy policy
7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT
The third UKRI Globalink Doctoral Exchange Scheme call is now open for applications with a closing date of 8th December 2020.
Further details about the call and how to apply can be found here:
Earlier last month we released a Twitter thread listing various tips on how to keep sane during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down! You can catch it again here in the form of a blog post.
Maintaining the work-life balance at the office from home
It’s easy to get trapped in the mentality of working more than usual even at home, because now you are literally at work all the time! However, setting time aside for picking up old hobbies previously pushed aside and working towards something can be scheduled for. That piano piece you thought was too difficult, that yoga pose you could not hold, or that video game that has been gathering dust are all great starting places.
