Research Programme Intern – Role Description

Keen to have some broad battery research experience from a work setting to add to your CV? Would you describe yourself as scientifically inquisitive and wanting to gain an appreciation of an area within a large research programme? If so, read on to hear about a fantastic opportunity ideal for an individual hoping to pursue a career in the field.

The Faraday Institution

The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, skills development, market analysis and early-stage commercialisation. Our mission is to make significant scientific breakthroughs in battery technology research in the global race to electrification, with the Government target to cease sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 (replacing them with sales of electric vehicles) in the effort to tackle climate change. We manage large research programmes across more than 27 UK universities involving 500 researchers and 85 industry partners. You would be joining a small but vibrant head office team. We are based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

Our community is generating compelling research outcomes. We’re therefore looking to appoint a dynamic, creative self-starter to the role of Research Programme Intern to help us engage with key stakeholders – our researcher community, industry, and policy makers – maximising visibility and capturing impact.

The role shall report to the Research Programme Director and will work closely with Research Programme managers on a day-to-day basis. It would suit a resilient and confident individual who can operate largely under their own initiative and who thrives on working in a fast-paced environment on a variety of projects.

We fund a programme of 50 summer internships for science and engineering undergraduates across the country, and we’d encourage the Research Programme Intern to tap into this network.

Roles and responsibilities

Undertake a science and technical audit of our current PhD research topics across all projects to identify strengths and weaknesses, developing recommendations for future areas of research.

Support the development of a cross research project target brochure to consolidate all our research project KPI’s into a single document to enable development of futured research targets and focus for our next generation of research, working with internal and external stakeholders.

Work with the Research Programme team to support new competitions for research as required.

To be successful / key skills

• Enrolled as an undergraduate or postgraduate at a UK university in a scientific or engineering discipline.
• Understanding of battery science and engineering, including performance metrics
• Tech savvy. Experience with or quickly adapting to using a wide variety of IT tools such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, MS Teams, Zoom, etc.
• Confidence and professionalism to represent the organisation through connecting with and interacting a wide variety of people, including potentially senior academics and researchers working in industry.
• Quick learner.
• Ability to work remotely, independently under own initiative as well as collaboratively.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and know when to ask for help.

 

Specifics:

• Location – at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire (or possibly remote with opportunities to meet the FIHQ team and researchers in person).
• Salary £10.90/hr or £11.95/hr if living in London. Paid monthly.
• Internship is for at least 8 weeks during the summer/autumn 2023, 35 hours per week with some flexibility over start and end dates. Scope to start prior to the summer with a reduced number of hours per week and to extend beyond the 8 initial weeks. Number and timing of working hours flexible and for discussion based on personal commitments and business needs.
• A laptop will be provided.
• Need to be living in and have the right to work in the UK and enrolled as an undergraduate or postgraduate at a UK university.

Apply by completing the application form and sending a CV to jobs@faraday.ac.uk by 5th June 2023.

 

The Faraday Institution is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and to being an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.