Internships

Opportunities

Current opportunities

We hope the following list of internship opportunities might be of interest for BBSRC DTP students.


Singer Instruments - Intern

Singer Instruments - Intern

Singer Lab, Minehead, Somerset

Closing Date 31 January 2025

PIPs Intern

Singer Instruments designs robots that empower scientists in laboratories in over 60 countries to accelerate their research efforts on global challenges such as cures for cancer and solutions for renewable energies.

We’re looking for PIPs interns.

Located in Exmoor on the UK's South West coast, Singer offers world class culture. An engaged team makes great products!

General:

You don’t need any background knowledge for these roles, just a willingness to learn. Both our R&D Manager and Senior Scientist completed their PIPs internships here and came back to work full-time after finishing their PhDs… so we know just how rewarding a placement with us can be! Working with you, we will develop your project to suit you and deliver real business value whilst also ensuring you get exposure to the experiences that matter to you. The project you end up working on and people you collaborate with will vary greatly depending on our own department priorities, which can change very rapidly. Due to the short-term nature of our projects, we often won’t be able to confirm exactly what you’ll be working on until only a few weeks before you’re due to arrive.

Examples of previous projects include:

  • Encoding an automated analysis report generation program to test our latest feature.
  • Proof of Concept experiments for high-throughput UV mutagenesis on the ROTOR+
  • Market Research and product testing of our new Liquid Handler
  • Design and testing of the user interface for our PIXL Zone of Inhibition beta feature.

For further information on Singer Instruments, the variety of roles, please see the following flyer Singer Instruments - PIPs intern.pdf

APPLY

Apply to work with us on our website at: https://www.singerinstruments.com/jobs/



Open Innovation Associate Project Leader Placement Opportunity

Open Innovation Associate Project Leader Placement Opportunity

TBC

Closing Date 31 January 2025

Open Innovation Associate Project Leader 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. We work across all disciplines but have a strong client base in consumer healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and agricultural technology – see our Active Projects page for an overview of the variety of work we cover.

Description:

yet2 is seeking a placement student to assist technology acquisition and commercialization projects with our global clients. The successful candidate will work with yet2 Project Leaders and Innovation Managers to help execute projects.

Key elements of the role will be to assist “tech-buy” clients in searching for, assessing, and acquiring new technologies (technology scouting).


The ideal candidate:

  • has aptitude for technology, research, scouting and commercialisation
  • is a self-starter
  • has an appetite for delivering valuable projects


Major responsibilities and deliverables may include:

  • project execution (i.e., work with project team to deliver work product that leverages yet2 capabilities and exceeds client expectations)
  • report writing (i.e., contribute to drafting reports and presentations for clients


Skill Requirements:

  • General - History of strong academic performance
  • Analytics - Familiarity and comfort with some technical/scientific disciplines.
  • Communication - Experience and skill in building and delivering projects / presentations; Attention to detail.
  • Interpersonal - Excellent interpersonal and external relationship building skills. Team player interested in working in a team-oriented environment
  • Must have strong conversational and technical English


If you are interested in this role and would like to be considered, please contact Hayden Hodges (hhodges@yet2.com).

Obrizum Group - Developing adaptive learning programmes for internal training placement

Obrizum Group - Developing adaptive learning programmes for internal training placement

Virtual or at the Cambridge Office

Closing Date 01 November 2024

OBRIZUM Group was established in 2015 to transform digital learning. We are a Cambridge-based EdTech company at the forefront of the AI-led digital learning revolution.

Our founders, who all have a life science background, discovered that the amount of information we need to consume and apply is increasing exponentially. However, existing eLearning methodologies — which present information linearly — cannot scale with this rapidly increasing body of global knowledge, and will eventually collapse.

Recognising this market need, we have developed an AI-led adaptive learning tool, OBRIZUM, that can tailor learning to meet the needs of each learner in real time. When it comes to learning, we don’t believe in ‘one-size-fits-all’: our technology allows learners to take their own, unique journey through content, increasing knowledge transfer and reducing times-to-competency.

Our cutting-edge adaptive, non-linear approach represents the future of digital learning and corporate training, and we are looking for motivated, capable interns who share our values to join our team.

Lead Contact 

 

Name              Michelle Ware, PhD

Email              michelle@obrizumgroup.com

Tel. No.           07791481346

Project Title

Develop adaptive learning programmes for internal training.

 

Project Outline 

 

As the company scales there is a need for producing our own adaptive learning training in areas such as onboarding new team members, soft skills training and health & safety.

Activities will include:

Manage the delivery of our internal training

Build digital learning programmes using AI tools

Get creative with the way we present the content and introduce interactivity

Create learning content such as multiple choices questions

Test and experiment with our portal and relaying your findings to the team

 

Essential Skills 

 

We ask that our interns:

 

Have a scientific background

Are highly organised and motivated

Have the ability to communicate strongly both in writing and in person

Possess excellent project management skills

Are capable of working well independently, as well as part of a team

 

Skills Developed 

The student will gain a greater understanding of how digital learning programmes are developed using cutting-edge AI technology. By the end of their internship, they will be confident with all aspects of creating a successful digital learning programme. The intern will also have a deep understanding of how non-linear, adaptive learning works and how this way of learning is disrupting corporate learning.

Key skills developed include organisation, problem-solving, and project management.

Number of placements offered: multiple

 

Possible Timeframe 

 

The start date is flexible: we accept intern students throughout the year.

Placement can be virtual or at the Cambridge office.

Obrizum Group - Placement supporting the onboarding processes of creating adaptive on-demand training programmes for Blue-Chip clients.

Obrizum Group - Placement supporting the onboarding processes of creating adaptive on-demand training programmes for Blue-Chip clients.

Virtual or Cambridge Office

Closing Date 01 November 2024

OBRIZUM Group was established in 2015 to transform digital learning. We are a Cambridge-based EdTech company at the forefront of the AI-led digital learning revolution.

Our founders, who all have a life science background, discovered that the amount of information we need to consume and apply is increasing exponentially. However, existing eLearning methodologies  — which present information linearly — cannot scale with this rapidly increasing body of global knowledge, and will eventually collapse.

Recognising this market need, we have developed an AI-led adaptive learning tool, OBRIZUM, that can tailor learning to meet needs of each learner in real time. When it comes to learning, we don’t believe in ‘one-size-fits-all’: our technology allows learners to take their own, unique journey through content, increasing knowledge-transfer and reducing times-to-competency.

Our cutting-edge adaptive, non-linear approach represents the future of digital learning and corporate training, and we are looking for motivated, capable interns who share our values to join our team.

Lead Contact 

 

Name              Michelle Ware, PhD

Email              michelle@obrizumgroup.com

Tel. No.           07791481346

Project Outline 

 

Intern projects will support the onboarding processes of creating adaptive on-demand training programmes for Blue-Chip clients. Projects will be flexible depending on the needs of the onboarding department at the time and the interests of the intern.

Activities could include:

Supporting the creation of eLearning programmes on our adaptive learning portal for various Blue-Chip clients, including biotech companies

Working with a content partner to create programmes for retail

Helping to create learning content such as multiple choices questions

Testing and experimenting with our portal and relaying your findings to the team

Working with our in-house business intelligence tool to gain insights into the performance of programmes

Promoting biotech programmes to scientists

 

Essential Skills 

 

We ask that our interns:

 

Have a scientific background

Are highly-organised and motivated

Have an ability to communicate strongly both in writing and in person

Possess excellent project management skills

Are capable of working well independently, as well as part of a team

 

Skills Developed 

The student will gain a greater understanding of how eLearning programmes are developed. By the end of their internship, they will be confident with all aspects of creating a successful eLearning programme. The intern will also have a deep understanding of how non-linear, adaptive learning works and how this way of learning is disrupting corporate learning.

Key skills developed include organisation, problem-solving, and project management.

Number of placements offered 

 

Possible Timeframe 

 

The start date is flexible: we accept intern students throughout the year.

Placement can be virtual or at the Cambridge office.

Glasshouse Health - Placements

Glasshouse Health - Placements

Macclesfield

Closing Date 01 November 2024

Glasshouse Health is a life sciences consultancy that bridges the gaps between healthcare companies, patients and the medical community.  We have expertise in strategy, brand planning, clinical trials, market access, medical affairs, and marketing.  Our projects typically involve either paving the way for new drugs, devices, diagnostics, or digital solutions, or facilitating the adoption of marketed products so that they achieve their full clinical and commercial potential.
 
We have global reach from our locations at the internationally recognised Alderley Park campus in the North West of England, and from Kendall Square in Boston USA, which together give us access to world-leading centres for research and innovation.  It also provides opportunities to leverage a range of scientific services and high-specification workspaces to facilitate collaboration with tech companies and other forward-thinking, innovative businesses.  We have a huge amount of combined experience and expertise at our disposal, which we employ to create value for our clients.
 
For healthcare companies, we typically provide strategy guidance and operational support for the development and commercialisation of products and services.  For patient organisations, we provide advice on how to partner effectively with healthcare companies, to help improve the products and services developed to treat those conditions.  For the wider medical community, we provide advice on how to partner with healthcare companies on R&D initiatives and joint ventures that benefit the health system and/or patients.  For health tech start-ups, we provide advice on how to approach the development and commercialisation of healthcare technologies; we help them develop their value proposition statements, go‑to‑market plans, and investor pitch decks.  For health tech investors, we provide due diligence regarding product development plans, value proposition statements, and go-to-market plans.
Project Outline
The work is varied. Recent projects have involved obtaining and analysing real world data in collaboration with a hospital department and writing it up for publication in a journal, gathering insights from clinicians and payers regarding the commercial potential of a device in development and writing a report for prospective investors, interviewing rare disease patients/clinicians about the standard of care in their therapy area to understand how prescribing could be improved, and developing a new value proposition for an implantable medical device. The role could be remote or hybrid with occasional visits to clients or the office at Alderley Park, Cheshire. Required hours are 35 each week within which there will be a need to attend team/client meetings.
Essential Skills
We are looking for an intern who is keen to gain experience of working as a strategy and med comms consultant. The ideal candidate will be undertaking a life sciences PhD and be prepared to undertake a broad variety of tasks. The role requires an ability to understand new information rapidly (about a new therapy area or healthcare technology, for example), good interpersonal skills to facilitate positive client interactions, strong attention to detail when processing qualitative and quantitative data, analytical abilities to derive meaning from primary and secondary research, and well‑developed written and spoken presentation skills to deliver reports and updates to clients.
Skills Developed
Strategy
Marketing
Medical communications
Project management
Client engagement
Number of Placements Offered
Up to three placements are available, depending on the number and nature of projects underway.
Possible Timeframe
The opportunities are available throughout the year.

Application Process

For further details, email meg.smith@glasshousehealth.com.

Lead Contact

Name – Meg Smith

Email address – meg.smith@glasshousehealth.com

Phone number – 0161 327 2644

Website - https://www.glasshousehealth.com/

PIPs opportunity with CABI Global Burden of Crop Loss programme

PIPs opportunity with CABI Global Burden of Crop Loss programme

Remote or hybrid

Closing Date 01 November 2024

Organisation
Name
CABI
Team
Digital Development
Placement base location
Remote or hybrid
Offie location: CABI Head Office, Nosworthy Way, Wallingford OX10 8DE
Website
https://www.cabi.org/
Contact
Dr Anna Szyniszewska (Technical Lead – Global Burden of Crop Loss)
Contact details
Email:  A.Szyniszewska@cabi.org                 
Telephone: 07944698117

 

 

Internship
Job title
Technical Development Intern - Global Burden of Crop Loss
Potential start date
Flexible
Potential working pattern
Daily work pattern: Flexible (core hours 10 – 12 and 2 - 4).
Total hours per week: 35                                                              
FT/PT: Full Time
Application method
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter outlining your expression of interest and how your skills match the requirements to Dr Anna Szyniszewska (A.Szyniszewska@cabi.org)
Application closing date
Ongoing

 

 

Organisation overview
CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International) is an international not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives by providing information and
applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. We bring science-based agricultural knowledge to millions of smallholder farmers helping to increase their yields and adopt data-driven approaches to support informed decision making.
CABI is the only organisation worldwide that incorporates a dedicated publishing arm and an independent science media organisation alongside conducting its own scientific research and applying practical expertise in digital and other approaches to reach farmers and other stakeholders.
Digital Development in CABI is comprised of several themes of work, including Data Policy and Practice, Digital Advisory Tools, and Modelling and Data Science. Under Modelling and Data Science, the Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL) initiative is an ambitious global research collaboration that will support informed action to reduce crop loss globally.

 

 

Placement offered
An internship with CABI and the GBCL team will be a highly rewarding experience to help develop the proof-of-concept estimates on wheat loss and economic burden globally, for at least one year on a country/regional level. This is an exciting time for GBCL – we are rapidly forming partnerships, developing solutions, and refining our analytical framework. Interns will therefore be able to have a strong contribution to a highly ambitious initiative that aims to have a transformative impact on plant health.
The global challenge of crop loss
The impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on crop yield are significant, with around 20-40% of the world’s major crops lost to pests alone (Savary et al. 2019). While it is clear that crop loss causes significant impacts on food systems globally and that reducing losses represents a major opportunity to increase yields with minimal environmental impact, we lack robust evidence on the problem to mobilize action. Data on the scale, scope, spatial patterns, and drivers of loss are outdated, lacking in granularity, not shared, or missing altogether. Scientists often focus on a limited number of pests and geographies and often work in isolation, resulting in small pockets of disconnected information that are often not easily accessible to other researchers and decision makers. Without knowing how much of our food supply we are losing, where we are losing it, and what we are losing it to, actors across the plant health system lack clarity on how to take effective action and on which interventions to prioritise.
Internship
The 3-month internship may involve various aspects of technical development across the GBCL initiative. Which areas you may focus on will be mutually agreed during the application process. There are many exciting areas you could be involved in, including:  modelling the impact of biotic and/or abiotic factors on crop losses, supporting the development of crop growth models, developing layer representing predominant global farming systems, and much more! The themes of our analytical framework include:
  • Attainable yield in context
  • Actual crop production and yield
  • Yield loss
  • Apportioning losses: biotic vs. abiotic
  • Costs of control
  • Burden
This internship would suit a student who is interested in developing their data analysis and technical skills, and who is interested in the interface between science, policy, and decision-making.
Please note, if you are specifically interested in working with crop growth models, specifically the impacts of extreme weather on crop yields, there is scope to undertake a joint internship with CABI and Assimila (www.assimila.earth). Assimila use satellite data and weather information to address real world problems. They work closely with leading universities and institutions to translate cutting edge research into practical applications, developing innovative techniques to transform data into useful information for sustainable environmental management.
Essential skills
  • Knowledge of plant health or agricultural systems
  • Data analysis, visualisation, and reporting
  • Spatial analysis/GIS
  • Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language, such as R or Python
  • Investigative and analytical with a willingness to embrace new approaches and technology
  • Good quantitative skills (maths or statistics)
  • Curious and creative
  • Flexibility when faced with change
  • Accurate; attention to detail and quality
Desirable experience
  • Experience with crop statistics and crop growth models
  • Experience using earth observation data
  • Working knowledge of crop pests and pathogens

 

 

Financial contribution/benefit(s)
CABI are not able to provide any financial contribution or benefit. Expenses related to the role (e.g., travel for work purposes) will be reimbursed.

Public and Schools Engagement at the John Innes Centre, Norwich

Public and Schools Engagement at the John Innes Centre, Norwich

Norfolk

Closing Date 31 July 2024

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.

In particular this placement supports the curation and event delivery of the annual “Find my Future” conference at the John Innes Conference Centre, where approximately 200 year 8 students from across Norfolk visit us for a day of talks and hands-on activities focussed on raising aspirations and showcasing  careers in STEMM.

Timing: Placement would ideally start in August or Sept, through to Nov/mid-Dec 2024.

Skills: Event management, stakeholder engagement, promotion of events, social media, webpage, blog, social media and press release writing, press liaison, budget monitoring, event evaluation and reporting.

Supervised by: James Piercy (Public Engagement Officer) and Felicity Perry (Head of Communications and Engagement)

Contact to find out more: james.piercy@jic.ac.uk

C4X Discovery - PIPS Internship (Chemistry)

C4X Discovery - PIPS Internship (Chemistry)

Manchester

Closing Date 31 May 2024

C4XD PIPS Placement Advert Form 2024 Chemistry.pdf

Project Outline

“Drug target reviews: learn how to select the next generation targets for curing intractable diseases“

In this project, you will make a vital contribution to real-world drug discovery programs at their initiation, helping us to decide which targets to pursue next in our pipeline. The key aim of the project is to undertake reviews of potential drug discovery targets identified from analysis of published literature.

You will assess the available chemistry landscape and help to develop design hypotheses by reviewing and evaluating publicly available information in scientific journals and patents, and by working with experts in Medicinal Chemistry, Structural Analysis and Synthetic Chemistry. You will be exposed to Medicinal Chemistry across a broad range of target and disease classes within the immune-inflammation field and will be expected to regularly present your findings in both written reports and slide presentations. This is an exciting opportunity to be trained in how to conduct Medicinal Chemistry reviews in the pharmaceutical industry and how to apply that to design in early drug discovery projects – key skills sought after in today’s competitive life-sciences workplace.


Welsh Government - Marine and Biodiversity Division

Welsh Government - Marine and Biodiversity Division

Hybrid/flexible working

Closing Date 30 May 2024

BioTargets - Student placement - PIPS.docx

“Analysing evidence to support the creation of biodiversity targets in Wales in response to the Global Biodiversity Framework”

The overarching purpose of the placement is to provide support in researching, identifying evidence, and collating data to support the creation of the biodiversity targets. These national targets are being created alongside the development of the Sustainable Futures Bill and form our response to the Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at COP15 in 2022. The proposed targets will be introduced as secondary legislation following the publication of the Bill. A complex methodology is required to create these targets and there is a tight timeline for creation. This placement will support this tight timeline, and work will include analysis and the development of papers in an accessible format for internal and external stakeholders on a part of this methodology, depending on the time of placement. Tasks may include:

  • Futures thinking – scope (or evaluate) the suitability of different scenario modelling methodologies for proposed biodiversity targets, e.g., exploratory, target-seeking, policy screening, retrospective policy evaluation (informing policy review), and consideration of expert-based and participatory approaches. Scenario modelling will ensure the targets are desirable, feasible, and viable.
  • Futures thinking – develop a systems thinking approach around the integration of existing legislation and government commitments against the proposed targets and the socioeconomic impacts.
  • Cost-benefit analysis of the secondary legislation – supporting the Regulatory Impact Assessment.
  • Align the proposed targets with the current Nature Recovery Action Plan and develop options for the future functioning of the Wales nature recovery framework proposed in the White Paper.
  • Support the indicator development for secondary legislation by validating data sources.

This placement will give you firsthand experience of the development of a Bill and the process of creating and introducing secondary legislation. It will expose you to both international and national biodiversity conservation policy and legislation.

Welsh Government - The assessment of drinking water quality standards in Wales in the context of recent WHO recommendations and the revised parameters at EU level placement

Welsh Government - The assessment of drinking water quality standards in Wales in the context of recent WHO recommendations and the revised parameters at EU level placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

Background:

There are many challenges facing the effective and responsible management of water, including maintaining safe and reliable drinking water supplies which is critical to public health and well-being. The management of water bodies and the continued provision of high-quality water are under continuing pressure from climate change, extreme weather events, pollution levels and increased demand for water to support population growth.

The quality of public and private water supply in Wales is regulated under retained EU legislation, specifically the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018 and the Private Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2017 which transposed the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC).

The Directive has since been revised at EU level to reflect more recent scientific developments and recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on drinking water standards.

Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, the Welsh Government is committed to continue to deliver safe, clean and reliable drinking water to our homes, businesses and industry. For this reason, consideration is being given to the full or partial transposition of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) 2020 (Recast Directive).

The Recast Directive aims to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the negative effects of contaminated drinking water. It updates water quality standards and introduces a risk-based approach to monitoring water. It also seeks to improve the information on water quality and water services provided to consumers as well as access to clean water.  This includes public and private water supplies.

Project Outline:

The post holder will require to undertake the evaluation of the recast Directive in cooperation with key partners, such as the Drinking Water Inspectorate and water companies operating in Wales. The post holder will be required to lead on this work, undertake detailed analysis and evaluation of the Directive’s aims and requirements, including identifying existing research and evidence and evidence gaps, with the purpose of developing fully considered and scoped out options for the Welsh Government.

The remit of this placement falls under the portfolio of the Minister for Climate Change and supports delivery objectives identified under primary legislation such as the Environment Act and Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

The placement will be in the Water Policy Team which is responsible for developing bespoke policy for Wales to manage its water systems sustainably, including inland waters, estuaries and coastal waters. The team also oversees the effective functioning of Wales’ water industry and safeguards drinking water quality in line with statutory specifications.

Key Tasks 

  • Collation and review of relevant research and data sources
  • Analysis of complex information and data trends
  • Engagement with internal and external stakeholders
  • Development of an initial overview report with policy solutions
  • Identification of research needs and evidence gaps
  • Summary of findings and recommendations

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - The Assessment of drinking water standards in Wales.pdf

Welsh Government - Reducing Single Use Plastics and Litter Prevention placement

Welsh Government - Reducing Single Use Plastics and Litter Prevention placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

Background: 

The Environmental Protection Division in the Welsh Government is seeking a PhD student for a placement opportunity within its Local Environment Quality policy team. The team is responsible for delivering a programme of work which focuses on improving the local environment of communities, targeting issues such as single use plastics and littering reduction, fly-tipping, dog fouling and other forms of environmental anti-social behaviour.  The team is currently in the process of implementing legislation to tackle single-use plastics and other single-use products and developing policies to reduce litter.

 

Key Tasks

The post holder will work within the team, supporting one or more of following high profile work streams:

 

  • Development/ implementation of legislation to prohibit the sale and/or supply of single-use plastic products
  • Development of key priority policies to prevent litter and fly-tipping (Including evidence gathering, monitoring and measures to support a more circular economy)
  • Communications and behaviour change
  • Support evidence gathering to understand emerging technologies and materials, particularly those marketed as “environmentally friendly”.

The post holder will benefit from a range of development opportunities including supporting Ministers; working at pace within a high-profile policy area and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and departments across Welsh Government; building valuable working relationships; broadening their knowledge and understanding of Welsh Government policy work and have the opportunity to identify areas to add value to the delivery of evidence-based policy.

With support from their Welsh Government supervisors, the post holder will be expected to take responsibility for management and delivery of work commitments, providing opportunity to develop team working and project management skills.

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - Reducing Single Use Plastics and Litter Prevention.pdf

Welsh Government - Management and protection of environmental concerns in Wales placement

Welsh Government - Management and protection of environmental concerns in Wales placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

Welsh Government is seeking two PHD candidates for placement opportunities within The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales (IEPAW). The IEPAW is responsible for reviewing concerns about the functioning of environmental law in Wales. Where warranted, the IEPAW may prepare reports on the functioning of the law for the Welsh Ministers. The IEPAW is part of an interim process in Wales until a permanent body to oversee compliance with environmental law is developed. Its focus is on the functioning of environmental law, not on breaches of that law.

The post-holders will assist and support the IEPAW in their role and will assist the IEPAW with preparation of reports in areas of environmental law in Wales which may include the regulatory framework relating to preventing pollution in Wales including the prevention of pollutants in water, air, and soil. The resulting reports will be delivered to Welsh Ministers.

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - Management and protection of environmental concerns in Wales.pdf

Welsh Government - International Biodiversity Policy Placement

Welsh Government - International Biodiversity Policy Placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

Background: 

The Marine and Biodiversity Division of the Welsh Government is seeking PhD students for multiple placement opportunities within its International and Biodiversity policy teams. The teams are responsible for the development of aspects of the Welsh Government’s biodiversity policy including international biodiversity, and implementation of the Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales.

 

Purpose of the Post

The overarching purpose of each placement is to provide support in researching, identifying evidence and collating data in support of policy option appraisal for a number of current tasks on developing biodiversity policy. This will include the development of papers and other material in an accessible format for internal and external stakeholders on a range of issues including:

  • Researching and presenting options for delivery of the Nature Recovery Action Plan and the Biodiversity Deep Dive (Implementation of Target to protect and effectively manage 30 % of Wales by 2030)
  • Research and co-ordination to support workshops on our international commitments.

Key Tasks  

  • Desk based research – by using appropriate methods to provide evidence reviews (literature or statistical data) on specific topics
  • Systems Mapping/ Analysis and modelling – by using a range of data and scenario predictions 
  • Communications/ Stakeholder engagement – by developing a communications and engagement strategy documentation – further development of guidance

 

From these areas specific tasks could include:

  • Researching evidence to support and prioritise options to increase skills and capacity to mainstream biodiversity through government departments and sectors for the Biodiversity Taskforce.
  • Produce papers based on evidence gathered to support a number of workshops and discussions based around our international commitments and development of a new Biodiversity Strategy for Wales to tackle the nature emergency.
  • To provide analysis and synthesis of evidence to support delivery of Convention on Biological Diversity target to protect 30% of Land, sea and ocean by 2030 in Wales.


See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - International Biodiversity Policy Placement .pdf

Welsh Government - Exploring the sources and impact of microplastics in the freshwater environment and their interaction with other pollutants placement

Welsh Government - Exploring the sources and impact of microplastics in the freshwater environment and their interaction with other pollutants placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

The placement will be in the Water Policy Team which is responsible for developing bespoke policy for Wales to manage its water systems sustainably, including inland waters, estuaries and coastal waters. The team also oversees the effective functioning of Wales’ water industry and safeguards drinking water quality in line with statutory specifications.

The successful candidate will be required to outline the current state of play and collate existing ad ongoing research regarding the impact of microplastics in freshwater with specific focus on what is happening in this space in Wales and the UK. Due to the cross-cutting nature of the study, the post holder will need to engage with other policy areas in the Welsh Government, such as marine, agriculture and biodiversity. There will be a need to liaise with academic institutions, researchers and other key stakeholders to ensure all relevant angles have been taken into consideration. The objective of the placement is to establish a clear understanding of current research findings, highlighting key concerns for policy makers and explore available policy solutions and interventions. 

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - Exploring the sources and impact of microplastics in the freshwater environment.pdf

Welsh Government - Critical assessment of the Water Framework Directive approach and the evaluation of its implementation in Wales placement

Welsh Government - Critical assessment of the Water Framework Directive approach and the evaluation of its implementation in Wales placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

The placement will be in the Welsh Government’s water policy team. The team is responsible for developing bespoke policy for Wales to manage its water systems sustainably, including inland waters, estuaries and coastal waters. The team also oversees the effective functioning of Wales’ water industry and safeguards drinking water quality in line with statutory specifications.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) promotes and integrated, holistic approach to water management by river basin, a natural geographical and hydrological unit. There are three river basins in Wales: Western Wales which lies wholly in Wales, and the River Dee and the River Severn which are cross border basins with England. The WFD requirements are implemented via River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) which are developed on a six yearly cycle. We are currently in Cycle 3. Cycle 1 run from 2009 to 2015 and Cycle 2 from 2015 to 2021. RBMPs are the main mechanism for improving water quality.

The integrated catchment-based methodology promoted by the WFD has shown positive results and a gradual improvement in water quality, evidenced by the latest classification results. 40% of Wales’ waterbodies are classed as achieving good ecological status (GES) at present. The 2021 data shows 8% improvement in water quality since the first classification released in 2009.

It is necessary to evaluate the success of the WFD approach critically before the end of the third cycle of RBMPs, given that the legally binding and ambitious target to achieve GES for all waterbodies is 2027. The successful candidate will be tasked to complete a desk-based review of how the WFD has been implemented in Wales so far, comparing its delivery to other parts of the UK and Europe. The work will require engagement with key stakeholders such as Natural Resources Wales (NRW), water companies and NGOs for input. The desk-based assessment and collation of feedback will form the basis of developing policy options for the future of WFD in Wales in a final report, outlining advantages and risks associated with the selected approaches.

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - Critical assessment of the Water Framework Directive approach and the evaluation of its implementation in Wales.pdf

Welsh Government - Analysing the evidence, issues and impacts of future recycling in Wales placement

Welsh Government - Analysing the evidence, issues and impacts of future recycling in Wales placement

Hybrid

Closing Date 30 May 2024

A PIPS placement opportunity is available within the Climate Change and Rural Affairs portfolio of the Welsh Government.

The Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy division are seeking a PhD student for a placement opportunity within its Extended Producer Responsibility team.  In addition to leading the policy for Extended Producer Responsibility, the division covers recycling, waste tracking, waste regulation, waste infrastructure, repair and re-use and wider circular economy policy.

See the following role description for further information - Welsh Government - Analysing the evidence, issues and impacts of future recycling in Wales.pdf

Policy Placement at John Innes Centre

Policy Placement at John Innes Centre

Norwich

Closing Date 03 May 2024

A PIP placement is available within the John Innes Centre in Norwich to support its policy and public affairs work. You will work closely with the JIC’s Head of Strategic Engagement on our growing programme of policy and public affairs activity.

What you will work on specifically will depend on your interests and when you are able to undertake the placement, but topics we are currently working on include regulation of genetic technologies, food security, the role of agriculture in addressing climate change, and antimicrobial resistance.

Activities you could be doing include:

  • working with staff across the JIC to draw up policy position statements
  • writing responses to Government consultations and calls for evidence
  • preparing internal briefings on relevant policy announcements
  • organising policy round tables or visits to the site from politicians
  • working with the Comms and Engagement team to help convey our policy messages to wider audiences
  • working with partner organisations on the Norwich Research Park on joint activities

Over the course of the placement you will learn about the role that academic organisations play in shaping government policy and the different routes to contribute to policy development. You will gain experience of preparing targeted materials for policy makers and planning proactive public affairs campaigns in priority policy areas.

If you are interested in discussing opportunities in this area, please contact Dr Eva Gordon-Sharpe, Head of Strategic Engagement at the John Innes Centre.

eva.gordon-sharpe@jic.ac.uk

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