The Academy of Medical Sciences (www.acmedsci.ac.uk) is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Our mission is to promote medical science and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy’s elected Fellows are the UK’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and public service. We work with them to promote excellence, develop talented researchers, influence research and policy nationally and internationally and encourage dialogue about the medical sciences.

We achieve this by being comprised of dedicated teams working in science policy, communications and career development, with the latter providing research funding, mentorship and other career support schemes for early- and mid-career researchers. The Academy is an authoritative voice on the development of training and career pathways and a source of inspiration, information and personal support for biomedical researchers.

COVID-19 notice

The Academy is carefully monitoring the developing situation and advice about the current global outbreak of COVID-19. The health, safety and appropriate support of candidates and interns is our first priority. The Academy is developing its working practices and is currently working wholly remotely. Interviews for this opportunity will be conducted remotely by video call. Successful candidates will be kept closely informed on any potential impacts on their internship period, and how these can be mitigated or managed.

What the internship scheme provides

The scheme will:
• Provide future researchers and academic leaders with a deeper understanding of the UK and international grant review process and career development support programmes, gaining a valuable insight into the wider funding landscape at a critical and exciting time.
• Allow interns to gain insights into all aspects of the Academy’s work and experience working in a non-research focussed organisation, including learning about the management of research funding, organising events, science communications and biomedical research policy.
• Allow interns to develop a wider network of contacts, both through their access to the Academy’s prestigious Fellowship and work with other Academy stakeholders, such as the UK National Academies.
• Provide opportunities for BBSRC PhD students to develop valuable transferable skills and to enhance their CVs.
• The intern will be embedded within the Academy’s Careers Team and, as an early career researcher, will provide valuable perspective in the development of our schemes and programmes.

Activity of interns
During the internship, the intern will be involved in a wide variety of activities that will provide them with experience in the management of research funding and career development programmes within the biomedical research field. The intern will be involved in tasks that are consistent with the role of a Grants Officer and a Programme Officer at the Academy and will lead on discrete projects with the support of the wider Careers Team. The range of activities the intern might be involved in include:
• Supporting our growing portfolio of grant schemes, including assessing eligibility of applicants, identifying peer reviewers, attending decision-making Panel meetings and preparing feedback to the applicants.
• Supporting the delivery of our career development programmes, including our flagship mentoring scheme.
• Assisting in the organisation and delivery of workshops, conferences and other career development events, e.g. arranging venues, preparing conference materials, helping to co-ordinate activities on the day.
• Contributing to the publicity and communications strategy of the Careers Team, including social media activities, a regular electronic bulletin, news stories and blog posts for the website.
• Liaising with the Academy’s Fellowship, external stakeholders, funders and other professional bodies.

Structure of the scheme
Four internships will be offered in three-month time blocks from January 2021 to December 2021. Candidates are invited to indicate their preferred time to undertake the placement, although we cannot guarantee the timing of placements.

We expect the internships to be full-time positions for the full three-month period.However, in exceptional circumstances, the Academy will consider requests for a reduced duration.To facilitate this time away from research, the students’ stipend is covered during the 3-month internship as part of their BBSRC funding.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, internships beginning in January 2021 will be supervised remotely, with your main place of work being at home. You may be invited to work at the Academy offices at 41 Portland Place, London W1B 1QH either routinely, on a limited basis or for events. You may be asked to travel elsewhere within the UK as part of internship activities; in such circumstances expenses will be provided at the Academy’s normal rates. Place of work for internships from April 2021 onwards will depend on Academy policy in response to the ongoing pandemic. We will discuss with you the feasibility of any travel, either to the Academy offices or elsewhere in the UK for internship activities, in light of government guidelines and your personal circumstances.

Each intern will be allocated a supervisor from among the Academy staff who will:
• Provide line management and guidance.
• Conduct entry and exit interviews.
• Co-ordinate review of the work produced by the intern.
• Carry out relevant administration in accordance with the Academy’s Human Resources policies.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to all BBSRC funded PhD students. BBSRC students are normally able to undertake a 3-month internship between the second and third year of study through the Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS) scheme.

Applications must be endorsed by each student’s primary PhD project supervisor. Candidates must ensure that they leave enough time to secure this endorsement before they submit their application.

Placements on the scheme are allocated on a competitive basis so withdrawal from the scheme once a place is accepted is likely to result in another potential intern being denied the opportunity to participate.

Selection criteria
Skills
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Excellent IT skills
• Good literacy and Numeracy skills
Competencies
• Able to plan own work to ensure maximum effectiveness and prioritises to ensure tasks completed within deadline.
• Considers differing audiences and adapts communication style accordingly.
• Networks effectively with stakeholders internally and externally.

Application procedure
Candidates are asked to supply – all in pdf format:
• A completed application form (please download the form below) that includes a personal statement describing their reasons for application as well as an endorsement and a supporting statement from their supervisor.
• A CV.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with a selection panel of Academy staff.

Applications must be received by 5pm on Sunday 22 November 2020.

Interviews will be conducted on 4 December 2020 . Successful candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application within two weeks of the interview date.

If you have any problems applying please contact Maksi Vicheva at [email protected]