Every year, The University of Manchester hosts sixth formers participating in the Nuffield Research Placement (NRP) scheme. For summer 2021 NRP has been adapted so that an entirely virtual programme model can be offered to students and project supervisors alike.

Offering a Nuffield Research Placement is a fantastic way of working with talented young people from local schools and sixth form colleges, who are interested in academic research in the future and who meet our widening participation criteria. There are more details on the scheme below.

If you are interested in offering a project for 2021, please register your interest by emailing Roz.Webster@manchester.ac.uk by Friday 28 February.

Could you change someone’s life this summer?

The Nuffield Research Placements (NRP) scheme is a national scheme which provides interested sixth formers with the opportunity to work alongside STEM professionals or quantitative social scientists. Students carry out 4-week research placements, gaining skills, experience and much-valued insight into research as a career. All our students come from Widening Participation backgrounds.

Benefits for you:

• The Nuffield Research Placements scheme is a well-established, nationwide outreach and widening participation activity
• Nuffield students go through a competitive application process and are enthusiastic and academically able
• Nuffield students can do useful work and contribute positively to your research
• Hosting a Nuffield student gives Early Career Researchers experience of supervision, project management and mentoring
• Getting involved is an opportunity to forge links with local schools and colleges and raise awareness of your area of research
• Nuffield Research Placements are supported by the university and a dedicated Regional Coordinator

“This programme helped me to develop my supervisory skills and allowed me additional time to explore areas of my research which would have taken longer if not for the assistance from the students. It gave me a chance to discuss the career path of the students and how they might get involved in STEM in the future.” Project Provider 2018

Placements must take place in July or August. Students will need a project to carry out for the 4 weeks that they are with you, which can be predominately carried out online. It should give the students a taste of genuine research, including the opportunity to collect or analyse data and write a report and produce a poster about their research.

Each year we have more student applicants than we have placements available so we are really keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in getting involved. Download the programme summary (pdf).

If you are potentially interested in offering a project for summer 2021 please contact Roz Webster by Friday 28 February on Roz.Webster@manchester.ac.uk

Nuffield Research Placements are managed by STEM Learning so for further information visit the STEM Learning website at: https://www.stem.org.uk/nuffield-research-placements

Posted on behalf of Roz Webster, Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Officer, Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Team, The University of Manchester