Sense about Science - Policy and public engagement internship opportunity

London - flexible

Closing Date 31 July 2026

Policy and public engagement internship opportunity

Sense about Science is looking for interns! An internship at Sense about Science is a rewarding experience, as no two days are the same. It is a fulfilling way to get practical experience of communications, policy and public engagement, and issues of research quality; developing key professional skills and contacts that will serve you well in your future.

Please note we can only consider short-term internship applications as part of a funded opportunity or scheme, such as, but not limited to, the PIPS professional internship scheme, for PhD students. If you don’t have access to funding support for an internship, then please discuss funding opportunities with your institution or research funder, as we are unable to offer funding at this time. We cannot offer unfunded/self-funded internships.

To apply, send your CV and a cover letter outlining how your skills match the requirements to internships@senseaboutscience.org with the subject line “Student Internship.” If you have any questions about our internship vacancies, then please don’t hesitate to contact us on the same email.

About Sense about Science 

Sense about Science promotes the public interest in sound science and evidence. It is a unique campaigning charity that has turned the case for sound science and evidence into a popular cause. It has launched important initiatives to expand and protect open discussions of evidence, including Transparency of Evidence to secure openness for the public about the evidence behind decisions, AllTrials, an effective global campaign for the reporting of clinical trials; and, with Nature, it runs the international Maddox prize for standing up for science. It encourages the public to 'Ask for Evidence’ and leads initiatives to make subjects such as risk, uncertainty, data science and AI accessible.

Learn to Discover - Placement opportunity

Hybrid

Closing Date 01 April 2026

Please see the following advert from Learn to Discover - Learn to Discover - PIPS advert.pdf

There are currently 4 positions available:

1. Educational Content and Curriculum Developer

2. Automated Specialist and Educational Technologist 

3. Digital Marketing and Web Analyst

4. VR Programmer and Workshop Coordinator 

PIPS Placement Opportunity - Apis Assay Technologies

Manchester

Closing Date 24 March 2026

PIPS Placement Opportunity- Apis Assay Technologies are a medium-sized biotechnology company based in Manchester, specialising in diagnostic assay development. 

Please see the following advert for more information on the placement - PIPS Placement Advert Form_2025_Apis Assay Technologies.pdf

UK Government Open Innovation Team - PhD placement programme (multiple dates)

Remote/Hybrid

Closing Date 13 February 2026

The Open Innovation Team is a cross-government unit that works on a wide range of policies, including health, justice, education, sustainability, energy, international development, and artificial intelligence. Last year, the team launched the Evaluation Services Unit (ESU) to evaluate the impact of policies across a range of areas.

For years now, PhD students have played an important role in helping us deliver policy projects, working alongside experienced officials, academics and other experts to deliver the highest quality analysis and advice to colleagues across government.

Alongside our policy placements, we are offering placements in the ESU. The ESU uses a range of methods - quantitative, quasi-experimental as well as qualitative and theory-based - to evaluate government policy and assess its impacts. No prior experience of evaluation methodologies is required, though some knowledge of quantitative and/or relevant qualitative research methods is desirable for this placement.

Our PhD placements run throughout the year, spread across four cohorts. Placements normally last three months, with around 30 placement opportunities each year. Find out what our previous PhD placement students thought of their time with the Open Innovation Team here.

Applications for our three-month long policy and evaluation placements are now open for July to September 2026, October to December 2026, January to March 2027 and April to June 2027. 

Applications will close at 12pm on Friday 13 February.

Please see here for more information and how to apply - Open Innovation Team PhD Placement Scheme 2026-27 - GOV.UK