For over 200 years, our building has been home to some of the most eminent scientists in history, who have used our building to communicate scientific developments and discoveries with our audiences. Throughout our history we’ve been harnessing technological innovation to help us engage the public with science, and since May 2020 we’ve been livestreaming all our public events, featuring world-leading scientists and thinkers, online for free.

The Ri provides science education and heritage activities for people of all ages and backgrounds across the UK and around the world. These activities include the world-famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES public talks from the world’s greatest thinkers in our historic lecture theatre (currently via Livestream); a national programme of Masterclasses for young people in mathematics and computer science; science workshops in our L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre; animations and films from our YouTube channel (which has over 1 million subscribers) and the preservation of our scientific legacy through the Faraday Museum and archival collections.

The Public Programme

The Royal Institution’s (Ri) public programme is one of the longest serving science engagement programmes in the world. It provides an intellectually stimulating array of opportunities for individuals to engage with science, explore the latest scientific advancements, and deepen their understanding of the world around them. From boundary-pushing creative engagement activities to viral lectures, and workshops presented by esteemed scientists, Nobel Prize winners, global leaders and more, the Ri prides itself on creating an inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of background or age, can participate in an intellectual exchange and expand their knowledge of scientific research and ideas.

The public programme is a remarkable resource for those with a passion for science, seeking to learn and engage in intellectual discourse.

We are now looking for a PhD Intern to contribute to evaluating our Public Programme. This role offers a unique opportunity for a PhD candidate to apply their research skills to assess the impact and effectiveness of our science events for the public.

Primary responsibilities of the role:

• Research Design: Contribute to designing an evaluation framework to assess the impact of the Public Programme events.
• Data Collection: Collect quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, interviews, and other research methods to gather insights from event attendees.
• Data Analysis: Analyse data to identify trends, patterns, and key findings related to the success and areas of improvement for the Public Programme.
• Report Writing: Prepare comprehensive reports summarising the evaluation findings, including recommendations for enhancements.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams to gather additional context and insights relevant to the Public Programme.
• Presentation: As necessary, present vital findings to relevant stakeholders, including the Senior Public Programmes Producer and other staff.

Skills, Experience, and Knowledge:

Essential (E) Desirable (D)

Education:

E: Currently enrolled in a PhD program in a relevant field (e.g., science communication, evaluation, social sciences).

Research Skills:

E: Strong research design and data collection skills.

E: Proficiency in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Data Analysis:

E: Experience in data analysis using statistical tools (e.g., SPSS, R, or similar).

D: Familiarity with data visualisation tools.

Communication:

E: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

E: Ability to convey complex findings in a clear and accessible manner.

Teamwork:

E: Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders.

Adaptability:

E: Flexibility and adaptability to work on various aspects of the evaluation process.

Practicalities

This opportunity is only open to PhD students who are eligible to undertake an internship as part of their studentship and receive a stipend from their Doctoral Training Programme (DTP). Please check with your university/DTP to ensure funding is available before applying for this internship.

Please note there is no formal agreement in place between RI and UKRI, and each placement will be reviewed by the grant holder and approved at their discretion. You will need to obtain the grant holder’s written permission to undertake the placement, outlining any funding arrangements, before a position can be offered.

As the position involves working with young people, the post holder will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS clearance and related checks as mandated by UK laws and regulations.