Nuffield Research Placements: Host a Student this Summer
Last the University of Manchester were proud to have hosted more students than any other institution in the UK. They are now looking for researchers and academic staff who might be interested in offering a Nuffield Research Placement in 2015. Details on what this entails can be found below and in the 2015 Project Providers Leaflet (pdf).
Nuffield Research Placements are a fantastic way of working with young people from local schools and colleges who already have an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths; and giving them an insight into the research which goes on within our University. With The University of Manchester’s commitment to widening participation and supporting talented young people from local schools to progress onto research intensive universities, we really welcome this move – and look forward to working with you to offer a wide range of Nuffield Research Placements this academic year.
If you have been involved in the scheme before, then Sarah Fenton the Regional Coordinator will contact you, either directly, or via a central contact in your School.
If you have not been involved in the scheme before please see below to find out more.
If you are interested in offering a project for 2015; or would like more information, please reply to me at roz.webster@manchester.ac.uk by 31 January in the first instance, and I will pass on your details to Sarah Fenton, the Regional Coordinator.
For further information on the scheme, see the attached leaflet or visit the website: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements
More Details
The Nuffield Research Placement scheme is a national scheme which provides over 1,000 sixth form students each year with the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. The scheme is open to students in Year 12 and successful applicants are offered 4-6 week research placements over the summer, gaining valuable skills and experience, as well as insight into current STEM research. We hope that the scheme will encourage students to continue with STEM subjects at university and beyond and consider research as a career. We actively encourage participation from students who don’t have a family history of higher education or who attend schools in less well-off areas.
“My placement gave me an insight into academic life which has been once in a lifetime and has made me realise that conducting scientific research is what I really want to do. I feel that my confidence in my ambitions and my own ability has grown, and I have learnt so many valuable skills – from how to use different types of pipette, to how to write a scientific report. Being able to work in a lab alongside leading academics was invaluable – everyone was incredibly friendly and we were encouraged to ask as many questions as we wanted. It was an experience I won’t forget.” – Nuffield Research Placement participant, 2014.
Last year, the University of Manchester hosted 53 Nuffield Research Placement students, more than any other institution in the UK and we would love to continue to offer as many opportunities as possible in 2015. We are now looking for staff who could host one or more sixth formers for 4 – 6 weeks in July/August 2015. Could a sixth former work in your lab over the summer? Is there a specific piece of work they could help you with? Or an undergraduate project that could be adapted for sixth formers as well? Do you have PhD students, post-docs or technicians who would appreciate an extra pair of hands or benefit from the experience of supervising a student? Lab-based, field-based or computer-based projects are all suitable. Nuffield students are usually extremely bright and enthusiastic and work to a very high standard; work done in the past has contributed to published papers and has been used as the basis for grant applications. There is also the satisfaction of knowing you are making a big difference to a student’s future and inspiring the next generation of researchers.