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Where can I get chemistry-related work experience?

It can be hard to get chemistry-related work experience, especially in labs but companies and universities really like students who have the enthusiasm and drive to hunt for a relevant position. Below are some ideas to support your search:

Download our guide to work experience.

Guide to work experience.

• Speak to your careers adviser, chemistry or science teacher about local companies that might offer work experience. Your school may also have a work experience programme. Attending your school careers fairs or employer talks will help you learn about jobs that you might be interested in, or to find out if they offer work experience.
• Look for employers of chemists in your area . Ask if they might have work experience in some of the other business functions within the company. This is a good way to learn more about the uses and applications of chemistry without having to be fully trained to be safe in a laboratory. Contacting general science employers or research institutes, companies on local science parks as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can be useful. SMEs are often more flexible. Be aware that they are more likely to be able to help if you ask them well in advance of when you need to do your placement. You can also follow these companies on social media to find out what they can offer, or ask your family or relatives about how they may be able to help you. T
• Your local hospital is worth approaching for work experience in their research departments, or pathology labs that use a lot of techniques involving chemistry.
• You can also contact your local University’s chemistry department, or schools liaison and outreach team to find out if they can help.

You should keep in mind that it is likely you will not be doing any vital or important tasks during your work experience. Work experience is a great learning experience, and your efforts and interest will not go unnoticed by potential employers and referees for your CV. It is also a good idea to maintain contact with the people you’ve met even after you leave. This can be via email, phone or social media. They may have future job vacancies or be able to help you in some other way.

Whilst the majority of employers will follow employment law, it’s important to  be aware of your own rights  when it comes to work experience, placements or internships. 

The Royal Society of Chemistry does not provide work experience or shadowing opportunities. However, your nearest  Royal Society of Chemistry Local Section  (of which there are 35 throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland) may be able to offer advice on how to find placements in your area. 

Virtual work experience

Below are a few places where you can access virtual work experiences. Also doing a regular internet search for ‘virtual work experience’ will also help discover new schemes as they become established:

• Barclays life skills  - learn new workplace skills
• Springpod  - apply for virtual work experience and university course taster experiences
• Rate my placement  offers a free, flexible programme to upskill individuals in workplace skills and behaviours
• Speakers for schools  - free work experience programme
• Forage - runs virtual work experience programmes with big and small companies that mimics entry-level work. Once enrolled, students are given a hypothetical set of tasks that an employee would expect to complete on a given work day teaching students real skills professionals use daily and connects them to the firms themselves.
• Founder4Schools - free interactive webinars so students can still hear from and interact with the business community

Work shadowing

It is sometimes easier to ask for work shadowing opportunities, rather than hands-on work experience. Work shadowing is usually a shorter experience where someone shows you what they do rather than you doing the work. This is still a good opportunity as it allows you to experience the workplace and ask questions about what their day is like, who they work with and why they enjoy their job. Even if a company are not able to offer work experience, you can still ask if you can speak with someone outside of the lab so they can answer your questions. 

Source: SolStock / E+ / Getty Images

Alternatives 

If you aren’t able to find a suitable chemistry-related work experience, placement or shadowing there are alternatives such as volunteering or other science related work that can still provide practical skills and allow you to explore other futures. Consider volunteering at your  local science festival  or science centre  to see what they offer. The  British Science Association  offer a variety of roles for volunteers as well as one week’s work experience at their offices for low-income individuals. If you’re interested in science communication then volunteering and work experience is very important. The  social mobility fund (SMF ) aims to support young people from low-income backgrounds through specific advice, guidance and by arranging paid internships with companies like EDF Energy and Rolls Royce.

Additional links

• Chemistry World Jobs internships board
• Change 100 interships for students and graduates with disabilities or long-term conditions
• UKSpa  - list of science parks around the UK
• Try contacting your local Education Business Partnership .
• The Nuffield Foundation offer  research placements  to over 1,100 students
• The  CREST Awards  scheme gives students the chance to participate in hands-on science to solve real-life STEM challenges.
• Year in Industry  is the UK’s leading student placement experts who offer one year placements before starting university.
• UK Bioindustry Associations  - list of organisations in the UK bioindustry
• Step into the NHS or  finding work experience in the NHS  (teacher and advisor’s guide) 
• Bright Green Placements  - offers opportunities to students and graduates to work with organisations across Scotland
• Chemagility  - worldwide directory of chemical distribution companies 
• Help is available from  Smart Futures  and  Careersportal  (Republic of Ireland). 
• The British Antarctic Survey work experience opportunities 

Volunteering

• Do-it  (UK-wide)
• Volunteer Scotland
• Volunteering Wales
• Volunteer Now  (Northern Ireland)
• Volunteer Ireland  (Republic of Ireland)

Map of employers

Explore chemical sciences companies who may offer work experience

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Work experience and summer placements

Work experience 2023-2024.

All applications for work experience have now been filled for Spring and Summer 2024. Applicants may apply from October 2024 onwards.

CSCI is committed to taking on work experience students, year 10 and above , to participate in a period of work experience.

Students will have the opportunity to experience ‘live science’ within the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, a world-leading centre for stem cell research. The work experience placements will take place in our  Principal Investigator’s  labs, observing laboratory skills and techniques carried out by our research scientists.

Application process

Applicants should send a short covering letter (one side of A4 max), outlining why you wish to undertake work experience with us and what areas of science you are particularly interested in and why ( and/or specify a particular Principal Investigator of interest). Please also include a brief CV with your application and the dates that you would like to be considered for work experience. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and it may not be possible to offer work experience placements for all applicants.

Please note that we can only host students in Year 10 (aged 14/15) and above  ( excluding accelerated students ).

Please send all informal queries and/or applications to [email protected] . We will let you know as soon as possible of the outcome.

Nuffield placements

Nuffield Research Placements give students the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians for 4-6 weeks over the summer holidays. 

To find out more and to see if you meet the eligibility criteria, visit the Research Placements and Experiences website .

In2scienceUK programme

The In2scienceUK programme helps disadvantaged and under-represented 16-17 year olds (studying at least one STEM subject, either at sixth form or at college) gain an insight into science, technology, engineering or maths. The programme seeks supervisors to host these students for 2-week placements in the summer, and h osts can be anyone from PhD students, to Postdocs, to PIs. 

See here for more information.

Internships

Internships are fixed-term periods of paid work experience, typically lasting 1-3 months. 

You may want to check out the University of Cambridge School of Biological Sciences which run their internship programme Experience Postgrad Life Sciences every year for undergraduates.

In 2021, as a widening participation initiative, ‘ Experience Postgrad Life Sciences programme’, will offer 8-week Summer research placements to second year UK and Republic of Ireland undergraduate students, with priority given to those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.

External and existing University of Cambridge students are welcome to apply for internships within the University. To apply for an internship vacancy that you've seen advertised, please visit here for more information.

Please note: Applicants must apply to a specific vacancy - we cannot accept CVs from speculative applicants. 　

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s (EU) funding programme for education and training, youth and sport.　

The University of Cambridge has participated in the Erasmus programme since its inception 25 years ago and in the last few years there has been a substantial increase in student mobility.

Students from institutions with whom we have an Erasmus inter-institutional agreement can come at all levels; undergraduate, Masters and PhD and for one, two or three terms. Applicants must achieve the same entry requirements as students applying for a full degree, this includes an English language requirement. 

For more information about the Erasmus Programme, please visit  Erasmus+ .

Outreach projects - students under 16

Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (neaco)  

The Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (neaco) delivers activities across East Anglia to help students in Years 9-13, with little or no experience of university, to explore the world of higher education.

Find out more here . 

Insight Discover

Insight Discover is a programme that students follow from Year 7 to Year 8, which aims to develop key academic skills to support them in their academic work. In addition, the programme introduces students to university and the options which are available to them in the future. 

Insight Discover is a collaborative programme with The Brilliant Club (see also below) and in the final part of Insight Discover our participants take part in the Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme .

Insight Explore

Insight Explore is an academic programme for Year 9 students which aims to develop participants interests and tackle the barriers many students face when applying to university.

Find out more here.

The Realise project's aim is to encourage more young people in care to consider higher education. The University of Cambridge runs a large number of events ranging from science days to theatre days to give a taste of life as a student at Cambridge.

Outreach projects – students 16+

HE+ is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge's Admissions Office and Colleges, and state schools/colleges across the UK. The University and schools in 20 regions collaborate to form regional consortia to support highly-able students from under-represented areas and backgrounds, and involves approximately 4,000 students in Year 12 each year.

Find out more here .  

Insight + aims to support students making competitive applications to selective Higher Education Institutions by supporting students over 12 months from Easter in Year 12. Students receive additional subject specific teaching across five subject strands (English, Physics, Maths, Chemistry and History) which is delivered by experience teachers and departmental outreach practitioners.

Sutton Trust Summer Schools

Sutton Trust Summer Schools are free subject-specific residential courses for Year 12 students studying at state-maintained schools in the UK. The five-day summer schools in July and August allow students to explore their interest in one of 26 subjects and gain an insight into what it is like to live and study as a first-year undergraduate student at Cambridge.

Find out more here .

Opportunities for current postgraduate students to get involved with schools or training

If you have a great idea for engagement with community or patient groups, get in touch with the Institute Public Engagement team to discuss support and approaches: [email protected]

The Brilliant Club

Are you a PhD researcher or doctoral graduate who wants to help a young person realise their academic potential?

The Brilliant Club’s 'Researcher Development Programme' offers PhD and Early Career Researchers a meaningful, professionally developmental, paid tutoring opportunity. Training with The Brilliant Club and working as a Scholars Programme tutor enables researchers to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience, gain valuable teaching and public engagement experience and deepen their knowledge of the UK education system.  

Tutors will be supported to complete a series of training modules before beginning work with us, and further continuous professional development for each subsequent placement. 

Get in touch

For information about work experience , contact [email protected]  

For information on internships , contact [email protected]

For information on longer term student placements , contact [email protected]

Other resources

The University of Cambridge  Gurdon Institute  runs an  Aspiring Scientist Training Programme  every year over the Summer. A few of their Group Leaders are affiliated with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. 

More information about taking part in work experience at the University of Cambridge can be found  here .

Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre Puddicombe Way Cambridge Biomedical Campus CB2 0AW

[email protected]

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Work Experience 

Our Mission

Our mission is clear: to offer inspiring and inclusive work experience opportunities that empower young individuals, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to explore the exciting world of genomics. We firmly believe that by opening our doors to students, we not only contribute to their personal growth but also contribute to the advancement of scientific understanding in genomics.

What We Offer

For more placement options please sign up to our mailing list [email protected]

Why Choose Work Experience at Sanger Institute?

Inclusive Opportunities : We are committed to diversity and inclusivity, striving to provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds to explore genomics.

Hands-On Learning : We offer practical, hands-on experiences that go beyond classroom learning, allowing students to engage with cutting-edge research and technologies.

Expert Guidance : Interact with seasoned professionals and researchers who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and guiding students in their career aspirations.

Inspiring Environment : Immerse yourself in the dynamic and collaborative atmosphere of Sanger Institute, where breakthroughs in genomics are a daily occurrence.

Apply Today

Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery and learning in the field of genomics? Join us in shaping the future of science and technology. Apply for our various work experience opportunities today and take your first step towards a career in genomics.

Note: Our programs have specific eligibility criteria. Please refer to the individual program links for more information on how to apply and whether you qualify for participation.

Enquire now

Please keep an eye on this page as we will have more opportunities coming up in 2024.

For any enquiries or further information, please contact us at [email protected] . We look forward to helping you take your first steps into the world of genomics!

For more placement options please sign up to our mailing list: [email protected]

Connecting Science

Connect with the diverse range of communities, learners, educators and researchers, creating opportunities and spaces to explore genomic science and its impact on people. ...more

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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.

Work Experience

The LMB offers a variety of work experience placements for students in Years 10 to 13 (aged 14 and above). Our placements provide hands-on experience of working in an academic research institute. Placements may be within an LMB  research group ,  scientific facility  or  support services , highlighting the variety of roles that underpin our cutting edge research.

We have partnered with Form the Future to offer in-person placements to underrepresented students at the LMB during the summer. Form the Future, a not-for-profit careers and employment company, was founded in 2015 to help young people find their route through education into employment and provide employers access to their future talent. Committed to each stage of young people’s development, the dedicated team provides schools, colleges and other groups with high-quality outsourced Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) services.

Applications are open for placements for:

• Year 10 students (from July 8 th – 12 th ). Find the application form here .
• Year 12 students (from July 29 th to August 2 nd ). Find the application form here .

The application deadline is March 29 th 2024.

Additional placements will be advertised via this webpage when they become available.

If you are an undergraduate student, you may be interested in our  Student Placement Scheme .

For any questions relating to work experience, please email  Public Engagement Team .  

Placement length

Depending which placement you apply for, the advert will tell you how long they run. Advertised work experience placements from the LMB can vary from 1-2 weeks (usually in July and August).

If selected for work experience, you will be expected to attend all days of the placement.

Food and travel expenses

For all students who applied to an advertised work experience placement via Form the Future or via our website we will cover reasonable travel expenses and offer a voucher to cover food and refreshments (approx. £5 a day) throughout their placement. This is given as a voucher which is covered in cost after spending by the LMB.

Quotes from 2023 placements

Siena – hosted by Magda Sutcliffe

“I really enjoyed the setting. LMB is so welcoming and different to anything I have ever seen. Learning to use the various equipment was great.

I plan on pursuing medicine and so seeing how the lab work can be applied to healthcare was extremely useful. It also provided the possibility of an alternative lab job in the future.”

Tolu – hosted by Magda Sutcliffe

“I really enjoyed the experience at the LMB. My highlights were going into the lab and doing hands on work instead of just observing. It emphasises the difference between small school labs and real-world labs. 

I want to study pharmacy, and this has solidified my decision as I’ve read an article that shows how molecular biology and pharmacy link and how it affects the medical industry.”

Annabelle – hosted by Millie-Jane Adcock

“The highlights of my time at the LMB were gaining new lab skills such as using pipettes and various robots. 

This experience has sparked an interest in laboratory work and careers in research because I found the work very interesting and enjoyed working in the laboratory environment.”

Summer – hosted by Lori Passmore

“I really enjoyed having a tour of the building to see all the equipment that gets used and learning how it’s used to aid research. I also really enjoyed the hands-on experience and getting to help conduct real experiments to see how methods are used and build my confidence and skills when doing practical work. 

I felt free to ask questions about university and career paths after that and I received informative, honest answers. I plan on doing a biochemistry degree at university, and this placement confirmed that this is definitely the route I want to take.”

Mariana – hosted by Lori Passmore

“Throughout this fantastic experience, I aided in a variety of experiments but my favourite has to be the CPF PAS changing an immature mRNA into a mature mRNA. Although the knowledge needed is years away in my academic career my hosts always ensured I understood, breaking down concepts and applying it to facts I learn in my current A-levels.

Originally, I worried about the work life balance in a research lab, but I learnt the lab is a community of people who consistently share knowledge and help each other. I plan to follow a more research focused life plan.”

Rami – hosted by Boglárka Anna Vámos

“Some of the highlights at the LMB was discovering how researchers used Cryo-electron microscopy to understand Alzheimer’s and even won an award, I found that quite inspiring. I also enjoyed using new tools and equipment for example centrifuges and vortex and learning a new way of pipetting I thought that was really engaging.

My time at the LMB has given me some clarification that I would like to do a health science (biomedicine) as before I wasn’t quite sure as I knew the content that would be taught but wasn’t sure what type of practical things I could be doing. I’ve never had any hands-on experience outside of school, so this was really eye opening and a unique opportunity to have.” 

Raufaeel – hosted by Andy Howe

“The highlight of my time at the LMB was learning to solder as it was a new skill.

The placement has been useful in helping me make decisions about my future because I was able to receive career advice from experts and it allowed me to understand the potential risks and benefits of each one of my ideas.”

Quotes from 2022 placements

“Working in a research-focused environment was something I found very enjoyable. I liked the emphasis on taking the time to do something right instead of making something commercially for a profit.”

“My time at the LMB was my first hands-on experience in a lab outside of school. During this time, I really enjoyed learning about and seeing what a career in science might look like. I particularly enjoyed learning about and examining  Drosophila melanogaster , as well as learning about how they could be used to aid research and test out theories in the lab. I also thoroughly enjoyed carrying out a bacterial protein expression and learning about the science behind this.”

“My time at the LMB has certainly been very helpful in guiding my decision-making over my future career, as it has given me first-hand insight into what a career in science might entail. I had a great time while I was here, and I plan to pursue a career in this field.”

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Work experience

Providing first-hand, relevant work experience for students in a scientific environment.

2024 Virtual Work Experience Program

Are you a high school student in Year 10 or 11? You could gain first-hand experience of CSIRO's research in science or engineering by participating in our Virtual Work Experience Program in 2024. 

In 2024, the CSIRO virtual work experience program will support students to undertake work experience remotely, providing opportunities for those who may face geographic or other barriers to participating in traditional work experience. It also allows you the opportunity to experience contemporary ways of working, from home, and with people across geographic boundaries, just as CSIRO scientists do every day. 

Virtual work experience allows you to undertake collaborative, group science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects, including projects linked to real-world CSIRO research and industry challenges. Instead of attending a CSIRO site, experienced CSIRO staff will supervise groups of students remotely using a secure online platform. The groups will comprise five to 10 students, who may be remote from each other, and who will work together to complete work and tasks that can be used as part of portfolios and help inform your study and career plans.

How does it work?

Virtual Work Experience also provides students the opportunity to experience contemporary ways of working, such as from home, and with people across geographic boundaries, just as CSIRO scientists do every day.

[Music plays and image appears of an aerial view of Tennant Creek and then the camera zooms in on a rock formation on the ground and then the camera zooms out to show a car driving past the rocks]

[Image changes to show three female students walking past the Tennant Creek High School sign and then the image shows a rear view of the three students walking towards the school building]

Sharon Kurniawan: In the virtual work experience programme we were looking at medical image processing using Anaconda and Python and Jupiter Notebook and things like that.

[Images move through of two students working on a computer together, a close-up view of the computer screen, and then Chin Huan talking to the camera and text appears: Chin Huan, Science & Mathematics Teacher, Tennant Creek High School]

Chin Huan: Our kids are given the opportunities just as any other kids across Australia, regardless of whether you are from the city or from a remote town like Tennant Creek.

[Images move through of the students entering a room and then working on the computer]

Robelyn-Joy Lanas: The main things that we’ve learned during the week was like different types of playing the basics of Python.

[Image changes to show three of the students around a computer in a room]

I also got to work with the people in CSIRO.

[Image changes to show Robelyn-Joy sitting in a chair on a verandah talking to the camera and text appears: Robelyn-Joy Lanas, Tennant Hills High School]

I mean it was very fun. It was really interesting.

[Images move through to show Rob Hollow walking down a corridor, entering a room, talking to the camera, sitting in a chair talking, and then working on a computer and text appears: Rob Hollow, Education & Science Outreach Specialist, Astronomy and Space Science, CSIRO]

Rob Hollow: The virtual work experience programme is a really exciting concept that allows students in regional and remote areas access to a really worthwhile and engaging experience around future career paths without physically having to come into a city or a headquarters like us here in Sydney.

[Image changes to show a goat grazing outside a house, and then the image changes to show a sign on the house wall which reads “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow]

Kate Barrett: I learned a lot about pulsars because I didn’t know heaps about them.

[Image changes to show a rear view of Kate working on a laptop, and then images move through of the laptop screen she is working on, and then Kate talking to the camera and text appears: Kate Barrett, Brisbane School of Distance Education]

We looked at pulsars in binary systems, so all the different ways that they can interact with other stars and we looked at how they’re formed. I learned a bit about scale.

[Image changes to show a rear view of Kate working at her laptop]

I thought that there’d be a lot sort of within a 100 light years but they’re very spread out.

[Image changes to show Luke looking at Rob Hollow talking on the laptop screen]

Luke Bosnic: Right now, when you’re in school you don’t really get to choose where you live.

[Image changes to show a close view of Luke’s face as he works on the laptop and then the camera zooms in on Rob Hollow talking on the laptop screen]

You just have to, you know, you live where your parents live. It’s not like I could just buy a house in the city and live there.

[Image changes to show Luke sitting in a chair and talking to the camera and then the image changes to show a side facing view of Luke talking and text appears: Luke Bosnic, Peninsular Grammar]

So, it would be really unfair. Everyone should have the same opportunities.

[Image changes to show Sophie Hawke talking to the camera and text appears: Sophie Hawke, Tennant Creek High School]

Sophie Hawke: We did have a lot of connection errors.

[Image changes to show Kaitlyn Fraser sitting on a bench talking to the camera and text appears: Kaitlyn Fraser, Tennant Creek High School]

Kaitlyn Fraser: Sometimes we would have problems with the Wi-Fi or connection but…

[Image changes to show Sharon sitting in a chair in a classroom talking to the camera and text appears: Sharon Kurniawan, Tennant Creek High School]

Sharon Kurniawan: You can’t really do anything about it and like you have to work with what you’ve got.

[Image changes to show Rob working on a computer and then the image changes to show a close view of Rob talking to the camera and then the camera zooms out on Rob talking]

Rob Hollow: Students in these regional remote areas, you know they might be in a very small school, they might be in a central school where there’s only a handful of students in their year level.

[Camera zooms in on Rob talking and then the image changes to show a profile view of Luke and then the image changes to show Rob sitting in a chair talking to the camera]

By having a virtual experience like this where they can come online, interact with other keen students from other, other areas, it provides an opportunity that otherwise they’re denied.

[Image changes to show Dr Susmita Saha sitting in a chair talking to the camera and text appears: Dr Susmita Saha, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO]

Dr Susmita Saha: It was really encouraging for us to know that such remote schools are really interested about STEM.

[Image changes to show Sophie and Robelyn-Joy talking and smiling and then the image changes to show Susmita talking on the screen]

The students actually showed a great level of enthusiasm but I should say that I enjoyed that too.

[Image changes to show Susmita talking to the camera]

So, that was actually encouraging both ways.

[Music plays and the CSIRO logo and text appears on a blue screen: CSIRO, Australia’s innovation catalyst]

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Eligibility

To be eligible to do virtual work experience with CSIRO, students must be:

• in year 10 or 11, and aged 15-17 years for the duration of the work experience
• enrolled in a school in Australia
• able to commit to a designated week between April and December 2024
• be supported by a teacher, parent or other approved adult in their physical location throughout their work experience project.

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Blizard Institute Work Experience Programme (BIWEP)

The Blizard Institute Work Experience Programme welcomes year 10-12 students who are interested in studying Medicine or a Biomedical related degree at university or are considering a career in a similar field.

Our week-long programme will provide students with the exciting opportunity to gain experience in a laboratory setting and learn more about the medical research here at the Blizard Institute.

What will I be doing?

You will mainly be shadowing our PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in the centres of Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research , Genomics and Child Health , Immunobiology , Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma , and in the Core Laboratory Facilities as per the general schedule below:

Please note that the schedule could be modified by Centre Managers at any time depending on their staff activity/priorities.

Students will be included in one of the Centre of the Cell STEM Pod shows and/or Neuron Pod workshops depending on availability. Centre of the Cell is our public engagement centre for informal science-learning.

There may be some seminars, lectures or meetings scheduled for the week that students will be encouraged to attend, if allowed.

Who can participate?

• Students in years 10-12 residing in London, United Kingdom.
• We prioritise east London-based schools, primarily students from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, where we are based.
• A limit of two students will be able to take part in the week-long programme scheduled to run on the fourth week of each month (excluding August and December).

How to apply?

Please note that submitting an application does not automatically guarantee you a place. Students are allocated on a first come, first served basis after considering the content of applications. Priority will be given to students who attend schools based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

If you are a student or school

If you wish to participate in our programme, please email your CV and a completed Blizard Institute Work Experience Form 2024 [PDF 134KB] (including your expression of interest in the personal statement section) to [email protected] , copying in your work experience representative at your school to ensure they are aware of your enquiry. Your application will only be considered if your school representative is included in your email.

If you are an agency, parent or tutor

Please note that we correspond directly with the students or school representatives only.

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• Testimonials
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Useful Resources

• Blizard Institute Health and Safety Guidance 2023 [PDF 389KB]
• Blizard Institute Induction Form 2023 [PDF 129KB]
• Blizard Institute Work Experience Form 2024 [PDF 134KB]
• Blizard Institute Work Experience Programme Schedule 2024 [PDF 45KB]

The Blizard Institute is part of the  Whitechapel campus  of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

•   How to find us  
•  Download the  Whitechapel campus map

Contact address

Blizard Institute Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary University of London 4 Newark St London E1 2AT

• "I have gone beyond what I expected to learn. I got to do lots of practical work and learnt so much about the different Centres. I have  developed lost of practical skills such as preparing samples, using pipettes for accurate measuring and lab safety skillls. All staff were extremely nice and made sure I was looked after and enjoying the activities. I have been exposed to careers I didn't even know existed before and to further education options I hadn't considered before. I definetely would recomend this programme because I learnt so much and got to see and do things I would have never imagined. I found this week very useful as it has allowed me to clearly understand what occupation I would like to undertake in the future. I have learnt the importance of team work and communication skills. I have also gained an insight into this field of work and my confidence in working in the field of science has immensely grown." - Woodmansterne School Student
• "I actually witnessed real scientists making discoveries for their project. I am so happy and pleased that I got this opportunity. My patience has developed massively: thanks to this programme I have experienced that it is much more effective to take time to complete work so that the outcome is just as imagined. Staff are incredibly kind and hardworking. I much appreciate how they took time from their busy schedules to help us students, they definetely deserve more recognition. BIWEP is a great way for young people to find interest in science, and to help get an idea of what they want to do in future, even if unsure when they start." - Holy Family Catholic School Student
• "I got a vivid insight into the different fields of research. This allowed me to expand my knowledge and solidify my choice of career. Interacting with staff members was great. They were very friendly and informative. I would recommend this programme to students my age as it helps us understand that there are multiple careers in the science field each with significant levels of importance and prestige." - The Petchey Academy Student
• "I was not only able to obserb in the lab but participated in an impactful way. I am now aware of the multitude of roles neccesary to make all function and find the area of clinical research more appealing. I found it very pleasant as staff was more than happy to help explain any concepts or topics that I found remotely vague or confusing." - Woodhouse College Student  
• "I was so lucky to have the amazing experience of shadowing innovative individuals working at such a prestigious institute. Most notably, the day that I shadowed a doctor at the Royal London hospital was the most exciting and interesting experience of my life and had completely spurred my interest in studying medicine at university. I cannot present my gratitude to you enough for allowing me to have such an amazing experience." - St Thomas More RC School Student
• "This week was an unforgettable experience and I leant so much. It was fascinating to be able to listen to a neurogastroenterologist's journey from training as a doctor to researching the gut-brain axis. Our discussion threw interesting questions on the various treatment possibilities that would arise from this exciting new field." - St Paul’s Girls’ School Student
• "I have a much more realistic insight into what a career in my chosen field is like. After the programme I am more interested in doing an intercalated year that is more research-based.Every member of staff was really welcoming, kind and keen to explain and encouring me to ask any questions. It has been an invaluable experience for me." - The Tiffin Girls’ School Student
• "Thank you for the opportunity presented to me this past week. I would also like to thank you and your colleagues for your warm welcomes and the unforgettable experience you have all given me. I have learnt to be curious and to seize every opportunity that I can." - Bishop Challoner Catholic Federation of Schools Student  
• "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Blizard. I am now confident my future is on the science field. The professionals I met gave me invaluable advice on what is needed for me to achieve this. Thanks for making sure that my week with you was coherent and smooth." - Woolwich Polytechnic School Student
• "Staff were exceptional and very engaging. The activities proposed were fascinating. I enjoyed a risk assessment worshop and the Centre of the Cell as innovative and fun." - Woolwich Polytechnic School Student
• "Thank you for the opportunity I had. I am so grateful as I understand the planning this took and staff being very busy. Thank you for the experience I have gained is priceless and I wish that you understand the extent of my gratitude." - Mossbourne Community Academy Student
• "I really enjoyed speaking to an undergraduate about what doing a science degree at university is like before getting to the stage of working in a lab." - The Henrietta Barnet School Student
• "Thank you for allowing me to work alongside the most amazing and helpful scientists ever. I have really benefitted from this experience as I would like to become a researcher in the near future." - Dukes Aldridge Academy Student
• "Thank you for the work experience opportunity at the Blizard Institute. It has been really helpful and I learned a lot from the staff throughout the week" - Bishop Challoner 6th Form Student
• "It was interesting to be able to see the advanced equipment in use as I would not have accees to it otherwise. I was able to see how theories learnt at school in science lessons are put into practice through research." - Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Student
• "I am extremely grateful for your help in organising my placement and to all the staff: Jan, Belen, Dr" - St Thomas More RC Comprehensive School Student
• "Thank you very much for everything, it was truly an amazing and insightful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed doing the whole programme and it has assured me that I definitely want to go into a lab-based career in the future." - Holly Alleyn’s School Student  
• "Thank you so much for the experience, and I would love to say a massive thank you to all the people that I met on the week and was able to share a part of their day with." - Holly Alleyn’s School Student    
• "Thank you very much for helping me with everything regarding the week, It was an amazing experience that I will never forget!" - St Benedicts School (Ealing) Student
• "Playing games in the Centre of the Cell pod was very informative and interactive." - Bishop Challoner Sixth Form (Year 10) Student
• "I extremely loved being able to widen my knowledge of stem cells through animals (mice)" - Havering Sixth Form College Student
• "Thank you for making our time more interesting and fun! We really appreciate it. Wish you all the best with your research!" - St Paul's Way Trust School Student
• "Enjoyed absolutely everything! Thanks for providing such helpful academic and research career advice." - London Design & Engineering UTC Student

Centre of the Cell Work Experience

Centre of the Cell is an informal science education centre located within the Blizard Institute which offers work experience for young people aged between 14 and 19. Our work experience is focused around the skills required for science communication but can also be extremely useful for anyone interested in a healthcare/STEM related career. We currently run two types of work experience - virtual and in-person. There is crossover between the two types, so it is advisable to only take part in one of them.

Both virtual and in-person placements will offer plenty of activities to develop transferable skills. For example, you will be given the chance to interview a medical/dental student and/or a scientist, gaining an insight into their career while developing your communication skills. Another of our popular activities is the chance to design an online science game, developing research and presentation skills.

To find out more about our work experience, email [email protected] .

Please note that our work experience does not include any lab work.

In-person Work Experience

Week long placements during term time. These placements will take place during the school day (10am-3pm) so permission will be required from the school. This placement includes supporting with the delivery of our school events, learning how a science centre runs behind the scenes.

Virtual Work Experience

Our virtual work experience runs during February Half Term and the Summer holidays. This placement is 4 days long, from 10am-3pm . This work experience incorporates a mixture of video calls, and independent work where you will be sent the activity through email. In this work experience you are able to organise your time, helping you to develop independence and time management skills.

Visit the Centre of the Cell website

Queen Mary is the most inclusive university of its kind. Through Access to Queen Mary, we nurture students typically under-represented at Russell Group universities, through an 18-month programme of activities, events and interventions.

The Access to Queen Mary programme aims to help students become more prepared for, and successful in, higher education. Students who successfully complete the programme will not only have benefited from tailored academic and pastoral support but will benefit from a contextual offer to Queen Mary.

Work experience

If you are looking for opportunities related to science or maths you can get ideas from friends, family, online business directories or business directories in your local library.

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Work experience students

Any questions.

Send a message to [email protected].

Introduction

Meet our work experience students.

Sixth form students Tarik and Malina took part in work experience placements discovering DNA sequencing and science communication.

Hear how they got on

Our work experience programme highlights the variety of careers available, from world-leading laboratory research to the supporting business services.

Placements might be in research laboratories in areas such as cell biology, genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. Work experience could be also in non-laboratory locations such as the IT, reception services, public engagement and education teams.

During placements, students are involved in a range of activities supervised by one of our staff.

Available placements Placement details Eligibility checker

Available placements

Type of experience.

• Operations (1)
• Science (1)

Summer science placements (aged 16+) | (This placement closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 8th May.)

Other summer placements (aged 14-19) | (this placement closes at 23:59 on wednesday 8th may.), placement details, placement length.

Most placements last for one week, although some can be up to four weeks long or occasionally take place for one day a week over the summer holidays. If selected for work experience, you will be expected to attend all days of the placement.

Placement availability

Placements are available throughout the year. Some coincide with specific weeks that local schools have timetabled for work experience. They are also available during school half term breaks, Easter and summer holidays.

Food and travel expenses

We can contribute to students' travel expenses during the placement (up to a maximum of £50 per week) and food (up to £5 per day to be spent in the Crick’s restaurant).

Eligibility checker

Placements are available for state school students who are 14-19 years old.

For health and safety reasons, only students aged 16 or older at the start of the placement can apply for research laboratory-based placements. This restriction may also apply to some non-laboratory placements.

We encourage students to apply for as many placements as they're interested in. However, if a student is offered more than one placement, they may only attend one placement at the Crick per academic year.  

✓ You are eligible for work experience at the Crick.

Available placements are listed above .

Placements at the Crick are either lab-based or not lab-based. Please be aware that you must be 16-19 at the start of the placement to be able to apply for a lab-based placement.

Note that to apply for a lab placement at the Crick you must be 16-19.

✕ Unfortunately you're not eligible for a work experience placement at the Francis Crick Institute.

However, given your interest, you may like to check out the opportunities below:

• The Nuffield Foundation's placements 
• Summer schools at Imperial College
• Social Mobility Foundation's placements

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How to List Research Experience on Your Resume

Applying for a role that requires research skills? Here’s how to list your research experience on a resume, with examples you can follow.

3 years ago   •   7 min read

Research experience isn’t just for science and academia. Research is a valuable skill that’s required for a number of roles and industries, which means it almost certainly has a place on your resume. And no — that doesn’t mean writing “research” in your skills section and moving on.

Why you should list research experience on your resume

If you’re applying for a job that involves research, listing research experience is a no-brainer. Research-specific positions, scientific jobs like Research Assistants , Lab Assistants or Technicians, graduate school applications, and most jobs in academia all require evidence of research skills. Even outside these positions, research experience demonstrates valuable transferable skills, like critical thinking and attention to detail . Which is not to say that you need to include research experience on every resume — if it makes you a stronger candidate, include it, but if it isn’t relevant and doesn’t add anything else to your candidacy, leave it off.

Research experience resume example

Before we dive right in, here's a sample resume that emphasizes research skills. You can use this as a template or as inspiration to write your own resume from scratch.

Download: PDF | Google Docs

How to list research experience in your resume

Like a lot of desirable skills, research is a soft skill , meaning it’s not something you can claim as an objective fact on your resume without backing it up. What you can do instead is prove it — what previous role involved a lot of research? What resume accomplishments do you have that highlight your research experience? Showing how you used research skills in action is the best way to demonstrate the value you could bring to the company and role you’re applying for.

There are a number of ways you can highlight research experience on your resume:

In a dedicated section

In your work experience, in your education section, listing research publications, in a projects section, in your skills section, in your resume summary.

Let's take a look at each of these options in a little more depth. But first, let's look at an annotated example to help set the context.

If you come from a research background, you might want to title your work experience ‘Research.’ Alternatively, you could create two experience sections — one titled ‘Work Experience’ and one titled ‘Research Experience’ — if you also have a lot of non-research experience but want to highlight your most relevant experience first. You can go into more detail when applying for a research-focused role by describing the project and specifying the nature of the research and your role in it.

More information: How to title different sections of your resume

Including research experience in your main work experience section is appropriate if it was paid work or if it was your most recent and relevant experience. List the employer — for example, the university or research department — job title, dates, and accomplishments, just like you would any other work experience.

More information: How to list your work experience on your resume

If you’re a current student or recent graduate, you can list your education section at the top of your resume. You can also make this section a little more comprehensive if you don’t have a lot of work experience, by including things like awards, coursework, and academic research.

If you undertook research as part of your studies and it demonstrates skills relevant to the job you’re applying for, list your research accomplishments in bullet points under the education section of your resume.

More information: The must-haves when writing your education on your resume

If you have a lot of publications that came out of your research, and you want to draw attention to them — and if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for — consider creating a separate publications section . Formal publications like these are an excellent way to add credibility to your research experience.

List each publication in a new bullet point with the title, year, and name of the magazine, website, or journal. Academic publications can be listed more formally if it’s relevant, like if you’re applying for graduate school or a role in academia.

When it comes to listing research on your resume, like other soft skills, you need to show you’ve used this skill in your previous roles by showcasing your research related accomplishments. Upload your resume to the tool below to find out if your resume highlights your most relevant research experience and achievements.

If your research experience is less extensive or wasn’t quite relevant enough to include alongside your work experience or education, you can still highlight it in a projects section. Keep this brief and include 1-2 bullet points showcasing your key research accomplishments.

More information: How to list projects on a resume

Research skills can go in your skills section — as long as they’re hard skills. Steer clear of listing generic skills like “Research” — instead, use our keyword finder to look for relevant skills and keywords and include specific hard skills like data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and certifications.

You can also use the skills search tool below to get a list of hard skills relevant to the research-focused role you’re applying for.

More information: How to write a resume skills section

If you’re applying for a position where research experience is essential, consider emphasizing your experience by including a short resume summary at the top of your resume. This should include the title of the job you’re applying for and a brief overview of your background and key skills.

More information: Generate a summary for your resume

Examples of listing research experience on your resume

No matter where you choose to include it, always list research experience in concise, accomplishment-focused bullet points . These should follow the structure of action verb + what you did + what the result was. Here are some examples of resume bullet points you can use or modify to suit your own research experiences.

Highlight research projects

• Assisted with cell development research projects as part of the Leukemia Research team — identifying cell changes, determining cell counts and coulter counters with 98% accuracy.

If you have significant research experience, describe it! The more relevant it is to the position you’re applying for, the more detail you can go into. Make sure to specify exactly what stages of research you worked on and what your contribution was.

Mention awards for your research

• Awarded “Total Quality Award” in recognition of consistent high standards of quality work for research excellence (only 3 awarded in class of 500).

If the high quality of your work has been acknowledged by an award, early promotion , or similar outside recognition, include it! In addition to the name of the award or accolade, don’t forget to specify context (e.g. 'out of class of 500 people' to increase its credibility.

Demonstrate technical expertise

• Created over 75 3D models with CAD tools such as Solidworks and ANSYS.

If you have experience with specific software or tools that you’ll be using in the position you’re applying for, include a bullet point accomplishment specifying how you’ve used them. While this isn't direct 'research' experience, it uses tools that are relevant to research projects — this is a good way of showing that you have research skill sets without having formal research experience.

Use 'research-focused' action verbs

• Researched and edited two articles and one book chapter on prenatal substance abuse, policy implication of Human Genome Project.

Use action verbs like "Researched" or "Scoured" which clearly emphasize research skills. In some cases (like in this example), you can list publications in your bullet points itself. If you’ve authored academic papers, books, or articles, this is a great way to show the validity and importance of your research.

Include accomplishments related to research studies

• Oversaw screening and recruitment of over 100 participants to study, liaised with laboratory personnel and site coordinators to ensure study is completed on time with 100% success.

Not all research positions involve pure research. Make sure you highlight appropriate related accomplishments, like managing research study participant data and enrolments or managing a team of research assistants.

Include accomplishments relating to research in your field

• Conducted legal research; organized and analyzed data and evidence for over 50 cases annually.

If research is part of the job description, make sure you include at least one bullet point highlighting how you’ve used those skills in the past. Including metrics, like the number of cases you’ve researched, contextualizes your accomplishments and helps them stand out.

• Conducted marketing research for both buy-side and sell-side resulting in 15 strong leads.

Research isn’t just limited to science and academia. Demonstrate your skills in action by the context and end results of your research, like the number of leads it generated or the increase in sales figures.

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Unveiling the Path to Gaining Work Experience in Biomedical Science

1. Establish a Strong Educational Foundation

Biomedical science is built upon a solid knowledge base. Start by pursuing a relevant degree, such as biomedical science, biology, or a related field, ensuring your coursework excellence and deep understanding of the subject matter.

2. Volunteer in Healthcare Settings

Hospitals, clinics, and research institutions regularly welcome volunteers. These roles may not always be directly related to biomedical science, but they provide invaluable insights into the healthcare environment and introduce you to potential mentors. Seek positions that align with your interests, like patient care, medical administration, or lab support.

3. Embrace the Power of Networking

Building a professional network can open doors in the biomedical science field. Attend scientific conferences, seminars, and workshops to meet professionals who can guide you. Reach out to professors, researchers, and alumni with industry experience.

4. Pursue Internships and Research Opportunities

Hands-on experience can be gained through internships in research labs, healthcare facilities, or pharmaceutical companies. Check with your university's career services for available programs and apply for positions that match your interests. Internships provide practical skills and valuable connections.

5. Collaborate on Research Projects

Participate in research projects as a student assistant or collaborator, often available through professors and researchers conducting ongoing studies. This can significantly enhance your research experience, improve analytical skills, and strengthen your CV.

How Can Springpod Assist You?

Learning from experts is invaluable. Some students find University teaching helpful to hone their knowledge and skills in Biomedical Science.

By completing this experience, you will receive a valuable certificate, affirming your dedication to this essential field. This certificate serves as a compelling addition to your CV, setting you apart in the competitive job market. Whether you're an eager student exploring the intricacies of biomedical science or a professional seeking to enhance your knowledge and career prospects, this experience offers a convenient and credible way to enrich your understanding and stand out in the ever-evolving world of healthcare and research.

View the experience here

Watch the trailer here ⏬

In conclusion, securing work experience in biomedical science takes dedication, education, and persistence. By actively seeking opportunities, networking with professionals, and showcasing your passion and expertise in the field, you can pave your way to a rewarding career in this dynamic and impactful industry. Every experience, no matter how small, contributes to your overall growth and success in the exciting world of biomedical science.

Continue reading

What are the future prospects of T Levels? Exploring the benefits of T Levels, and building a successful career

Why should you do a Higher Technical Qualification? The future prospects of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)

What is the difference between the types of apprenticeships? Your guide to exploring opportunities

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• Work Experience Industries
• Science and Research Internships and Placements

Science & Research Internships, Placements and Graduate Jobs 2024

Your one-stop guide to launching a career in science and research; including how to get work experience, where to find the best internships and much more.

No longer confined to laboratories, scientists have a hand in almost every aspect of our lives: be it providing access to clean water, developing vaccines to target viruses or tackling climate change.

Pursuing a career in science and research will see you pushing boundaries, making discoveries and developing new technologies - all in aid of improving lives. It’s a fascinating and highly rewarding line of work.

But to break into the industry and get that competitive advantage over your peers, you’ll need to equip yourself with first-hand experience in the workplace. The best way to do this is through acquiring science and research internships or placements.

Not sure where to start? Science is a galactic industry that reaches far and wide. So, we’ve divvied up this guide into nice bite-sized sections to help you navigate your way around:

Science internships

Science placements

Research Internships

Biomedical science placements

Pharmaceutical internships

Science graduate jobs

Best Student Employers

Science internship reviews

Top Placements, Internships and Graduate Jobs in Science & Research

View all jobs

How do I get work experience in science?

It’s all very well being an expert on gene cloning or molecular orbital theory, but if you don’t have the technical skills to back this knowledge up, you’re not going to get very far in the workplace.

So, it’s absolutely crucial that you take on a science internship or placement whilst you’re still at university. Employers flip out over students who have made the effort to get this sort of experience. In fact, they increasingly use this work experience as a talent-spotting exercise for their graduate schemes.

If you stand out during your science internship, your employer might even offer you a graduate role at the end (or at least fast-track your application) - which would be a huge weight off your mind during your final year of university.

So let’s take a look at your options...

Science Internships

The majority of science internships take place in the summer months, lasting anywhere from one to four months. If you really want to get ahead, you may even be able to squeeze more than one internship into your long summer break.

Not only is this a genius way of occupying those long university holidays, but the more you do, the better idea you’ll have of where you want to take your career.

What does a science intern do?

Science interns tend to work in data analytics. They spend their days investigating a wide range of data and presenting their findings to the rest of the team.

Occasionally, they’ll be asked to carry out computer science or mathematical tasks as well, such as researching new algorithms or approaches to machine learning.

Whatever you end up doing, science internships allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained at university to real-world problems - which could help you attain those top grades when you return to your studies...

"The tasks are tailored to my university degree and personal development to make sure I get the most from the experience. I focused on tablet manufacturing as I knew it would be in my curriculum for the next year of university and I came out with 99.2% due to my knowledge from the placement." Summer Intern at GSK

Funding for science internships

It’s worth bearing in mind that science internships are often unpaid, although most positions are funded through research grants, departmental projects and research scholarships.

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Undergraduate Research Bursary , for instance, supports students carrying out research internships by covering their wages for 35 hours per week at the UK National Living Wage (£10.42 per hour from April 2023) - for up to eight weeks.

A number of organisations give out bursaries to help interns cover their costs. Make sure you do your research thoroughly as the requirements and application process vary greatly. Head over to British Neuroscience Association’s website for a comprehensive list of funding bodies .

Science Placements

Placements are essentially the same as internships - only they last longer. You’ll spend up to a whole year working full-time for an employer.

A science placement is your chance to show initiative, make a good impression and start building an invaluable network of industry contacts.

You’ll also get an insight into how the company operates and what your specific role entails - all while advancing your own technical skills and academic knowledge - like this placement student at Pfizer.

"My placement year was an extremely valuable experience that enabled me to gain an insight into the industry, expand my professional network and develop skills that will help me in my future career. This has opened my eyes to the range of career opportunities available in the industry." Undergraduate Community and STEM Project Manager at Pfizer

Internships in Research

Naturally curious? Want to be at the forefront of scientific development? As a research scientist, you’ll be responsible for designing, conducting and analysing the results of cutting-edge experiments.

However, research and development (R&D) is a tough field to get into. Employers look for bright candidates with inquisitive minds, and postgraduate qualifications - such as a Master’s degree or PhD - are often a requirement.

Not to worry, there are plenty of research internship opportunities in the UK that can give you the experience you need to go far in this career.

A research internship won’t see you staring into Petri dishes all day long. Instead, it is a chance to work alongside leading scientists on actual research projects.

What does a research intern do?

As a research intern, you’ll have a wide range of roles and responsibilities. One minute you might be compiling data, and the next implementing ideas or helping your team write papers.

In general, you’ll be expected to carry out the following tasks:

Managing client enquiries and concerns

Sharing strategies and recommendations on research methods

Recruiting test subjects

Preparing product samples for testing.

How do you get a research internship?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting a research internship, though networking can really open doors for your career. The best place to start would be to attend seminars, workshops and symposiums.

Here you’ll meet people with similar interests as you, who’ll be able to point you in the right direction and help you connect with professors in your field.

Here are THREE of the finest companies in the land offering research internships:

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK runs a 12-week cancer research internship three times a year in January, July and September. As well as paying the National Living Wage, this programme offers the chance to develop key business skills whilst playing your part in the fight against cancer.

This fast-moving consumer goods company runs both a 12-month industrial placement programme and a 12-week summer research internship. Top performing students at Unilever can earn themselves a place on their Future Leaders Programme for graduates.

British American Tobacco

Making significant investments in R&D to develop potentially less risky alternatives to cigarettes, British American Tobacco offers 12-month research placements to undergraduates. As an R&D intern, you’ll play a part in discovering, developing and deploying their innovative products.

Biomedical Science Placements and Internships

From providing doctors with vital scientific research to investigating causes of infection, biomedical scientists play a pivotal role in our society. In fact, biomedical science, AKA ‘the science at the heart of healthcare’, underpins much of modern medicine.

DID YOU KNOW?

70% of all medical diagnoses are attributed to the work of biomedical scientists

They make up 5% of the NHS workforce

150 million samples are handled by laboratory services every year.

To kickstart a career in biomedical science, it’s crucial you gain as much experience as you possibly can before you graduate.

As well as a biomedical science placement or internship, to gain your first role you’ll need a strong foundation of scientific knowledge in the form of relevant GCSEs, A-Levels and a degree that’s been accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

Most IBMS-accredited university courses have an integrated placement year. If that’s not the case, you’ll find plenty of short-term internships, including...

The National Health Service (NHS)

The NHS offers biomedical science placements, internships and assistant roles all year round.

"It has set me up with the skills for life! Following the completion of my degree and my placement, I got a full-time job as a fully qualified biomedical scientist at another hospital who were very impressed with my knowledge and skill sets gained through my placement." Biomedical Science Trainee at the NHS

Wellcome Trust

This global research charity runs an eight-week summer internship based in their London office. The programme pays the London Living Wage of £13.15 an hour, and is an opportunity to work with fellow interns and experienced staff alike in the area that most interests you.

Universities

Many run their own biomedical science internships in the summer, giving students the chance to work on research projects being carried out by in-house academic teams. Speak to your head of department or tutor to explore what your university has to offer.

Is biomedical science in demand?

The more new drugs and treatments are developed, the greater the demand for biomedical scientists. Their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the crucial role they play in saving lives and improving our health outcomes.

A team of biomedical scientists at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, for example, carried out more than 100,000 PCR tests in just 12 months.

Medical biology is a broad sector, so your career options will be seemingly vast when choosing this profession. Operating theatres, A&E and other hospital departments simply wouldn’t function without biomedical scientists.

So whether your speciality is in disease diagnosis or researching new medicines, this profession is increasingly important and constantly evolving to meet societal needs.

What job can you do with biomedical science?

Biomedical scientists investigate all sorts of medical conditions; from cancer to diabetes, blood disorders and AIDS. The work is practical, analytical and highly varied.

As such, there are plenty of jobs you can do with a degree in Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science, including:

Biotechnologist

Clinical research associate

Clinical scientist, biochemistry

Clinical scientist, hematology

Clinical scientist, immunology

Forensic scientist

Microbiologist

Physician associate

Research scientist (life sciences)

Research scientist (medical)

Scientific laboratory technician

Toxicologist.

Pharmaceutical Internships

Touching millions of lives every day, this industry develops, tests and manufactures lifesaving drugs to combat everything from HIV and AIDS to high blood pressure.

Over 65,000 people in the UK work for pharmaceutical companies; including research scientists, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers and marketeers. Depending on your skill set, you could end up doing anything from running clinical trials to selling pharmaceutical drugs.

A pharmaceutical internship or placement involves working on projects alongside some of the world’s top experts in their field. This is an excellent opportunity to develop essential soft skills and technical knowledge; something that will both complement your studies and boost your CV.

Pharma companies usually ask that you are on track to achieve a 2:1 or above in a relevant degree discipline. For instance, if you want to work in drug research & development, you’ll need a degree in Chemistry, Biology or Pharmacology.

Want to find out more? Head over to our guide to Pharmaceutical Placements for expert advice, employer case studies and a few mind-blowing facts.

What is a science graduate job?

Science graduate jobs are your first step on the permanent career ladder once you finish university and get your Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. You’ll work for a company where:

You’ll build new skills

Collaborate with like-minded people from your area of discipline

Take up responsibility right from the start.

A science internship or placement can boost your chances of getting a science graduate job and make the transition into the working world smoother. If you haven’t got work experience, you can always bring transferable skills from your degree to the role.

Are science graduate jobs paid?

You’ll be pleased to know that science graduate jobs are paid. The national average salary for a science graduate is £25,000 a year. But this depends on your role, employer and location. 

The more experience you gain though, the more you’ll earn through raises and promotions. 

As a senior biomedical scientist, you could take home £53,000 a year!

How long do science graduate jobs last?

There’s no limit to science graduate jobs. If you love your role and feel genuinely invested in the company, you might stay on and progress to a senior position. If not, you’ll move onto something else that’s more aligned with your values and interests.

What’s the difference between a science graduate job and a science graduate scheme?

Graduate jobs and graduate schemes sound pretty similar. For a start, both have the word ‘graduate’. Both share ‘relations’ (of some sort). However, they do have their differences. 

Permanent VS temporary

Graduate schemes:

Temporary (one to three years)

Can become permanent after completion.

Graduate jobs:

Permanent roles from day one

Length of employment is up to you.

Structured training

Experience different parts of the business

Work in areas including research and development or supply chain management.

Standard training (enough to familiarise you with the role)

Work in one role and team.

Application process

Longer application process

Need for aptitude tests.

Shorter application process

Graduate CV, cover letter and interview.

Applications open between September and November

Interviews and assessment centres take place in January.

Go live as and when a role is needed.

Best Student Employers in Science

If you decide to embark on a career in science, you could be hired by a global corporation, research centre, charity, start-up, engineering firm or even a newspaper! Just like the multiverse, there are infinite possibilities.

To help you cut through the noise, we’ve compiled a list of the best companies to work for as an undergraduate or graduate in the science industry.

Each of these ranked in our Best Student Employers , based on thousands of student-written reviews submitted to RateMyPlacement.co.uk. This means they are the crème de la crème when it comes to company culture, work-life balance, employee perks and more.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Johnson and Johnson

AstraZeneca

Science Placement Reviews

There are so many opportunities for students looking to get first-hand experience in science and research that it can be tricky to find the right role for you.

Here at RateMyPlacement.co.uk, we’re dedicated to helping young people make informed decisions about their futures. Which is why we host thousands of reviews of science internships and placements. Nearly 3,000 of them in fact.

All of these have been left by students who have carried out some form of work experience in science and research. The reviews are their chance to shout about their time with an employer; be it positively or negatively!

Still figuring out what you want to do? It may be that you’re not sure you want to stick with science, or perhaps you’re torn between working for a global corporation or an SME . Whatever your concern, nothing beats hearing the truth straight from the horse’s mouth.

Browse science work experience reviews

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Employers offering science work experience

Whether you’re sure you want to be an astronomer or you’re thinking you might make a brilliant biologist, getting yourself some science work experience is a must.

Work experience lets you see what a real working environment is like. You get to test out your skills in real-life situations. If you think you’d like to pursue a career in science, it’s an excellent way to develop your abilities and makes a strong addition to your CV. And if you’re not sure whether a science job is right for you, doing a placement is the way to find out. If you then decide you want to follow a totally different career, that’s absolutely fine: the work experience will still be really valuable.

Here we’ll take a look at different kinds of placements, including chemistry work experience and physics work experience, and exactly where you can apply for one.

Read this first: What are science jobs and how can I get one

Where to find... general science work experience

Many schools set aside a week or two during for Year 10 students to complete work experience. Then the summer holidays after Year 12 or Year 13 are a good time to organise your own work experience.

The best approach is to contact local organisations in your area and ask if they might be able to offer you some work experience – plenty will do so even if they’re not offering a formal placement. Start your search at least six months before you want to start your placement. We won’t sugarcoat it: it can be difficult to find lab work experience if you’re in year 10 but if you can get work experience in the office of a science company, this will still be extremely valuable for your CV.

Read more:  Why should I study a STEM course?

You could also apply for a Nuffield Research Placement. This organisation gives more than 1,000 students each year the chance to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. You’re eligible to apply if you’re over 16 and are studying science, technology, engineering of maths course at a school or college in the UK – and most of these placements go to students from low-income households. The placements might focus on data science, engineering or computer science – and you might find yourself in an office, lab or out in the field. Check out these stories to see where previous students have had their placements.

Another option is to contact the British Science Association – they sometimes offer placements to over 16s. Send an email here to see what they have available. You can also try the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , which offers a few placements for years 10-13.

Where to find… physics work experience

Start by Googling physics companies – this will include manufacturers, research organisations and pharmaceutical companies. Search and apply as soon as possible; placements are usually competitive.

Don’t forget to also check out the physics departments of universities. University College London, University of Oxford and Sheffield University are among those that offer a range of physics work experience placements for 16-18 year olds. The University of York has placements for Year 12s.

Read:  Four famous women in science—and what inspired them in school

The Particle Physics Masterclass Programme gives you a taster of the world of physics through one-day events at universities and labs across the UK. They are aimed at students taking particle physics modules at AS or A-level. Some universities will run days specifically for GCSE students. The events include hands-on workshops, lectures and lab tours. Learn more and apply here .

Where to find… biology work experience

Again your first port of call should be to reach out to organisations in your local area. Consider natural history museums, science museums, wildlife conservation organisations, the biology departments of universities, zoos, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and vets’ practices. Many placements are not advertised so make sure to be proactive and contact them.

The Met Office offers a week’s work experience in the summer term for students aged between 14 and 17, giving an opportunity to take part in group projects.

The major healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline offer work experience in labs at three locations across the UK. There are different programmes for A-level and GCSE students, and you’ll get to see what working at GSK and in the pharmaceutical industry is like. Depending on the specific scheme, you might develop your employability skills by taking part in presentations and shadowing GSK staff.

The Wellcome Sanger Institute (a genome science research institute) offers placements for students based in the Cambridge area. You’ll see what the institute does and get an insight into a specific area of research.

Where to find… chemistry work experience

Make a list of manufacturing companies, local science parks, local hospitals and research institutes. Ask if they can offer a work placement or shadowing, ensuring that you give them plenty of notice.

Companies that make food, cosmetic products or even clothing, as well as pharmaceutical companies and chemists like Boots, are a good option for chemistry students, while university chemistry departments may also offer you a placement. Again it can be tricky to get a placement in a lab, but any experience will be useful, and shows future employers your dedication and resourcefulness.

You might also want to explore doing work experience in healthcare. We’ve got a dedicated guide to NHS work experience here .

If you’re struggling to get yourself a placement in a lab or similar environment, a good alternative is to volunteer in a related area. Look out for opportunities at science festivals, and local science museums or centres.

Read next: How to become a scientist without going to uni

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Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

Tips for Writing about Your Research Experience (Even if You Don’t Think You Have Any)

If you’re someone who hasn’t yet done formal research in a university setting, one of the most intimidating parts of the process can be simply getting your foot in the door. Just like the way your options can seem very limited when applying for your first job, asking for a research position when you have no “experience” can seem discouraging — maybe even to the point of causing you to question whether you should apply in the first place. With that being said, there are some simple tips you can employ when applying for research positions to highlight the link between your existing interests and the work of the position for which you are applying.

First things first: tailor not just your cover letter (for applications that ask for it) but your resume to the position for which you are applying. Even if you’re just sending a casual email to a professor to ask about the research that they’re doing, as a rule, it never hurts to attach your resume. I also like to think that submitting a resume even without being asked to shows that you’re serious about doing research, and have taken the time to put together a thoughtful inquiry into a position. If you’ve never written a cover letter or resume before, don’t fret. The Center for Career Development has some great online resources to help you create one from scratch. If you are looking for more individualized help, you can also schedule an appointment to get one-on-one feedback on your application at any stage in the writing process.

One of the things that I’ve found, however, is that the single-page format of a resume often isn’t enough space to include all of the information about every single thing you’ve ever done. Rather than trying to jam as many impressive accomplishments as you can onto a page, your goal should be to create a resume that gives a cumulative sense of your interests and experiences as they relate to the position for which you are applying. One of my favorite ways to do this is to create a “Research” section. “But Kate, what if I don’t have any research experience?,” you ask. Remember that paper you wrote about a painting by Monet in your favorite class last semester? Write the title down, or even a sentence or two that summarizes your main argument. The art museum you’re hoping to do research at will love knowing that your interest in their current exhibition on Impressionism is rooted in classes you’ve taken and the projects you’ve done in them, no matter how new you may be to a topic. Your interest in a specific research position has to come from somewhere, and your resume is an important part of demonstrating this to others.

What I would like to reassure you of is that it’s normal to be an undergraduate with very little research experience. The people reading your application —whether it be for an official program or even if it’s just a friendly email with a few questions— know that you are a student and will probably be excited to offer you guidance on how to get involved with more specific research projects even if all you have to offer at this point is enthusiasm for the topic. Working in a lab or with a professor on a research project is an opportunity designed to help you learn above all else, so it’s ok if you don’t know what you’re doing! It goes without saying that having little experience will make the final result of your research experience all the more worthwhile because of the potential to gain knowledge in ways you haven’t even imagined.

— Kate Weseley-Jones, Humanities Correspondent

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Would you like to gain experience of working within a particular job role, sector or develop specific scientific skills? See work experience sections of relevant job sectors  for suggestions.

Try to think creatively about different ways to experience work and how they will benefit you. While many graduate jobs will require specific scientific experience, they may also require a range of general transferable skills, such as teamwork, communication, leadership, problem solving, project management and public engagement. These skills can be gained through a variety of work and volunteering roles and extra-curricular activities.  Your Career Journey gives you an overview of the variety of ways you can gain experience throughout your time at university - just take your pick!

Start planning your experiences early in your course. Some people begin with company insight events and general experiences of work and volunteering towards the beginning of their course, and build on this to gain relevant experience before their final year. 

If you feel you may have barriers to gaining work experience, please make an appointment to speak to a Careers Consultant about your particular circumstances. 

Volunteering

Volunteering can be a good way to develop a wide range of skills that employers look for and to show motivation and commitment to your chosen career path. Opportunities can include working in schools and outreach events, IT projects or you could try scientific museums or environmental organisations. Some academics allow undergraduates to do voluntary research work with them, or your department may be involved in outreach projects which you could join. 

Examples include:

• York Students in Schools offers school-based placements and the opportunity to work on team projects alongside some of York's leading employers
• Other volunteering programmes  offered through Careers and Placements 
• The Conservation Volunteers
• Centre for Alternative Technology
• Natural History Museum  
• Science Museum  
• Kew Gardens  
• UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres represents over 70 science and discovery centres and museums in the UK
• Engineers Without Borders  
• Other volunteering opportunities advertised in Handshake .

Internships and summer placements

Some organisations offer formal internships to undergraduates. They often require you to be in your second or penultimate year of study. Examples include Reckitt, BAE Systems, AstraZeneca, Mars and Unilever. Opportunities may be available in a range of roles, from scientific and technical to more business-related functions. Some organisations come to our  autumn recruitment fairs , but few life science and pharmaceutical companies attend, so it is best to search for opportunities through  Handshake ,  Prospects , Gradcracker , or on company websites. 

Below is a list of examples by subject area. Please be aware that this is to give some ideas and is not a comprehensive list.   

Biology/ Chemistry/ Life Sciences  

• Biology summer studentships (apply by 29 February)
• Society of Biology undergraduate studentships  in a range of specialist fields 
• Bioscience Careers blog list of possible  funding options  (note: includes some out of date links) 
• Biochemical Society -  summer vacation studentships  for society members  
• Amgen Scholars Europe Programme
• Cancer Research UK - 12 week internships, intakes in January, July and September, and Beatson Institute Glasgow internship
• Diamond Light Source summer placements (structural Biology)
• Francis Crick Institute
• EPFL  Summer Research Programme  for Undergraduate Life Science Students (Lausanne)  
• John Innes Centre undergraduate summer school (plant and microbial science)
• MRC-LMB Cambridge internships (life science, considering academic research)
• UCL Institute of Child Health summer internships (biomedicine)
• Vienna Biocenter Summer School
• Wellcome Trust Summer Internships - applications usually Feb/March
• Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories summer studentships - apply by 28 March
• Zurich Biology Undergraduate Summer School  and other university internships advertised on  Biointerns
• Royal Society of Chemistry –  science writing internship  for RSC members 
• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry list of member companies
• Use  UK Biotech to find bioscience companies in the UK

Physics/ Computer Science/ Electronic Engineering 

• BBC Technology internships - see  BBC Careers page for availability
• CERN opportunities for students
• Diamond Light Source research institution  summer placements
• Royal Academy of Engineering  schemes for students
• UK Electronics Skills Foundation
• Science & Technology Facilities Council offer 4-12 week  research internships at one of their research centres, which include the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre
• Particle Physics Research Centre  at Queen Mary University, London sometimes has summer internships 
• British Antarctic Survey  
• European Space Agency   
• National Nuclear Laboratory
• Satellite Applications Catapult Space Placements in Industry  (SPIN)
• Space Research Centre, Leicester  undergraduate research opportunities  
• The Institute of Physics  website includes information for students, including internships
• IAESTE  (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) – international internships 
• ISIS Neutron and Muon Source  
• Physics students looking for physics-related work experience can also seek advice from the  White Rose Industrial Physics Academy  (WRIPA)   

Any science or engineering discipline (including international opportunities)  

• Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) –  opportunities in Germany
• Gradcracker  advertises work placements and graduate opportunities in science and technology
• Nuffield Research Placements  
• Cogent Skills  advertises roles with leading science companies
• UK Science Park Association  - useful for researching organisations that may have relevant opportunities; you could make speculative approaches to some of these companies.

Research and lab work

Some organisations provide funds to support summer vacation work in research laboratories. While some opportunities are advertised widely and you can apply to them directly, others are offered by professional bodies that provide funding to support research projects, and you will need to approach a research supervisor to put in an application. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has information about  vacation internships . The  STEP Programme  has opportunities for undergraduates to undertake project placements with small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

It may be possible to get a temporary position working in a lab. This may be at a basic level, but it will provide a good introduction to lab work, and demonstrate to future employers that you are familiar with the lab environment. Jobs might be advertised through GOV.UK,  Find a Job , local newspapers and their associated websites, or recruitment agencies. Use  Agency Central  to locate agencies which specialise in scientific and technical recruitment.

York Internships 

You may also want to apply for internship opportunities through Student Internship Bureau , who work with local businesses to set up project-based, paid work experience for University of York students. Some internships are based within University departments and services. Make sure you read our emails and update your profile in Handshake to get the latest alerts from York Internships.

Placement Year

A placement year or year in industry can be integrated into your studies, giving you a substantial amount of work experience that is recognised within your degree title. Placement years generally last 9-12 months and usually take place before your final year at university.

If you are enrolled on a year in industry course, staff in your department will be able to advise you on how to research and apply for an appropriate placement. You can also search vacancy websites, including Handshake , Gradcracker , Cogent Skills  and Prospects . Find more suggestions in Searching and applying for science jobs .

If your department does not offer this as an option, or you would prefer to have a placement year unrelated to your subject area, you may be able to join the Placement Year Programme through Careers and Placements.

Find science student placement year stories on our padlet .

The hidden job market

Not all opportunities are advertised (the hidden job market). Many students manage to find work experience, or shorter work shadowing opportunities, by contacting organisations directly.

Use any contacts or networks you have to try to get informal experience. Let friends, family, tutors and neighbours know that you’re looking for work experience. Use social media such as LinkedIn and Twitter to join interest groups, follow organisations and find contacts.

Attend careers events and conferences by learned societies such as the Society of Biology’s Bioscience Careers Day , IOP, WRIPA and RSC careers events.

Our finding scientific vacancies web pages have more suggestions about making speculative approaches to employers. See also the networking page for further tips.

York Futures Scholarship

To fund work experience you may be eligible to apply for the York Futures Scholarship . Applying for a York Futures Scholarship also provides you with access to other professional development benefits.  These include networking with previous scholars, access to additional guidance and support, employer visits and application/CV support.

Start by looking at York Futures: get skills and experience or make a careers advice appointment via  Handshake  for advice on finding and applying for work experience.

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Work experience

What is stfc.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations, supporting scientists and engineers and running experiments around the UK and worldwide.

Our activities cover a wide range of science, engineering and technology, including materials science, engineering and instrumentation, particle physics, space science, accelerator-based technologies, information technology and computer science.

Inspiring young people and the wider public is one of STFC’s main objectives. This is achieved through a focused programme of public engagement, promoting careers in science, engineering and technology to maintain the quality of the UK programme.

STFC work experience programme

Daresbury Laboratory (DL), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) and UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) offer work experience placements to Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students each year, many from local schools and around the country.

As far as possible they are placed depending on the interests they indicate on the application form.

COVID-19 update: the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our work experience provision. It is essential to us that we deliver an experience which is safe and useful for young people.

Find out more:

• work experience placements at DL or RAL
• work experience placements at UK ATC

For enquiries about the STFC work experience programme at:

Daresbury Laboratory

Email: [email protected]

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Email: [email protected]

UK Astronomy Technology Centre

Email: [email protected]

Last updated: 14 September 2023

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Work experience.

For anyone wanting to gain work experience with the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine, there are a few departments with dedicated work experience pages.

School of Life Sciences

Warwick University's School of Life Sciences offers short-term, unpaid laboratory and non-laboratory work experience placements to those aged 16-18. For further details, please visit the SLS Work Experience Webpage Link opens in a new window . You may also be interested in their lab experience days for groups of sixth form students. More information can be found on the Free Lab Experience Link opens in a new window pages.

Warwick Medical School

Warwick Medical School offer experimental laboratory work experiences placements every summer (in July and August) for secondary school students aged 16 and over. A range of short research projects in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology are available in the biomedical research laboratories based at Warwick Medical School. For more details please visit the WMS Work Experience Link opens in a new window webpages. This page also includes details for those wishing to undertake clinical work experience with our partner NHS Trusts.

Department of Physics

The Department of Physics offer limited work experience placements every year in early April for students in years 10-12. More details on how to apply can be found on the Physics Webpage Link opens in a new window .

Department of Chemistry

The Chemistry Department at the University of Warwick is offering a unique work experience placement opportunity for students (years 10, 11 and 12) from Coventry and Warwickshire schools. This work experience would suit individuals who are specifically looking to study Chemistry at the University of Warwick. The three-day programme will allow students to gain hands-on experience of working in a chemistry lab and provide an insight into studying at a top university as well. Please visit the Chemistry work experience pages for more information and the online application form.

Warwick Manufacturing Group

Warwick Manufacturing Group has a variety of work experience options, including a week-long project-based experience for Year 10s, and developing employability programmes. They aim to inspire young engineers through innovative approaches to placements. Please visit the WMG Work Experience webpage for more details about either of these initiatives.

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Careers Lab: work experience programme

Take your first step into a career in cancer research.

Our Careers Lab Work Experience Programme provides sixth form (Year 12 and Year 13) students with a week-long opportunity to explore various career paths within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. Aimed at those interested in gaining practical insights into different professional fields, the programme challenges preconceptions about working in science while aligning with our mission to our aim to beat cancer sooner.

We currently offer two distinct types of placement:

1) Year 12/13 Research Placement 

Engage in hands-on experiences within our cutting-edge research laboratories, delving into the world of cancer biology. Gain exposure to state-of-the-art Core Facilities, teams dedicated to developing and applying specific technologies, and learn from experts in microscopy, genomics and animal technology. While each placement is unique to its research group, expect to acquire skills and experiences such as:

• How to culture cells
• Tissue staining techniques
• Understanding the basics of microscopy and tissue compositions
• How to isolate and multiply DNA

2) Year 12/13 Operations Placement  

Explore non-scientific roles within our Operations Team, responsible for the seamless functioning of the Institute. This placement offers insights into various departments, including Finance & Grants, Human Resources, and Property Services. Our operations staff come from a range of backgrounds, and no scientific background is required for this placement. Rotations could include:

• Managing a multi-million-pound portfolio of grants
• Attracting top scientists to join our labs
• Creating a culture where science and fun intersect
• Creating and maintaining the physical environment of the Institute

Whether you’re passionate about science or seeking a non-scientific career path to enable vital cancer research, our programme opens doors to a diverse range of opportunities within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in sixth form, or equivalent, and currently in Year 12 or Year 13.

What are we looking for?

• Interest in the programme: We seek candidates who genuinely demonstrate a keen interest in the Careers Lab programme, showcasing a passion for the opportunities it presents and a clear understanding of how it aligns with their personal and professional goals.
• Intellectual curiosity: We value candidates who exhibit a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, an eagerness to explore new ideas, and a proactive approach to learning. Individuals who enjoy delving into diverse topics and consistently seek to broaden their knowledge are highly regarded.
• Perseverance: Perseverance is a key attribute we look for in candidates. We seek individuals who demonstrate resilience, determination, and the ability to navigate challenges effectively. Candidates who view setbacks as opportunities for growth and consistently strive to overcome obstacles align well with this criterion.
• Commitment to improving the lives of others: We are interested in candidates who show a genuine commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. This can manifest in various forms, such as a dedication to community service, a passion for social causes, or a desire to contribute to the well-being and advancement of individuals and communities.

Applicants are encouraged to reflect on these criteria and showcase specific examples from their experiences that highlight their alignment with these qualities.

• Application Period: 10 January 10 – 12 February 2024
• Interviews Scheduled (Virtual): February – March 2024
• Reference Check for Shortlisted Candidates: Mid-March 2024
• Final Placements Confirmation: Late April 2024
• Careers Lab Programme (In Person): 1 July – 5 July 2024

Application form:

• Complete a 5-10 minute form providing academic and personal details.
• Express why you are interested in applying for the Careers Lab programme.

Careers Lab personal statement (within the application form): Respond to the following prompts within the application form:

• In no more than 100 words, explain why you are applying for this programme.
• In no more than 100 words, describe the skills you currently possess and identify the skills you need to gain for success in your dream career.

Sixth Form College Reference: If shortlisted for an interview, we will contact a member of staff at your school or sixth form colleg e. They will be asked to provide an assessment based on the following criteria:

• Interest in the programme
• Intellectual curiosity
• Perseverance
• Commitment to improving the lives of others

Follow the link below to apply.

How we select

Careers Lab uses a comprehensive two-stage selection process to ensure that our placements align with our criteria:

Application Form: To be considered for a Careers Lab Work Experience placement for Year 12/13, completion of the application form in full is mandatory.

Shortlisting and Interview: Shortlisted candidates are invited to a virtual interview to assess their alignment with the four Careers Lab criteria. The brief interview will assess your motivations for applying to the programme. Alternative arrangements will be made to accommodate individuals with limited internet accessibility.

Details about the format and arrangements will be sent according to the application timeline. The interview consists of three main sections:

• Welcome and introduction
• Interview questions
• Final thoughts and answering your questions

If not called for an interview, you will receive an email confirming that your application was not successful.

Please note that we are not able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Contact us: [email protected] with any additional queries!

Undergraduate Summer Research Placements

If you are an undergraduate student, looking to find a research placement over the summer vacation period, please visit our Summer Research Placements page.

For any other questions, please get in touch using our contact form .

CRUK CI staff links

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• Finding work experience in Chemistry
• Finding work experience in Physics or Astronomy
• Work experience for Biological Science students

Finding work experience in Physics and Astronomy

Work experience can include everything from a day spent shadowing a researcher in a lab, through to a 12 month industrial placement. It could be paid or done as a volunteer – it all counts!

When should I start looking for work experience?

Most vacancies are advertised from the autumn semester for the following summer, so delaying will result in missed opportunities. However, some employers will advertise later on in the year, so do not panic if you have not found anything by the end of December!

Although many formal placement/ internship schemes target undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study, it is still important to start looking for opportunities to gain experience in your first year.

Industrial Placement Schemes and summer internships

Many organisations offer formal 12 month Placements to undergraduates or a summer internship. There are a number of ways to find out about these opportunities:

• CareerConnect Internships and Industrial placements are also advertised on your online careers account.
• Fairs and events . Meet recruiters and alumni to discover jobs in which you might be interested.
• Gradcracker is one of the most well-populated resources for science, engineering and tech opportunities.
• Some recruiters may advertise directly with an academic department, so make yourself familiar with the Careers noticeboard in your Department. You may also hear of opportunities throughout the year via forwarded emails from staff, so keep an eye on your inbox.
• Speak with your tutors or other staff members. They may know of potential vacancies, who you should speak to or even offer you some work themselves! Do not be afraid to contact staff from other Universities and ask if there are any opportunities for work experience. Look on departmental internet sites for contact details, they are usually widely available.

Many opportunities are not advertised. Consider making direct contact with organisations that interest you. Call first to see if there is an opportunity available. If you get a favourable response, send a targeted CV and a covering letter focused on why you are interested in them and why they should be interested in you. If you express interest to an organisation, they may make you an offer.

Where can I get Research Experience?

• The University Of Manchester offers a number of funded research internships

A number of other organisations offer bursaries to enable undergraduates to work in a research laboratory during the summer vacation. The bursaries provide student support normally for a period between 6 and 8 weeks.

Most aspiring researchers acquire their experience through first talking to lecturers, so find yourself a potential supervisor for the summer. Usually, the supervisor must be in a university, or research institute laboratory (not usually an industrial laboratory). You could start by talking to your tutor or to a member of academic staff whose research you find of interest. Remember that academic researchers are busy people. Be politely persistent: do not give up if your first contact attempt is ignored, but do not be a pest either! They will favour candidates who they believe are capable of undertaking a PhD project in the future, who would be useful to have around the laboratory, who are easy to manage and who will not need constant supervision.

You will work with your supervisor to define a project and, in most cases, the application is made by your potential supervisor and not by you. These awards are competitive and you are advised to start early!

• British Antarctic Survey
• CERN operates various schemes including the Summer Student Programme.
• Child Health Research Studentship Scheme
• EPSRC Vacation Internships Ask your Department for information about this award.
• Kupcinet-Getz International Science School accepts each summer a select number of outstanding undergraduate students to participate in research projects in mathematics and computer science, physics, chemistry and life sciences.
• National Physical Laboratory
• Research Internships in Science and Engineering in Germany
• Rothamsted Research
• Royal Meteorological Society
• Science and Technology Facilities Council
• SURE Space Research Centre A range of projects available in the fields of astrophysics, space science, and condensed matter physics.
• American Astronomical Society
• Astron (Netherlands)
• The Astronomy Centre is a little known observatory in the hills between Bacup and Todmorden. This is run by volunteers in their spare time, but there could maybe be some interest from them in supporting some longer term volunteering.
• Cardiff Uni research internships
• DLR (German Space Agency).
• Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory)
• European Space Agency
• MBDA have an operation based in Bolton, not a million miles away from Bacup – they build rockets/missiles and like astrophysics students for guidance and navigation control systems. They offer a variety of work experience schemes.
• RSE Cormack Undergraduate vacation scholarships
• Royal Astronomical Society
• Royal Observatory Edinburgh
• Royal Observatory Greenwich
• SpaceCareers.uk
• Space internship Network UK
• Space Telescope Science Institute
• SURE Space Research Centre A range of projects will be available in the fields of astrophysics, space science, and condensed matter physics.

Additional sources of information and help

• Jobs for Astronomers offers advice on additional fields which can help progress your career
• The Institute of Physics (IoP) has a useful careers section on its website.
• Physics World hosts jobs and careers information
• Your degree in physics, what next?
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Funding your work experience

• University of Manchester Work Experience Bursary
• Other sources of funding for non study purposes
• Getting in touch

Careers Service, The University of Manchester

Connect with us

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• Royal charter number: RC000797

UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

• Work Experience for School Pupils 16-18

Work Experience for School Pupils aged 16-18 years

The GOS ICH Work Experience programme is jointly hosted by the Institute's 5 Teaching & Research Departments . Each Department contributes 2 or 3 sessions to the timetable, providing students with the opportunity to learn about a wide range of research topics and techniques. Our aim is to give students an understanding of the variety of career opportunities in research science. 

Activities range from talks and interactive sessions in the lab with researchers and PhD students to attending Departmental seminars or taking part in a Journal Club.  We organise several hands-on sessions such as looking at cells under a microscope and pipetting solutions.  As we work closely with Great Ormond Street Hospital, sessions may also include visits to clinical labs in the hospital but will not include visits to hospital wards or other clinical settings. 

Students interested in pursuing a medical career and looking for a clinical placement should visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital Work Experience webpage  and the University College London Hospitals Work Experience webpage . 

We offer 12 placements at a time and students are expected to attend the entire week.  Attendance is free and we provide visiting students with lunch each day.  You will, however, need to pay your travel costs to and from the UCL GOS Institute of Child of Health.

The next Work Experience Week is on 1st - 5th July 2024 

How to apply.

Eligibility:

You must be

• 16 or over, having just completed your GSCEs or studying for your A-Levels
• Able to attend the whole work experience week 

We particularly encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. Please note this is not a clinical placement. Preference will be given to those who express an interest in a science placement.

Application Process

• Applications are now closed.
• Applications will be shortlisted and placements offered to students by the beginning of May.
• Students placed on the waiting list will be notified by beginning of May.
• Students must confirm their attendance for the full week. Any free places will be offered to students on the Waiting List.
• We are unable to reply to all applicants as we are usually oversubscribed. If you do not hear from us by mid-May, your application was unsuccessful.
• Programme of events to be circulated to students before the placement starts. 

Feedback from previous students:

“Loved seeing all the different routes into a science career!" "I just wanted to say thank you so much for the work experience opportunity I was given. I really enjoyed the week and found visiting all the different labs very interesting and eye-opening. I'm also grateful for all of the people involved who gave up their time to show us some of their work."   “Thank you so much for organising this brilliant and informative week! I enjoyed every minute of it and feel lucky to have gained so much knowledge and experience. I came into this unsure of what degree I wanted to take or what path I wanted to follow, ...  and it has helped to confirm my realisation that I would like to do a Biological Sciences undergraduate course.”  “Thank you so much for organising this work experience, I've found it incredibly enjoyable and informative in helping me decide what career I may like to do in the future. Also, thank you to all the speakers who took the time to give presentations, prepare PowerPoints and answer all our questions. It's been a great experience.” 

Have Questions?

Contact the GOS ICH Work Experience team at  [email protected]

The GOS ICH Christmas Lectures:

YouTube Widget Placeholder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdnEmB_tQY4

GOS ICH Undergraduate Summer Studentships

The Child Health Research Studentship Scheme offers up to 7 bursaries for undergraduate students studying science or medicine to carry out a research project over the summer. 

In2scienceUK - Promoting Social Mobility and Diversity in STEM:

YouTube Widget Placeholder https://youtu.be/Bf9ytF3ssRs

Clinical/Medical Placements

For students interested in pursuing a medical career: Great Ormond Street Hospital

University College London Hospitals

Research Experience for Undergraduates

2024 Program Updates

• Interested students should email the faculty member they are interested in working with and submit their resume. 
• Faculty will submit student applications for the REU program to the student services office.
• We will offer the program in-person, & only during summer quarter.
• We must receive all REU applications from faculty by  April 15 2024  for summer quarter. 

Please read through our  FAQ page  for more information about the program & eligibility.

REU Student Openings in Aero Astro Labs for Summer 2024 

Aeronautics astronautics faculty labs, current research projects, and openings for undergraduate students are updated here regularly. .

Morphing Space Structures Lab, Professor Manan Arya, email:  [email protected]  if you are interested. 

Project description: The REU student will assist with the construction of small-scale prototypes of large unfolding structures for space applications, e.g., large radio reflectors or high-power solar arrays. These small-scale prototypes, measuring around 1 m in size, would be used for assessing and furthering the design of these structures. Some of the prototypes will be realized using low-fidelity materials, such as 3D-printed plastic, laser-cut sheets, and folded paper. Some of these prototypes will be realized using higher-fidelity materials to enable the experimental characterization of these prototypes.

Eligibility requirements: strong background in design, CAD, and prototyping. Knowledge of structures and structural analysis is important.

Current REU Openings:

Aerospace Design Laboratory (ADL), Professor Juan Alonso, email:  [email protected]  if you are interested.

The Aerospace Design Laboratory (ADL) fosters the use of high-fidelity analysis and design tools in a variety of aerospace design problems including aircraft, turbomachinery, launch vehicles, helicopters and spacecraft.  Aerospace Design Laboratory (ADL)

Professor Anton Ermakov, email:  [email protected]  if you are interested. 

Project Description: 

How smooth are lava lakes Jupiter’s moon Io and what does it tell us about Io’s volcanism?

On Feb 3, 2024, Juno had a flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io. Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. Its surface is covered by geologically young lava flows from dozens of volcanic centers. The observations by the camera onboard Juno (JunoCam) revealed that the surface of lava lakes is mirror-like. That is, it exhibits specular (as opposed to diffuse) reflection.

Four images shown below were taken during the flyby. The horseshoe shaped feature is the largest volcanic lake on Io called Loki Patera. It can be seen that the lava lake surface, which is normally much darker than the surrounding terrain, appears brighter at the left image.

The project is to quantify the strength specular reflection and relate it to the properties of the surface. For example, the surface of lava lakes must be very smooth to be mirror like. Thus, the lava might have been of low viscosity and with no bubbles. The project will involve JunoCam image processing, literature review and numerical modeling of the specular reflection.

Prerequisites: strong programming background (Matlab, Python). It would be preferred (but not required) if you have taken Geophysics or EPS classes on anything related to volcanos.

Reconfigurable Structures Lab, Professor Maria Sakovsky, email:  [email protected]  if you are interested.

Project description:  Our research explores aerospace structures that can learn from inputs in their environment and change their mechanical properties on demand. Imagine a satellite solar array that passively reorients to face the sun without repointing the satellite or a robotic explorer that learns to navigate around obstacles by changing its type of locomotion. We are looking for students with experience and interest in materials and structures. Projects range from performing mechanical characterization of structures, to integrating sensors, to writing code to control the structures.

Space Rendezvous Laboratory (SLAB), Professor Simone D'amico, email:  [email protected]  if you are interested.

Project description: "Autonomous and distributed spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) is an enabling technology for sustainable spaceflight, including on-orbit servicing to prolong the lifetime of space assets (e.g., through inspection, refueling and repair) and to remove space debris (e.g., through their characterization and de-orbiting). These projects investigate and develop new algorithms at the intersection of optimal control, computer vision and machine learning to enable the above in a spectrum of scenarios from known cooperative (on-orbit servicing) to unknown non-cooperative (debris removal) resident space objects. This research work leverages the experience and expertise of the Stanford’s Space Rendezvous Lab in the design and validation of robust algorithms for distributed space systems. The research is done in collaboration with external partners at various space companies (Blue, Redwire, TenOneSpace, etc)"

Stanford Intelligent Systems Laboratory (SISL), Professor Mykel Kochenderfer,  If interested please apply at:  https://forms.gle/Cboj8cJTa3JaXYG89

We are looking for an undergraduate to work on algorithms for decision making under uncertainty, applied to a variety of applications ranging from space exploration to unmanned aircraft. Programming knowledge in Julia or Python is required. Ideally, students will have taken AA228 already. 

Structures And Composites Laboratory (SACL), Professor Fu-Kuo Chang. Welcome to apply! Follow the link for more information:  https://sacld8.sites.stanford.edu/

 To apply, please send your CV to the Lab PI, Prof Fu-Kuo Chang, at  [email protected]  and CC to the Lab Manager, Dr. Saman Farhangdoust, at  [email protected]

Join our dynamic research team at the Structures and Composites Lab (SACL) within the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department. We are looking for motivated, independent, students interested in research on developing multifunctional energy storage composites (MESC) for the next generation of electronic vehicles and aircraft.

We currently have two openings for some active projects and successful applicants will have the opportunity to get training in an academic program specialty and adopt professional skills to participate in two programs:

1. Experimental Program including Lithium-Ion Battery Fabrication, MESC Specimen Fabrication, Testing MESC Specimen (Peel, Thermal-Expansion, Fatigue, Impact, etc.).

2. Computational Program including Design and Conceptualization of MESC Applications, Hand Calculations, Finite Element Analysis, Simulation Modeling of MESC.

Two candidates with a strong background in one or more areas of computational modeling, composite fabrication, lithium-ion battery, material science, and computer programming are sought. These two positions will be placed at SACL (Aeronautics and Astronautics Department). The students will have access to workstation computers and professional lab facilities. The students will have the opportunity to conduct modeling and experimental work and collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers at SACL.

In addition to the research project, a Mentorship Program is designed to assist students in acquiring and developing academic skills under postdoctoral scholar mentorship. This mentoring program includes In-depth involvement in the research project, Interaction with industries, Training in oral presentations during group meetings, Publication of high-quality articles in journals and conferences, Guidance for career development and future paths. 

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

At michigan state university.

Undergraduate students with different interests and backgrounds participate in research and other activities at FRIB. At present, undergraduates at FRIB come from more than 20 different majors. A large fraction of these students are from the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, the MSU Department of Chemistry, and the MSU Department of Engineering, but students from many other MSU departments, find exciting projects and valuable experience at FRIB as well.

Because FRIB is conveniently located in the middle of MSU campus, it is relatively easy to pursue a research project on a continuing basis during regular semesters. In addition, there are opportunities to get engaged during the summer, including for students from other universities and colleges. To learn about specific faculty members at FRIB, review the  FRIB faculty profiles . For more information, contact the  FRIB Office for Education, Workforce, and Career Development . Students are also welcome to reach out to individual faculty about research opportunities in their research areas.

Undergraduate research applications through Handshake

Undergraduate students interested in pursuing a research project can submit an application through  Handshake to opportunities listed as “Student Research Assistant I or II.” (To apply on Handshake, log in using your MSU NetID (e-mail) and password.) Make sure to provide all the requested information so that your application can easily be processed and considered. The qualifications vary depending on the project. In general, students in physics, chemistry, or engineering with an interest in nuclear, astrophysical, or accelerator sciences are encouraged to apply.

For more details, visit the undergraduate student employment opportunities page.

Professorial assistants

Each year, several freshmen and sophomore students work as professorial assistants with FRIB faculty. The  Professorial Assistants (PA) program  is organized through the  MSU Honors College . Professorial assistants work with FRIB faculty for one or two years and sometimes continue as undergraduate student researchers at FRIB after their sophomore year. Consequently, they are be heavily engaged with research and are important members of a research group. For details, visit the  PA program page on the Honors College website.

NS 3  – Nuclear Science Summer School

NS 3  is a summer school for undergraduate students that introduces participants to the field of nuclear (astro)physics. NS 3 is primarily intended for students who do not have the opportunity to take nuclear (astro)physics courses at their own institutions. NS 3 is hosted by MSU and offers lectures and hands-on activities on selected nuclear (astro)physics topics. The school activities at FRIB include lectures by local and visiting researchers, experience in a nuclear physics laboratory, a tour of the facility, discussions with graduate students and faculty, and more. NS 3 is supported by the US National Science Foundation. For details, visit the  NS 3 page .

Research Experience for Undergraduate Students

The MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy and the MSU Chemistry Department host  Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) programs supported by the National Science Foundation. Every year several REU opportunities exists in nuclear and accelerator science at FRIB. Details about the REU programs can be found at: 

• Physics and Astronomy  

At FRIB, projects in theoretical or experimental research are available in the fields of nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry, nuclear astrophysics, and accelerator science and engineering. This is an outstanding opportunity to participate in forefront science at a major nuclear science laboratory. The program also features weekly seminars by faculty and staff, trips to other facilities and social events. Besides the mentoring from the faculty member you work with, you also receive mentoring from graduate students who can tell you all about graduate school and research from their perspective. 

Conference Experience for Undergraduate Students and the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum 

Undergraduate students who participate in research will have opportunities to present their work. Besides reporting progress during group meetings, undergraduate students can present their work at the  University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) , which is held every year in spring. Registration for UURAF opens in January.

Undergraduate students can also participate in the  Conference Experience for Undergraduate Students (CEU)  program . This program, which is supported by FRIB and managed through the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, provides a "capstone" conference experience for undergraduate students who have conducted research in nuclear physics. It provides them the opportunity to present their research at the annual  American Physical Society Division of Nuclear Physics  meeting.  Additionally, it enables the students to converse with faculty and senior scientists from graduate institutions about graduate school opportunities. Support for travel and lodging are awarded on a competitive basis. Many undergraduate students who performed research at FRIB have participated in the CEU program.

Director's Research Scholar program

The Director's Research Scholar (DRS) program offers research opportunities at FRIB to highly qualified undergraduate students with a focus on those who have not had opportunities to pursue research in STEM fields. This is a paid employment opportunity, and participation in the program is contingent upon successfully meeting employment eligibility and on-boarding requirements. Students selected for the DRS program will be provided with a mentoring network, which includes their faculty advisor, graduate students and/or postdocs of their research group, and the DRS program coordinator at FRIB. For details, visit the DRS page.

Honors Research Seminar

The  Honors Research Seminars (MSU Course UGS 200H)  are designed particularly for first- and second-year Honors College students and provide an opportunity to engage in research in close association with MSU faculty. The seminars are listed as UGS 200H in the course search on the  Student Information System . FRIB hosts the “From Atomic Nuclei to Stars: Research at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (NS)” section of the Honors Research Seminars. Students will learn about research projects that FRIB faculty and staff are working on, and they will join a research group to get hands-on experience in areas at the forefront of experimental or theoretical nuclear science and accelerator science.

Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Nuclear Matter

Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Nuclear Matter (PING) is a program that targets both pre-college students and undergraduate students (who serve as mentors). It was launched in 2014 as a collaboration between the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in partnership with Associated Universities, Inc. PING is funded by the National Science Foundation.

The Institute for Nuclear Science to Inspire the Next Generation for a Highly Trained workforce

The Institute for Nuclear Science to Inspire the Next Generation for a Highly Trained workforce (INSIGHT) is a support network of research traineeships to broaden and diversify nuclear physics created by the Office of Nuclear Physics within the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science. Founded in 2020, INSIGHT also offers its own traineeship program for students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), leveraging the scientific opportunities at FRIB. Currently, INSIGHT supports 13 traineeship programs across the U.S. and partners directly with MSIs. INSIGHT is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

Summer Research Opportunities Program

The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities. The MSU SROP Program provides an opportunity to combine professional development with applied work experience in your career field. MSU SROP typically convenes the third weekend of May and ends the last weekend of July.

FRIB Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship program

FRIB’s Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship (ASET) program provides practical training in accelerator science and engineering. Undergraduate students can participate in FRIB’s summer internship programs, which offer a variety of research opportunities and provide student financial support. These students work side by side with MSU faculty and research staff who develop state-of-the-art accelerator science and technology at a world-leading accelerator facility.

Restoring sight is possible now with optogenetics

People suffering from macular degeneration, along with other diseases that impair sight, may soon benefit from gene therapy

As a child, Max Hodak learned to develop film in a darkroom with his late grandfather who was almost blind.

Hodak’s grandfather had retinitis pigmentosa, a congenital disease that affects one out of every 5,000 people — more than 2 million worldwide. Most people with the condition are born with their sight intact. Over time they lose peripheral vision first, then central vision, and finally, their sight, sometimes as early as middle age.

“He clearly had this career and was a photographer, and I saw that,” Hodak said of his grandfather, who became an aerospace engineer and briefly worked on heat shields for spacecraft. “But most of my memories as a kid was that he was pretty profoundly blind.”

Possible solutions, though, are within reach. Science, a start-up company in Alameda, Calif., has designed a visual prosthesis called the Science Eye which could restore vision, albeit in a limited form, in people with retinitis pigmentosa. Hodak, its CEO, co-founded the startup after a stint at Elon Musk’s company Neuralink. Other companies such as Paris-based biotechnology company GenSight Biologics and Bionic Sight in New York are also experimenting with methods to restore sight.

All are basing their work on a research tool in neuroscience called optogenetics, a form of gene therapy that delivers proteins called opsins via injection into the eye to boost the light sensitivity of cells in the retina, the layer of tissue at the rear of the eyeball.

Therapeutic optogenetic therapy for vision restoration certainly has promise, according to Anand Swaroop, a senior investigator at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Md., who has worked on inherited retinal degeneration for close to four decades. But there’s still room for improvement.

“At least at this stage, it seems to be very good in cases where someone is completely blind,” Swaroop said. “You should be able to find your way around. You’re not going to bump into things, which is great. But you’re not going to be distinguishing many different features.”

How optogenetics work

In normal vision, light enters the eye through the lens and forms an image on the retina. The retina itself is composed of several different types of cells, mainly photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are light-sensing cells shaped like rods and cones that contain opsins. Normally, photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals that travel to the retina’s ganglion cells, which in turn transmit those electrical signals via the optic nerve into the brain. That’s how you’re reading the words on this page right now.

In retinitis pigmentosa, the rods and cones in the photoreceptors break down and ultimately die. First the peripheral vision goes, and people develop tunnel vision: They have to turn their whole head just to view the world around them. Many people with tunnel vision require a cane to assist in navigating the world (and to avoid bumping into things, like furniture.) Blindness follows not long after. The breakdown of the photoreceptors, however, doesn’t diminish the brain’s ability to process electrical signals — and, critically, the ganglion cells remain intact.

Optogenetics seeks to circumvent the usual choreography by delivering opsin proteins directly to the ganglion cells, meaning they can be stimulated by light in order to send signals to the brain.

The Science Eye contains two elements. The first is an implant composed of a wireless power coil and an ultrathin, flexible micro-LED array that’s applied directly over the retina — surgery that’s more extensive compared to other eye procedures like repairing cataracts. According to Hodak, the array — prototypes of which are being tested in rabbits — provides eight times the resolution of an iPhone screen.

The second element is a pair of frameless glasses, similar in size and shape to regular prescription glasses, that contain miniature infrared cameras and inductive power coils.

Put it all together and the process looks like this:

Inject opsins into the ganglion cells of the eye.

Install the implant.

The glasses activate the modified ganglion cells by wirelessly communicating information from the visual world; in turn, the new light-sensitive ganglion cells transmit that information through the optic nerve to the brain.

The eye isn’t receiving an image anymore, but rather digital information. And the results?

“You should be able to walk across town to buy a sandwich without being hit by a car,” Hodak said.

More research into retinitis pigmentosa

Other companies are already helping to bring back vision in people with retinitis pigmentosa.

GenSight Biologics uses an optogenetics-plus-glasses approach to amplify light that genetically edited ganglion cells can decode. According to clinical trial results published in 2021 in the journal Nature Medicine, GenSight’s method was able to help in locating objects on a table. That patient, a 58-year-old man, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 18.

Innovations

Bionic Sight has firsthand experience with patients beginning to make distinctions between features. Its method involves a gene-therapy vector that transfers an opsin called Chronos via injection into the eyes of their patients to boost the light sensitivity of intact ganglion cells. For those with tunnel vision, the injection of the opsin seems to be enough.

For patients with more impaired vision, Bionic Sight pairs the optogenetic therapy with a pair of goggles containing a camera and a neurocoding device: The camera takes in images and converts them to code, which is then sent out as light pulses to activate the opsin in the genetically modified ganglion cells. So far Bionic Sight has treated 13 people, ranging from the very blind to patients with tunnel vision.

“It’s really significantly helping,” said Sheila Nirenberg, founder of Bionic Sight as well as a professor of computational neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Consider the large letter “E” on the eye chart you might examine during a visit to the doctor’s office. The visual acuity of a person who is nearly blind is 20/200: What someone with 20/20 vision is able to see at 200 feet away is only visible at 20 feet away to someone who is nearly blind.

Many of her patients with retinitis pigmentosa, Nirenberg said, can’t see a letter like the big “E” from just two feet away. But one patient whose visual acuity was 20/150 — he had to stand 20 feet away from the chart in order to see the letters, whereas a normally-sighted person could stand 150 feet away and see the same letters — is now down to 20/40. Another patient was unable to distinguish the suits on playing cards. After receiving the opsin, the patient was not only able to tell the difference between clubs and diamonds, for instance, but he was also able to notice the differences in color.

Another challenge had him trying to spot differences between plastic fruits arranged in front of him. He was able to spot the stem of the apple to tell it apart from oranges and peaches. Finally, he was asked to walk a maze with black squares on the bottom — and made it through successfully.

“I can’t explain to you how thrilling it is,” Nirenberg said. “It’s very hopeful.”

One form of gene therapy for treating blindness has been available for over five years. Luxturna, a prescription approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017, is for children and adults with a rare genetic mutation that impacts the retinal pigment epithelium, the membrane at the back of the retina on which the photoreceptors sit. The prescription adds in a functional version of the gene to create an epithelium more favorable to the photoreceptors.

“It might slow the progression of the disease,” Hodak said. “But it does not regenerate any loss.”

That, ultimately, is the goal of Science Eye. Clinical trials should begin, Hodak said, sometime in the next 18 months. The company is also looking at ways to use Science Eye to help people with dry age-related macular degeneration, which unfolds slightly differently compared with retinitis pigmentosa: Patients lose central, high-resolution vision first, and then their peripheral vision.

There are milestones to cross for every company using optogenetics to help people improve their eyesight. More patients enrolled in clinical trials should help refine both opsin delivery and the ability to improve light sensitivity in retinal cells. But Hodak predicts that over the next five years, there will be products on the market for people like his grandfather.

“You always have to be really careful with what you say to patients because they’re holding on for any piece of hope,” Hodak said. “But there’s a lot of things on the horizon that are converging. It’s not at a point where any one thing will fail and derail the whole field. Real progress is coming.”

About this story

Bionic Eye illustrations by Washington Post; Science. Editing by Bronwen Latimer. Copy editing by Paola Ruano. Design and development by Audrey Valbuena. Design editing by Betty Chavarria. Photo editing by Haley Hamblin. Project development by Evan Bretos and Hope Corrigan. Project editing by Marian Chia-Ming Liu.

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Data Scientist is in the top-ten of emerging jobs according to the LinkedIn emerging jobs report. Graduates that can combine their mathematical skills and statistical modelling to make sense of big data are in high demand.

Why choose Mathematics and Data Science BSc Honours at Middlesex?

Build on theory to deliver practical solutions to a variety of real-world big data problems. Our project-based approach to assessment will give you a practical education and help you apply your mathematical skills to one of the top emerging job sectors.

What will you gain?

You’ll learn to work with multi-faceted problems across a range of modules and develop your mathematical problem-solving and communication skills.

You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of data wrangling, data analysis and broaden your knowledge of programming and software design and engineering.

We have over 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers, so find out more today.

Accreditations

The degree is accredited by the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). The IMA is the largest mathematical body in the UK and supports the advancement of mathematical knowledge and its applications to promote and enhance mathematical culture in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, for the public good.

Accreditation by the IMA allows our students to work towards becoming chartered mathematicians within the IMA framework and enhances employability. Visit the IMA .

What you will learn

After completing this course, you'll be able to combine your mathematical skills and statistical modelling to make sense of big data to check and enhance the digital economy.

You'll learn the mathematical theory underpinning data science and deliver practical solutions to a variety of real-world big data problems.

There will be scope to develop your programming and software skills, as well as learn new skills within a work environment through placement opportunities.

The project-based assessment will give you a practical education and prepare you to apply your mathematical skills to one of the top emerging job sectors.

By joining us on this course, you'll benefit from:

• Modules that teach techniques from machine learning and artificial intelligence
• Practical real-life experience of working and analysing big data
• Teaching and support from staff who work and research in all areas of mathematics, with expert knowledge from the industry
• Project and coursework-based assessment, no end-of-year exams
• A large, 30-credit third-year project allows you to demonstrate the accumulation of your knowledge to develop a significant piece of work
• Placement opportunities which add value to the current business within a work environment
• Find employment in any number of different careers as a mathematics graduate including IT, finance and teaching

3 great reasons to pick this course

Graduate success.

Our graduates work in companies such as Swiss Re and to Norton Rose Fulbright. Most of our graduates have gone on to careers in IT, finance and accounting, and teaching

Use top facilities

You will use our state of the art problem-solving rooms that mimic real-life software development team working, as well as specialised support in our Maths Help Centre

Exciting work placement opportunities

Enhance your employability with the option to take a year-long placement between your second and third years

This is a three or four year degree, depending on an optional industry placement year. It can also be studied part-time over six years. The work placement year takes place between the second and third years of the degree. Your full-time study years are structured like this: Year 1 Establishes the fundamental principles of mathematics and data science that will underpin the degree.

Calculus and Geometry (30 credits) - Compulsory

Following from your previous learning, this module studies calculus and its applications to problem solving. We take a more intuitive geometric approach to learn the techniques in more depth. We will also set the theory up more rigorously in order to fully understand this important mathematical tool.

Mathematical Thinking (15 credits) - Compulsory

Bridging the gap from school or college to university level maths, this module introduces and studies important concepts like logic and sets that form the language of mathematics.

Introduction to Programming (15 credits) - Compulsory

Programming as a way of studying and working with mathematics is becoming a fundamental tool in mathematical problem solving. In this module you’ll be introduced to programming in informal and supportive labs. No prior knowledge of computing is expected.

Probability and Data Analysis (30 credits) - Compulsory

Understanding chance and uncertainty is the core idea behind probability. This module introduces the theory or probability and teaches you how it can be applied to analyse data and base conclusions on it. This is at the heart of data science.

Mathematical Models (15 credits) - Compulsory

Mathematical models help us understand real-life systems and make predictions about their behaviour. In this module you’ll learn to understand the process of mathematical modelling and be introduced to many important models in data science. You’ll learn to make useful prediction about their behaviour and provide solutions where possible.

Linear Algebra (15 credits) - Compulsory

To understand the high-dimensional structures that model data you need to develop the language that describes them. This module teaches you to think and work confidently in higher dimensions and to understand, geometrically, the spaces described.

Problem Solving and Communication (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module trains you to think correctly about problems, to formulate successful strategies to solve them and to communicate their solutions to others, from professional mathematicians to public communication.

Software Design (15 credits) - Compulsory

This is a hands-on module that will continue to develop your programming skills. You will learn to design your own efficient algorithms, data structures and other aspects of design. In this module you’ll learn to integrate your software with large real-life datasets and databases.

Mathematics of Machine Learning (15 credits) - Compulsory

In this module you will learn to manipulate data in order to produce usable training sets. You will then learn the main classifiers used to learn from your training data. Taught in a practical way, the techniques will be underpinned by a theoretical grounding in the mathematical techniques behind these techniques.

Mathematical Statistics (30 credits) - Compulsory

Following from the probability learned in the first year, you will, in this module, learn how to make sense of data. This can mean modelling the data using probability models and estimating important parameters or using techniques such as regression to estimate trends. The theory will be taught in a practical way using real data to give you invaluable experience of working in this setting.

Advanced Calculus (15 credits) - Compulsory

Dealing with big data means you will often be working in spaces with hundreds of dimensions. This module will, amongst other things, teach you how to generalise calculus to these high dimensional spaces. You will learn how to differentiate and integrate functions in higher dimensions. You will also find out how you can find local minimums and maximums of functions when you can. This will be vital in finding the best solutions to problems in data science.

Neural Networks and Deep Learning (30 credits) - Compulsory

Neural networks mimic the neurons of the brain to solve problems in artificial intelligence. This module expands on your machine learning module in the second year to produce models that can self-learn. The deep learning section of the module will then apply neural networks to solve a number of highly complex problems.

Mathematical Techniques for Optimisation (15 credits) - Optional

Many problems in data science involve finding an optimal solution to some system – for example finding optimal routing through a network. In this module you will learn a number of techniques for solving these kinds of problems.

Data Mining (15 credits) - Optional

Making sense of large datasets and databases can be a combination of art and science. This module will introduce you to the main methods for dealing with data and making sensible conclusions by examining relationships inherent in the data.

Time Series (15 credits) - Optional

A time series is a sequence of values that depend on time, for example stock price. In this module you’ll be taught to analyse the main components of a time series and how to model them.

Cryptography and Blockchain (15 credits) - Optional

Blockchains are the record-keeping technologies behind Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In this module you will learn the main ideas behind the technology and its influence of the financial sector.

Stochastic Processes for Finance (15 credits) - Optional

Modelling stock prices, derivatives and other financial instruments need a good understanding of the probability models that underlie them. This module will introduce these so-called stochastic processes and study their properties, and you’ll learn to use them to make predictions using real-world financial data.

Graph Theory (15 credits) - Optional

This module will continue some of the work you studied in the second year. You will, in this module, learn about the properties of graphs and networks. You will find that these can be used to model complex relationships and can be used to understand connections.

Project (30 credits) - Compulsory

The major project is the culmination of your learning. You will, in this module, get the opportunity to apply all your learning to a significant piece of work that you will be able to use to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

To find out more about this course, please download the Mathematics and Data Science BSc Honours specification (PDF) .

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Our communications are designed to support you in deciding your future and keep you up to date about student finance, employment opportunities and student activities available at Middlesex University.

Modules are taught using a problem-based approach, giving you time and space to deepen your understanding of the content. The supportive environment in classes and in the Maths Help Centre will encourage you to discuss your work with peers and academics. You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. You will learn by attending lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors. Most seminar groups have about 25-30 students. For one-to-one support, you will meet with either your personal tutor or module leader. Your work will be divided into credits of approximately 10 hours of study time. You will need to complete 120 credits per year, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

• How we'll teach you
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Where will I study?

You will be studying at our Hendon Campus in north London.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 5 hours of lectures
• 8 hours of seminars.

Teaching vs independent learning

Independent learning.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Academic support

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

The practical nature of this course means it is based on 100% on project and coursework coursework. assessed. There are no end-of-year exams.

Assessments

We'll test your understanding and progress with informal and formal tests.

The informal tests usually take place at least once per module, from which you’ll receive feedback from your tutor. The grades from these tests don’t count towards your final marks.

There are formal assessments for each module, usually at the end, which will count towards your module and your final marks.

Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback or feedback from an external examiner.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.

North London campus

Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.

Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.

Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.

We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.

Student Support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team .

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page .

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget .

How can the BSc Mathematics and Data Science support your career?

Data scientist is in the top ten of emerging jobs according to the LinkedIn emerging jobs report.

Graduates that can combine their mathematical skills and statistical modelling to make sense of big data are in high demand in many sectors, including business and finance where focused product marketing and matching is state-of-the-art. London is still the best place for emerging roles in data science.

Graduate job roles

As a mathematics and data science graduate, you can find employment in any number of different careers including IT, finance and teaching.

Graduate employers

Previous graduates have gone on to such places as Swiss Re and Norton Rose Fulbright.

Our employability service , MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:

The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 

A top 10 university for producing CEOs  – Novuana, 2023

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Work placements

Placements and internships greatly improve graduate employment prospects, and those who take part achieve excellent academic results through applying their learning in a professional setting.

There is the option to do a year-long placement between the second and final years of study on this course. You'll work with our MDXWorks service to gain placements.

Our specialist employability service will help you find placement opportunities.

At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way. We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.

• Standard entry requirements
• International entry
• How to apply

Qualifications

We'll accept T Levels for entry onto our undergraduate degree courses (including our extended courses with a foundation year) with the standard application of science requirements and GCSEs in line with UCAS tariff calculation.

Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers.

Foundation year

We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.

Mature students (over 21)

Academic credit.

If you have a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex University course in year two or three. Find out how you can transfer courses .

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience , we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

• Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
• Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
• Work placements and networking with top London employers
• Career support to get you where you want to go after university
• Global alumni network and connections

English language

You'll need good English language skills to study with us. That's usually an IELTS 6.0 qualification (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections). And, if you need help, we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.

To study with us in the UK, you will need a student route visa .

112 UCAS Points

In addition to qualifications such as A level and International Baccalaureate, we accept a wide range of international qualifications.

Find out more on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office .

Please apply via UCAS using this UCAS code G102 .

Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students 1

Full-time: £9,250

Part-time: £77 per taught credit

International students 2

Full-time students: £16,600

Part-time students: £138 per taught credit

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

• Free loan of iPad and Apple Pencil for the duration of your degree
• Free laptop loans for a maximum of 24 hours
• Free access to everything on your reading list
• Free specialist software for your course
• Free printing for academic paperwork
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

• MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
• Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
• Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries .

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Mobile phone ownership over time, who owns cellphones and smartphones, smartphone dependency over time, who is smartphone dependent, find out more, mobile fact sheet.

Large shares of Americans are connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones and other mobile devices. Explore the patterns and trends that have shaped the mobile revolution below.

To better understand Americans’ smartphone and broadband adoption, Pew Research Center surveyed 5,733 U.S. adults from May 19 to Sept. 5, 2023. Ipsos conducted this National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) for the Center using address-based sampling and a multimode protocol that included both web and mail. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race and ethnicity, education and other categories.

Polls from 2000 to 2021 were conducted via phone. For more on this mode shift, please read our Q&A .

Here are the  questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and  its methodology ­­­.

The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cellphone of some kind. Nine-in-ten own a smartphone, up from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011.

Substantial majorities of Americans across a wide range of demographic groups are cellphone owners. The same is true for smartphone ownership – though some differences do emerge, particularly by age, household income and level of formal education.

% of U.S. adults who say they own a __, by …

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Today, 15% of U.S. adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have home broadband service.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2013-2023. Data for each year is based on a pooled analysis of all surveys containing broadband and smartphone questions fielded during that year.

Reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among Americans with lower household incomes and those with lower levels of formal education.

This fact sheet was compiled by Research Assistant  Olivia Sidoti , with help from Research Analyst  Risa Gelles-Watnick , Research Analyst  Michelle Faverio , Digital Producer  Sara Atske , Associate Information Graphics Designer Kaitlyn Radde and Temporary Researcher Eugenie Park .

Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of the impact of mobile technology on American life.

• Americans’ Social Media Use  Jan. 31, 2024
• Americans’ Use of Mobile Technology and Home Broadband  Jan. 31 2024
• Q&A: How and why we’re changing the way we study tech adoption  Jan. 31, 2024

Find more reports and blog posts related to  internet and technology .

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Last updated April 24, 2024

Better relationships, better culture: 4 insights from Esther Perel and Megan Rapinoe

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Writer, Culture Amp

In today’s fast-paced world of work, technology helps companies thrive – whether they are analyzing employee data to make business decisions or incorporating AI into their processes. But success isn’t built on technology alone. Meaningful human relationships bring company culture to life.

Esther Perel, renowned psychotherapist and Culture Amp External Advisor, will headline Culture First Global 2024 with a discussion on how human relationships help organizations thrive. Megan Rapinoe, soccer legend and trailblazer, will also join us on the keynote stage to share what she has learned about building inclusive communities – both on and off the field.

Can’t wait to hear what they have to say? To help you start thinking about these important topics ahead of our free, virtual conference, we’re sharing five insights from our keynotes on the power of relationships in the workplace.

1. Relational skills matter

At Culture First Global 2023, Esther Perel spoke with Didier Elzinga, Culture Amp CEO, about the value of relational intelligence . She describes relational intelligence as a mindset that “looks at boundaries, expectations, communication, accountability, ruptures, repair systems, creativity, freedom, the relationship between the individual and the group.” Esther emphasizes the importance of all of these dimensions of relationships as conduits through which culture is communicated.

While the workplace once considered relational skills “soft skills,” companies have begun to recognize their impact on the bottom line. She says, “We talk about psychological safety in the same breath as we talk about performance indicators.” As companies become increasingly reliant on technology, relational skills provide a necessary counterbalance.

2. Good leadership involves knowing yourself and knowing how to communicate with others

Esther sees emotional intelligence – including self-awareness, empathy, and understanding – as one piece of relational intelligence. On the Culture First podcast , she spoke about how even emotionally intelligent people aren’t always aware of the effect they have on others.

“Relational intelligence is about how you connect. It's about how you establish trust, how you overcome betrayal, how you either engage or avoid conflict. It's how you manage the interaction, the interpersonal relationships that you have with other people.”

On the HBR on Leadership podcast , Megan Rapinoe provided a great example of this. She shared how much she appreciated Vlatko Andonovski’s confident, down-to-earth coaching style on the U.S. women’s national team. He gave team members direct feedback while injecting it with a little humor.

She says, “I think probably the most important thing is to be secure with yourself because ultimately at the end of the day, we’re just people, and we just have relationships. So, if you’re bringing other BS into it, then you’re not going to get the best out of someone, and people understand that right away.”

3. Stories bring people together

In her conversation with Didier at last year’s Culture First Global, Esther mentioned that much of her work involves helping people have difficult conversations. She has learned that storytelling is a powerful way to do this because it gets people to open up. She says, “Stories are bridges for connection.” That motivated her to create her card game, Where Should We Begin? , which prompts people to share stories and get to know each other on a deeper level.

Esther sees storytelling as a way to strengthen relationships with remote colleagues. Remote and hybrid workplaces offer fewer opportunities for spontaneous interactions and mentorship, so she encourages leaders to use storytelling in virtual meetings. “At least every few meetings, once a week, start with a question. Do five minutes of storytelling. It changes the entire meeting and changes the relationships.”

4. You have a responsibility to use your voice to support others

When President Biden awarded Megan Rapinoe the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, he said, “Beyond the World Cup titles and Olympic medals, Megan is a champion for an essential American truth: that everyone, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Megan earned her place in the spotlight, and she’s proud of it – but she also recognizes that it’s a tremendous opportunity to do good. Over the years, she has used her platform to speak out on LGBTQ rights, racial justice, and equal pay, among other issues.

In 2019, after the U.S. women’s soccer team won the World Cup, she spoke at City Hall in New York City. She said, “This is my charge to everyone: We have to be better. We have to love more, hate less. We’ve got to listen more and talk less.”

She urged the audience to think about how they interact with others, asking, “How do you make your community better? How do you make the people around you better? Your family? Your closest friends? The 10 closest people to you? The 20 closest people to you? The 100 closest people to you? It’s every single person’s responsibility.”

Hear from Esther Perel and Megan Rapinoe at Culture First Global 2024

This May, people leaders and culture creators from all over the world will gather to share innovative ideas and insights on how to improve organizational culture.

Join us at Culture First Global 2024

Hear from Esther Perel, Megan Rapinoe, and an outstanding lineup of thought leaders and industry experts at our free virtual conference.

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