Summer Internship Programme

Applications are now closed for our summer 2011 internships. The information below is for reference only.

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Overview

The Wellcome Trust is dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in health by supporting the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. Our work is based in many countries and cultures across the world, and we are committed to inclusion and equality. We aim to create a culture that is open, respects others and where differences are valued and celebrated.

With our new Summer Internship Programme, we are hoping to inspire, encourage and support a new generation who will go on to make a difference. During the eight-week internship in July and August 2011 you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals and gain an understanding of how an organisation works. In particular, you will be able to find out more about an area of work that interests you and to establish whether it is something you want to pursue further in your future career.

In return for a salary of £15 000 p.a. pro rata you will be given real challenges and your own project, and be expected to meet objectives and deadlines during your time here. You will have an induction into the organisation on joining, and be assigned a line manager in the department who will support you, set and review your objectives, and oversee your work programme.

2011 internships

Our wide variety of activities means that we can offer internships in a diverse range of areas. This summer we can offer:

Information about each internship and any specific requirements are detailed below.

Publishing

The Publishing team communicates the work of the Trust through a range of websites, publications, films and animations.

Details of the internship
Working as a science writer, you will bring the work of the research we fund to a wider audience by producing content for both print and web.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you should be studying a biological sciences or medical degree, and be able to demonstrate an ability to write with clarity and style.

Finance

As a team of 44 staff, the Finance department works in partnership with all areas of the Trust. It is therefore a great place to gain exposure to, and an overview of, many aspects of our work.

Details of the internship
You will work in both the Financial Planning and Reporting and the Financial Accounting areas. This work may include assisting with operational and grants payments, investment accounting, the preparation of internal and external reports, the month end processes, and the review and implementation of financial controls.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to be highly numerate. You will also need to be self-motivated, inquisitive and keen to understand how finance works and helps an organisation to be successful.

Grants Management

Grants Management handles grants from the application to the award stage across the Trust's remit. Its core activities include: managing the grant-giving processes; helping and advising applicants; supporting the Trust decision-making committees; building positive relationships with grantholders and their institutions; developing policies, systems and processes; and introducing innovative ideas about the way we fund.

Details of the internship
Through our fellowship schemes, we support biomedical scientists at all levels. We value our relationship with the fellows we fund, and take a keen interest in their progress. Some fellows are asked to submit annual reports to aid our assessment of this, but it is not yet a requirement for all. During your internship, you will get the opportunity to learn more about the schemes we offer and the fellows we support. You will work with a member of the Grants Management fellowship team to devise a fellows' progress report form. You will need to familiarise yourself with the database of fellows and design a report form that captures the relevant information to assess their progress and future directions. You will be trained on our information systems and provided with the appropriate support to enable you to undertake this project.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to demonstrate a good level of writing skill and attention to detail, and have experience of data management.

Investments

The Investments team is responsible for the Wellcome Trust’s $24 billion (£14 billion) investment portfolio.

Our portfolio spans the globe, from Silicon Valley to Shenzhen, with the aim of maximising our investment returns from global economic activity. From start-ups to global goliaths, private equity to hedge funds and property to currencies, we look for opportunities to grow our portfolio with a view to funding medical research now and in years to come.

We have a long-term outlook, taking a flexible approach to decision making without relying on a predetermined asset allocation. This allows us to act nimbly with our investments. Is Facebook worth $100bn? Can you turn algae into jet fuel? Will Indian consumers buy more chocolate? These are some of the questions that we need to consider as we think about the investment universe.

We are a team of over 30 people and, between us, speak over a dozen languages. We come from a broad variety of disciplines spanning finance and economics, history and politics, and even medical microbiology. We believe that having a wide range of views and opinions at the table makes for better decision making.

Details of the internship
You will help the team to analyse new investment opportunities and review the existing portfolio. You will be given the chance to interact with a diverse set of individuals, both within and outside the Trust, including from investment banks, private equity houses and hedge funds.

Specific requirements
We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Most of all we seek bright, engaged individuals who can offer original perspectives and want their contributions to be valued from the start. You also need to meet the general eligibility criteria.

Medical Humanities and Engagement (MH&E) Grants

MH&E Grants provides funding for high-quality research and activities in the fields of medical humanities and public engagement with biomedical science. They aim to build and maintain research capacity in medical history and biomedical ethics while capitalising on opportunities to support the broader medical humanities. By supporting practitioners of public engagement, they aim to promote interest, learning and excitement about biomedical science and its past, present and future impacts on society, and stimulate informed debate to raise awareness and understanding of biomedical science, its achievements, applications and implications.

Details of the internship
You will be involved in capturing and presenting (on the web) the outcomes of our funded research and activities. You will get a sense of what and how we fund and have the opportunity to meet researchers and science communicators and attend some of the funded events.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to be studying for a degree in life sciences or medical humanities. Some previous experience of devising and collating content for the web would be useful.

Science Funding

The Science Funding division is responsible for supporting excellent science and to identify opportunities to maximise the benefits of our funding. The International Activities department focuses on building capacity and supporting research in low- and middle-income countries.

Details of the internship
You will investigate and study the governance arrangements of a range of successful research centres in low- and middle-income countries, analyse the findings, and draw conclusions about best practice to inform the operations of Trust-funded research centres overseas.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to demonstrate tact, diplomacy, cultural sensitivity and persistence. A science degree is not necessary but experience or a demonstrable interest in the following areas would be desirable: international development, organisational governance and research for health.

Strategic Planning and Policy Unit (SPPU)

SPPU is responsible for coordinating strategic planning and providing analysis, research and advice on policy and evaluation issues to help ensure that we can achieve our mission in the most effective way.

Details of the internship
During your internship you will support the Evaluation Team across a number of projects, including career tracking and analysis of the outputs achieved by those we fund.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need good data management and analytical skills and a good working knowledge of MS Excel, PowerPoint and Word. You should be inquisitive and pay attention to detail.

Technology Transfer Division (TTD)

The Technology Transfer Division helps to bridge the gap between fundamental research and commercial application by funding applied research and development projects to a stage where they are attractive to a follow-on funder.

Details of the internship
You will gain an overview of the funding process within translational research, including processes for new applications, funding agreements and post-funding management. Specifically, you will be asked to review a field of interest to both you and TTD as it relates to a funded project. Potential areas might include cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease or medical engineering. This will include researching the topic area using databases, journals and the web, collating the information gathered into a report, and ultimately presenting the findings to the Business Development team. The search will include competitor analysis of the field, background into companies active in the area, and a summary of the state of the art and potential growth areas (i.e. where the scientific field is up to and where the unexplored areas are).

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to be studying for a degree in biomedical or physical sciences or a related engineering field. You will also need experience in searching databases.

Wellcome Library - Library Exhibition Liaison

Part of Wellcome Collection, the Wellcome Library is one of the world's greatest cultural treasures: a unique and irreplaceable collection that documents medicine and its role in society, past and present. As part of the Conservation and Collection Care team, Exhibition Liaison manages national and international exhibition loan requests for all the Library's collections, including books, paintings, prints, drawings, archives and manuscripts. Even though this position is based in a library, the work is very much museum-related, and would suit someone keen to gain experience in this field.

Details of the internship
You will have the opportunity to work on a number of different loans, which will bring you into contact with a wide range of original material. You will work with staff members across the Library, including the Conservation department. This internship will give you experience of the practical, rather than the curatorial, side of exhibition planning and will include elements of collections care, object handling and local couriering. You will be involved in the final stages of the logistics of planning a small exhibition of reproduction posters.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, for this internship you will need to demonstrate a genuine interest in history and museums and a desire to explore a career in the heritage sector through studying for a degree in history, archaeology, art history, museum studies, heritage management or similar. Previous voluntary work in a museum or arts organisation would be an advantage.

Wellcome Library - Wellcome Images

Wellcome Images, set within the Wellcome Library, is one of the world's richest and most distinctive image resources, with themes ranging from medical and social history to contemporary healthcare and biomedical science.

Details of the internship
You will work with the team to carry out day-to-day picture research, including client requests, organisation of new photography, fee negotiation and checking copyright. You will also contribute to a marketing strategy by working on a promotional package for the Wellcome Imagesparticipation in the Trust's 75th anniversary and write a post for one of the Trust blogs, to be inspired by the Wellcome Images collection.

Specific requirements
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you will need to demonstrate an interest in the history of medicine or in history.

Application process

Applications for the 2011 internships are now closed.

Elgibility

General eligibility criteria for ALL internships

You should:

have a minimum of 300 UCAS points
be a current undergraduate (this scheme is aimed at those who are part way through their studies and is not intended for those completing their final year)
not have already completed an internship at the Wellcome Trust
be available for the Summer Internship Programme period, 4 July-26 August 2011
be eligible to work in the UK for this period.

Applicants who do not meet this threshold owing to mitigating circumstances such as severe ill health are also encouraged to apply.

As a member of Employer’s Forum on Disability, we strongly encourage applications from students with a disability. Help and support are available on request. Please contact either Sonia Matthew on 0207 611 8821 or Tracey Wickham on 0207 611 8593 in the first instance.

Information for overseas applicants

Specific requirements for some internships
Some internships require you to be studying in a relevant/specific subject area or to possess skills relevant to that internship area. Please see individual internship details for further information.

How do I apply?

If you meet the criteria (both the general eligibility criteria and any specific requirements for the internship you are interested in), then you can apply online by sending us a CV and a covering letter (no longer than 1200 words) that addresses the following specific questions:

Why are you particularly interested in the Summer Internship Programme at the Wellcome Trust?
Which particular internship are you applying for and why?
What will you bring to this internship and the Trust? (Please detail how you meet the general eligibility requirements for the scheme and any specific requirements for this internship, as well as providing details of any other relevant skills, experience and interests you may have.)
How will the internship benefit your studies and future career?

Closing date for applications: 2 May 2011.

Assessment process

Applications will be shortlisted and interviews will take place during May and early June 2011. It is intended that offers for the places will be made shortly thereafter. Internships will commence on 4 July 2011.

Internship experiences

Some of the 2011 summer interns share their experiences below.

Derek Ho, Investments

My experience at the Wellcome Trust has taught me a spectrum of soft and hard skills, from building Excel databases to having the confidence to voice my opinions with hedge fund managers. It has given me a clear idea on what investments is about, and a basic understanding of all the different asset classes - ranging from venture capital to public stocks. I have also got to know great people, who have considerable achievements themselves, and have committed a lot of time to help me with my development.

Alice Calloway, Wellcome Library

My internship has certainly been full of surprises! There have been a range of different tasks which I have completed, including observing the installation of an exhibition, writing blogs, researching new ways to display material in Wellcome Collection, picking up paintings from external conservators, learning about basic collection care training…I could go on! The internship has been a fantastic experience and I have learned so much about the role of a library registrar and the work of conservation. It has been such a nice place to work and I have been made to feel part of the team. I would definitely recommend the internship to anybody who was interested in working in a museum or library.

Helen Brandwood, Grants Management

I worked in the team that receives applications from low- and middle-income countries. I was involved in a variety of projects, including one where I did the research and planning behind a new process, which will hopefully be put into place next year. Doing something valued was a huge motivator and gave me a sense of purpose, which is quite uncommon for summer interns!

Sarena Shetty, Technology Transfer

During the eight weeks I got the opportunity to work on a project that will be useful to my department and discover more about the work that the Wellcome Trust does. I met so many extraordinary people here and got the chance to develop skills that will be useful to me outside the Trust. I had a great time here and I would recommend this experience to everyone.

Nwando Dike, Science Funding

I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know many talented people. I have also learnt more about the Trust by meeting with people from different departments and learning more about what the other interns were working on. I greatly enjoyed my time here and would urge anyone thinking of applying for an internship at the Wellcome Trust to do it!

Clio Heslop, MH&E Grants

Spending eight weeks working with the MH&E Grants department has given me so many opportunities - ideal for someone as curious as me. I’ve visited some great projects, written profiles and blog posts, and met inspiring people. I was struck by how diverse the Wellcome Trust is; my whole perspective on science and culture has been broadened. I’ve developed my writing (and thinking) skills more than I could have imagined. A great experience.

Emma James, Publishing

Everyone’s been really welcoming, and has encouraged me to get involved with as much as possible during my time here. I’ve had the chance to write for the Wellcome Trust’s print publications as well as writing blog posts, and it’s been great to venture out from the office occasionally too - going to events or tagging along on photo shoots. I’ve learnt so much from the experience, met lots of amazing people, and have really enjoyed my summer!