Please find details of our new PhD internship opportunities at the Royal Institution (Ri) for the upcoming academic year.
The placements are for three-months within 7 different teams. There are 4 opportunities for this autumn and several others from January onwards.- full list is here:
Placement
Dates
Christmas Lectures x1
Sept-Dec 2025
Demonstrations team x1
Marketing and Communications x1
Oct to Dec 25
Young Scientist Centre - x4
Sept to Dec 25 /Jan to March 26/April to June 26/July to Sept 26
Digital Media x3
Jan to March 26 /April to June 26/July to Sept 26
Masterclasses- Science Engagement x2
Jan to March 26/April to June 26
Family Programmes x1
June to August 2026
These placements are ideal for students interested in building their science communication and engagement skills, and in gaining experience of education outreach.
For more information on any of these internships and exact dates for placements, please see the full role profiles via our website at:
Work with us | Royal Institution (rigb.org) – all the individual opportunities are listed under ‘Our vacancies’ along with some more general information about our internships under ‘Our internships’.
Application instructions
To apply, please send a current CV with a supporting statement of no more than 500 words, to recruitment@ri.ac.uk, detailing which internship you are interested in and why we should consider you for the placement. We are about to launch a new applicant tracking system which will allow for online applications.
Closing date: midnight on Wednesday 30 July 2025
Interviews: during August
Please note, the Ri offers only offers internships to students who are enrolled on a PhD research degree, who have funding from their university or funding body – for example under the Doctoral Training Partnership programme, funded by the following Research Councils including (but bot exclusive to): BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, AHRC and NERC. These opportunities are only open to PhD students who are eligible for a stipend via their DTP/University/research council in order to undertake a 3-month professional internship. Students should check with their university that they are able to secure funding before applying. They will need to obtain the grant holder’s written permission to undertake the placement, outlining any funding arrangements, before a position can be offered.
All roles are based in Central London, with a mix of home and office working; students will be expected to base themselves within or near to London for the period of the placement. We offer some assistance with London-based travel costs from home to office.
If you have any queries or need any further information about the Ri or these opportunities before advertising them, please contact me.
Kind regards,
Becky Poyntz
The Faraday Institution is hiring a Training Coordinator role (Training Coordinator - The Faraday Institution) to support the Head of Training and Talent Development in delivering high-quality training programmes that develop a skilled and diverse talent pipeline for the battery and energy storage sectors.
Membership and Operations Officer, Association for Science and Discovery Centres
Closing date 31st July 2025
https://www.sciencecentres.org.uk/jobs/membership-and-operations-officer-association-for-science-and-discovery-centres/
Volunteer Coordinator, Careers Hive
Pay: £12.60 per hour increasing to £14.28 for live period (+ holiday pay) Hours: 14 hours for 10 weeks / 28 hours for 2 weeks Duration: Temporary, Fixed-term contract, approx. 12 weeks Work location: Edinburgh
We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to join our Team from mid August to early November 2025
About the role:
Edinburgh Science runs Careers Hive each year. This is an exciting immersive careers education event designed to give students in S1-S3 a new way to think about their futures. It highlights the opportunities available to those who study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), as well as the cross-disciplinary skills and subjects that can support and enhance STEM careers.
We are looking for a confident, and enthusiastic Coordinator to recruit and manage STEM volunteers to participate in Careers Hive. You will enjoy communicating with people at all levels and the administration of co-ordinating events, people, and processes.
You will have experience working in a busy customer service or coordination role, with strong organisational skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. You will demonstrate an excellent telephone manner alongside well-developed communication and influencing skills, enabling you to engage professionally with a wide range of individuals and groups. You will have experience supervising or leading a team in a fast-paced environment, and will be confident managing a varied workload while balancing competing priorities. Experience working in an arts, festival, educational, scientific or cultural setting is desirable, as is a proactive, hands-on approach and a willingness to get involved in all aspects of delivery.
How to apply:
Click the link to visit our dedicated careers portal. Please note that only applications submitted via our careers portal will be considered. https://sciencefestival.teamdetails.com/opportunity/259
The closing date for applications is: Sunday 20 July 2025 at 11:59PM
Reports to: CEO Job Purpose: To lead public and community engagement both on and off site Location: Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum, Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 0DF Schedule: 24 hours a week. 4/7 days working according to the needs of the organisation. This will include some weekend work. Salary: £16735.68 Contract: Fixed Term 1 year with the potential to extend Background Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum has been successfully trading for over 30 years. Our aim is to inform, educate and inspire the widest audience about the relevance of Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), chemistry and related industries. This role will support our goal to be a first class visitor attraction in the North West. Additionally In September 2024, Catalyst was awarded the funding for the Delivery Phase of the Synergy Project which will see the physical implementation of the new heritage galleries and heritage offer, this role will support the delivery of an extensive activity plan which is part of this project Main duties and responsibilities: Work with the CEO and Visitor Services Manager to enhance the visitor experience Co-ordinate events and footfall driving initiatives Develop and deliver programmes and initiatives which improve the social value of Catalyst Work with the Synergy Project Manager to deliver the activity plan (Subject to permission to start) Work with the Synergy Project Manager and CEO to oversee co-creation of the new galleries and exhibits (Subject to permission to start) Person specification: A ‘people person’, keen to engage and communicate with guests from a range of backgrounds Creative and ambitious approach to programming and event creation An excellent team player Have a committed and organised approach Have a desire to succeed in your role What you can expect: An opportunity to play your part to deliver an exciting community visitor attraction Supportive team around you who want to make our visitor experience the best around. Free parking and reduced rates in the Café. How to apply Please send your CV and Personal Statement, stating clearly how your skills, experience and attributes relate to the role. Please send your application to jobs@catalyst.org.uk Timeline Advert closes: Monday 16th June Interviews: Thursday 26th June Start date: ASAP https://www.catalyst.org.uk/support/vacancies-at-catalyst/
Do you have great communication skills? Can you adapt to suit the needs of a variety of audiences? Are you passionate about science? Could you share your enthusiasm with others? Catalyst Science Discovery Centre has a vision to be a premier visitor attraction, recognised as the best science discovery centre dedicated to chemistry and a unique Museum of the chemical heritage of NW England. We are situated in an old soap factory and attract thousands of visitors each year though our school workshops, science shows, sleepovers and fantastic programme of events, and we are now looking for a new Education Assistant to help us achieve our ambitions. In this role you will research, develop and deliver, with the support of our Education Manager, all educational programmes for school visits, uniformed groups and members of the public. You will work with audiences across all age groups, from Early Years to secondary school pupils. You will lead from the front of our planetarium, theatre, classroom and science laboratory, and help grow our outreach programmes. You will work safely and maintain tidy classrooms conducive to learning. This is a permanent role, working 4/7 days and 30 hours a week on a rota basis, with a salary of £12.50 per hour. An enhanced DBS check will be necessary on appointment. We are looking for a colleague with great communication and presentation skills. Someone who has a good understanding of science, and an A-level in chemistry would be an advantage. Experience of developing or delivering science activities would be great but this isn’t essential. The ideal candidate would be confident and enthusiastic, with bags of energy. Have the ability to think creatively to enhance existing programmes or develop new activities. Able to manage a diverse workload, managing facilities, equipment and resources, and able to work independently and collaboratively. If you are looking for a flexible role, with a great training programme, the opportunity to develop your skills teaching in a variety of spaces, a fantastic view to eat your lunch, (we have the river Mersey, St Helens canal, and green flag award winning Spike Island on our doorstep) free parking and staff discount within our café and shop, this could be the role for you. Catalyst have recently undertaken major refurbishment and our fantastic facilities encompass an interactive gallery, an under 5s play area, an extensive museum archive and a glass observatory. It’s a great place to work. To apply for this role please send your CV and personal statement to jobs@catalyst.org.uk or get in touch to find out more.
https://www.catalyst.org.uk/support/vacancies-at-catalyst/
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
Are you passionate about making science accessible and meaningful to communities?
We are looking for Civic Science Engagement Fellow to join our Human Cell Atlas (HCA) team to design and lead a new public engagement programme of work for an 18 month fixed term contract.
This role is a unique opportunity to design and lead a collaborative science engagement project that builds meaningful dialogue between researchers and the public about the societal benefits and implications of single-cell genomics.
Key responsibilities of the role:
About Us:
HCA is a global multidisciplinary consortium of more than 4000 members with the mission to create comprehensive reference maps of all human cells—the fundamental units of life—as a basis for both understanding human health and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease.
About You:
You have strong experience in designing and delivering impactful public scientific engagement programmes. You have experience working with a broad range of stakeholder groups and the cultural sensitivity to understand that different public audiences can have differing responses to the social, clinical and ethical impact of genomics. You are able to lead the design of a programme of work with the input of relevant stakeholders, and then have the skills to implement and deliver it, again with the input of HCA stakeholders.
Essential Skills:
Other Information:
Salary per annum: (dependent upon skills and experience): £41,331-£49,102
Application Process:
Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above.
As part of the collaborative nature of this project, representatives from the Broad Institute will be part of the interview panel for this role. By submitting your application, you agree that your information may be shared with them for the purpose of recruitment related to this position.
Closing Date: 6th July 2025
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Apply here
Materials Library: Science Lead
Deadline for applications: Sunday 22nd June at 23:59.Location: Institute of Making, University College London (UCL).
Working Pattern: Full time.
Salary: £43,374 to £51,860.
We’re looking for a personable, open-minded and flexible materials scientist to join our Materials Library team at the UCL Institute of Making.
Are you a materials scientist who delights in the made world and marvels at nanostructured surfaces, minerals and rubber bands alike? Are you excited by the prospect of working with a wondrous collection of materials in a creative and multidisciplinary environment? Do you have a passion for communication and community-building, a love of hands-on learning, and a broad understanding of materials and making? Then this could be for you!
About the job
The Materials Library is a handling collection of some of the most wondrous materials on earth, gathered from sheds, kitchens, workshops, labs and factories around the world. The original Materials Library collection is based in our Bloomsbury space, with a second collection currently being built inside our Stratford space. As Materials Library Science Lead, you will be part of the team responsible for acquiring, caring for and cataloguing an eclectic array of physical samples of materials across two collections. You will be a first point of contact for weird and wonderful enquiries about materials from our members and public audiences, and you will be responsible for ensuring that the Materials Library’s digital catalogue and public engagement activities are scientifically accurate, whilst also being joyful and relatable to our multidisciplinary staff, students and diverse public audiences. You will also be responsible for building a small suite of user-friendly benchtop tools for materials exploration. This role would be perfect for someone who has a broad understanding of the science of materials and manufacturing processes, a love of hands-on learning, a passion for supporting others in their materials explorations, and an openness to other disciplinary approaches to materials that explore their sensory, aesthetic and cultural associations. You will work closely with our Head of Materials Library Sarah and our Creative Lead Katie, as well as the rest of our tight-knit, dynamic, friendly and supportive Institute of Making team.
Do you have questions?
If you have any questions about the job and our workplace, please do send us a message: materials@instituteofmaking.org.uk
Job description & application portal:
For more information, read our blog post about the role and start your application here.
Public Engagement & Events Coordinator
Grade: UKRI Pay Band C - £29,923 per annum
Contract Type: 1-year fixed term appointment
Full-time – 37 hours a week
Location: BGS headquarters in Keyworth in Nottingham
Closing date: 2 June 2025
Reporting to the Public Engagement Co-ordinator (London) and working alongside the Public Engagement Co-ordinator in Keyworth and wider communications and engagement team, this role supports the implementation of PE projects across BGS, as part of its enhanced profile as a key strategic pillar of the new BGS strategy.
The role will take a lead in developing our public engagement offer local to our head office in Keyworth, bringing our science to new communities in and around the site and increasing public awareness of BGS and its role. The role also assists (as necessary) in the planning, coordination and evaluation of BGS’s attendance at events, development of learning resources, and delivery of school and teacher initiatives. It also assists the wider BGS public engagement team to deliver the BGS Public Engagement Strategy.
The role will have a strong internally facing profile, providing a point of contact for BGS teams and stakeholders at head office and championing PE across key projects. The post holder will foster strong, reciprocal working relationships, encouraging staff members from other areas of BGS to take part in PE opportunities.
You will be an organised, proactive and diligent team player with excellent attention to detail; clear communication in written and face to face formats is essential. You should be comfortable directing teams to deliver high quality public engagement events, and with advising scientists on best approaches to public engagement, with supervision and support from the wider PE team. You should be comfortable seeking feedback and input from colleagues and prepared to work collaboratively to ensure our output is innovative and high quality.
You will work as part of a public engagement team of 3, sitting in a wider communications and customer service team of 20+ people. You should be comfortable working and communicating with colleagues both in person and online, with teams based across the UK. Public engagement is a strategic pillar for BGS, meaning the role is extremely varied and valued; one week may involve writing equipment manuals, preparing risk assessments, organising equipment loans to schools and attending a music festival to talk to the public at the weekend!
Please refer to the full criteria detailed on the careers portal website.
Applicants are required to include a CV and covering letter outlining their suitability for the role. We would stress the importance of this paperwork in our selection process.
If you experience any issues applying for this role, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE TEAM – EXPLAINERS
£12.41 per hour (rising to £12.91 per hour after successful completion of probationary period)
A minimum of 20 hours per week, Monday to Sunday available or weekends only/school holidays only
The International Centre for Life is a thriving science hub in the heart of Newcastle. Its purpose is to inspire everyone to explore and enjoy science and to provide a world class science hub where life enhancing engagement, research and clinical treatment can thrive. Life is home to NHS clinics as well as scientists and researchers from Newcastle University. Life Science Centre is at the heart of this ‘circle of science’ and aspires to be most accessible and inclusive visitor attraction in the UK. It has an international reputation for its work in sensory engagement.
We are recruiting for our Visitor Experience Team and are looking for people who are as passionate as we are about engaging people with science.
As someone who is customer focused, your role will be to make a visit to Life Science Centre exciting, entertaining, informative and fun and to enhance the experience of all visitors. You will be interacting with a wide range of audiences, but primarily families and school children and occasionally on outreach in schools and community settings. You will be a confident performer, who can deliver hands-on science activities including live shows. You will enhance the experience of visitors around the science centre - covering all exhibitions, activities, and different workshops.
You will be interested in STEM and will be curious, enthusiastic, have excellent communication skills and enjoy presenting to audiences. You will also share our desire to help everyone understand better the relevance of science to their lives. Comprehensive training will be provided.
The science centre is open all year round and is particularly busy at weekends and school holidays so physical stamina, good humour and the ability to work at a high standard for long periods are all essential pre-requisites of the role. Working hours may vary to meet the needs of the business; therefore, a flexible approach will be required.
Life is a welcoming and friendly place to work. We offer you a range of team benefits including access to wellbeing initiatives, an Employee Assistance Programme and discounted car-parking in the centre of Newcastle.
The successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check. Details of our DBS policy is available on request. For further information regarding this post, please refer to the job description and person specification on our website.
To apply for this vacancy, please complete the online application form which can be accessed from our website at https://jobs.life.org.uk/ by Sunday 1 June 2025.
Interviews will be held on the Tuesday 10 June.
The International Centre for Life is an equal opportunities employer and is accredited with the Equality Standard Gold Award. Life has achieved Continuing Excellence accreditation under the North East Better Health at Work Scheme.
Registered Charity Number: 1059607
Contact BIG: admin@big.uk.com