Please find below and attached information from Sarah Fenton, who has taken over from Ian Morrison as regional coordinator for the Nuffield Research Placement scheme. As in previous years, they are looking for University of Manchester staff who might be interested in providing a Nuffield Research Placement in 2014.
Like last year, we are asking everyone who might be interested in offering a project to get back to me (emma.lewis@manchester.ac.uk) whether you’re brand new to the scheme or have been doing it for years. This will give Sarah a picture of the breadth of projects that can be offered to local schools and allow us to compile a comprehensive list of all potential project providers for 2014.
Nuffield Research Placements are a fantastic way of working with young people 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 are interested in offering a project for 2014; or would like to find out more – please email emma.lewis@manchester.ac.uk by the end of this month.
More about Nuffield Research Placements
Could you host a Nuffield Research Placement in 2014?
Nuffield Research Placements (previously Nuffield Science Bursaries) provide over 1,000 sixth form students each year with the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. This prestigious scheme is open to students in the first year of a post-16 STEM course (A levels or equivalent). Successful applicants undertake a 4 – 6 week project in their summer holiday, working in a real research environment, gaining insight into current STEM research and helping shape their future career choices. We actively encourage participation from students who don’t have a family history of going to university or who attend schools in less well-off areas.
In order to offer these life-changing opportunities, we need Project Providers – academic contacts who are willing to host a young person for a 4 – 6 week project in July/August. The attached PDF brochure gives you more information about what this entails. Nuffield students will require supervision and guidance, but in return they can make a significant contribution to your organisation. Our sixth form students work to a high standard on different types of projects, depending on the organisation and its priorities. For example, it could be a pilot project, or one that has been temporarily shelved due to lack of time, or a specific part of a larger project. It could be lab- or field-based. Work done by students often leads to published papers, and has been used as the basis for grant applications. In addition, supervising a sixth form student helps researchers to develop their own teaching and mentoring skills. This is particularly useful for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff looking to gain outreach or management experience.
If you are interested in offering a Nuffield Research Placement in summer 2014, we would love to hear from you. Please reply to Emma Lewis in the first instance, who will pass on your details. For further information on the scheme, see the Project Providers Leaflet (pdf) or visit the website www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements
Posted by Emma Lewis, UG Recruitment and Widening Participation Officer (Academic Enrichment STEM), The University of Manchester