BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership Professional Internships for PhDs (PIPs) and Research Student Internships Dr Richy Hetherington

Why Internships?  Research Students Develop Many Skills

Internships offer potential benefits The Interns Gain experience Broaden skills context Inform their research The University Build links Display products’ quality Improve student experience The Organisation Get fresh Ideas Help with a project View potential recruits

BBSRC PIPs  Aim to provide ALL DTP PhD students with the opportunity to carry out a non-academic work experience  Experience of working in a professional environment that does not directly relate to their PhD project  Broad Guidelines  3 months anytime within 4 years of study  Work unrelated to their research

PIPS what is allowed  Contribution to their host organisation e.g. managing a non-research project  A discrete research project in industry  Teaching  Desk-based research  Analysis of production or processing  Marketing, sales, legal, policy, media  NOT academic research

Pilot Internship Schemes Intern Scholarship Scheme  Up to three months following thesis submission  Available for all PhD students to apply  Students must source and arrange their own internship  Applications made to the Graduate School and awarded competitively

Intern Scholarship Funding  Scholarships were supported through HEIF funding  Scholarships provide up to 3 months stipend  Stipends awarded up to £1000 per month with no additional costs  Applications with partial funding from the organisation or the intern were viewed favourably

MRes/PhD Internship Pilot Scheme  A five week internship in August and September  Available for all MRes/PhD students  Organised by the Graduate School  MRes students express interest in working with a type of organisation  Relocation expenses paid  Supervisors were encouraged to be supportive

Who with? Interns were offered work in any area other than a continuation of their research e.g.  Companies e.g. Demuris, Cancer Research Technologies, Leica Microsystems  Policy makers e.g. Newcastle Council or Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  Educators e.g. Local Schools, FE Colleges, Centre for Life, Libraries or Museums  Charities or Not for Profit organisations e.g. Arthritis UK or Cancer Research UK, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in Brussels

Arrangements  Intern Scholarships:  All arrangements: timing, visas, contracts, intellectual property etc. must be arranged by the student and the organisation.  MRes/PhD internships  The Graduate School or supervisory team made the arrangements

Pilot Scheme Results  MRes/PhD Internship Scheme  36 of 46 attended briefing  17 completed feedback  6 not interested, 5 places taken  Intern Scholarship Scheme  40 attended briefing  5 application received – all awarded  1 complete, 1 in progress, 1 planned  2 found alternative employment

Participant’s comments  Intern Scholarship  Graciela Rocha – SOHO Flordis, Australia “To be honest this is one the best thing that I ever done!”  MRes/PhD Internship  Jodie Birch – NHS Newcastle Trust  “Seeing the clinical side of science was a good experience”

Working toward PIPs  Schemes show positive outcomes are achievable  Liverpool & Durham views to consider  Evidence may influence BBSRC policy  Flexibility can help with satisfaction  Build planning into the internship may help with engagement  Your ideas are welcome and your support is vital