Student Casual – Research Associate (NIHR Undergraduate Internship Programme) – School of Health Sciences – Grade 6 – 907311

Please note that this vacancy may be taken down early depending on the number of applications received. We advise you to submit your application promptly.

Our offer to you

At the University of Birmingham, Worklink is the dedicated student employment service which helps students to find flexible, well paid part-time roles that fit around your studies. Each year, the University invests more than £2.5 million to employ 3,000 of our own students in a wide range of roles, supporting our student community into part-time work. Roles available via Worklink include a range of positions, including administrative roles, support staff such as cleaners or baristas, research roles and many more.

Jobs through Worklink help you to gain work experience, develop skills relevant for your future career, and improve your soft and hard skills in a professional setting. Enhance your CV and get valuable experience ready for graduate roles and feel connected to your university and local community.

Our jobs are flexible and can be scheduled around your academic commitments, so you can focus on your studies first. Our team are passionate about supporting students into work. Worklink are based in a central location on campus which is easily accessible for students and can also be contacted online.

Find out more about working through Worklink here or via the student intranet.

Job context 

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a passionate and highly motivated undergraduate student in sciences or an allied health discipline to join a 4 -week, National Institute for Health (NIHR) funded internship in evidence synthesis, with a focus on information methodologies there-in. This excellent opportunity is open to University of Birmingham students currently in their first, second, or third year of study (as long as the internship is completed prior to graduation, if currently in third year), who have a keen interest in health research. The intern will gain hands-on experience of contributing to active research projects within a world-renowned academic environment, working alongside experienced researchers engaged in impactful work at both national and international levels.

The internship is expected to run between mid-July and mid-September 2026. However, there is the potential for some flexibility in the scheduling, and we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements with the successful applicant (for example, splitting the placement into separate two-week blocks if necessary). Details on how to apply are provided below. For informal enquiries or further information, please feel free to contact Katie Scandrett at k.e.scandrett@bham.ac.uk.

Job summary 

Four-week National NIHR-funded internship with the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis, Test Evaluation and prediction Models Team (BESTEAM) in the Department of Applied Health Sciences. The internship will be in-person, and the successful applicant will be based on campus at the University of Birmingham.

1. Gain practical experience within an applied health research environment.
2. Develop an understanding of the methods and principles behind evidence synthesis.
3. Undertake focused learning about the early stages in evidence synthesis including search methodology and screening.
4. Explore a range of research-related activities beyond project work.

5. Learn about academic and health research career pathways.

    

Main duties 

We are looking for a self-motivated individual eager to explore how systematic reviews contribute to health research. There will be a chance for the successful individual to work on at least one systematic review project, with a focus on the early stages of the review process. There will also be the opportunity for the intern to learn about work in other parts of the university via shadowing days providing exposure to a wider range of evidence synthesis activities undertaken at UoB. Knowledge of evidence synthesis is not a requirement for the role, and more information on this type of research can be found here: "Evidence Synthesis - What is it and why do we need it?" from Evidence Synthesis Ireland (University of Galway) and Cochrane collaborators. VIDEO: What are systematic reviews? | Cochrane;

In addition to gaining hands-on experience with evidence synthesis methodology, the intern will be exposed to broader aspects of health research. This may include attending team meetings and academic seminars, contributing to manuscript preparation and learning about patient and public involvement (PPI) in research. 

Supervision and support will be provided throughout the placement, with regular progress meetings and clear learning goals to ensure a productive and enriching experience.

Required knowledge, skills, qualifications & experience 

We are looking for an enthusiastic and curious undergraduate student who is keen to explore a potential career in health research and academia—particularly in the areas of early stage evidence synthesis with a focus on searching for evidence and related methodologies. The successful candidate will be able to work independently as there may be occasions where supervisor support is provided remotely.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Interest in health research careers. A genuine interest in pursuing a future career in health and social care research, with a particular focus on systematic reviews and associated methodologies.
2. Enrolled in a relevant degree programme. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a relevant undergraduate degree or degree apprenticeship at the University of Birmingham. Suitable disciplines include (but are not limited to):
   • Nursing
   • Midwifery
   • Allied Health Professions
   • Healthcare Science
   • Pharmacy
   • Social Care
   • Health Research Methods
   • Public Health
   • Data Science
   • Mathematics or Statistics
   • Biomedical Sciences or Biochemistry
   • Psychology
   • Information Science
3. Year of study. Applicants must be in their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study. The first year of study must be completed at the time of the internship and third-year students are eligible only if the internship takes place prior to graduation.

4. Availability for on-campus placement. The successful applicant must be available to attend the University of Birmingham campus for the full 4-week internship (full-time). While the preferred dates for the internship are between 23rd July – 15th September 2026, there is some flexibility, and applicants should note any availability constraints in their application.

    

If you are unsure whether your course is eligible, please contact us for clarification.
Please note: unfortunately, we are unable to accept medical students for this role.

For applicants based outside Birmingham over the summer, a modest bursary of up to £165 per week is available to help cover travel or accommodation expenses. 

To apply, please submit (via WorkLink) a single document (Word or PDF format) that includes:

1. A covering letter
2. An up-to-date CV
3. A brief personal statement (approximately 1.5 pages) addressing the following points:
   • Why you are interested in this internship
   • What skills, experience, or perspectives you would bring to the role (including details of your academic performance and grades to date)
   • What you hope to gain from the internship
   • Your availability for the internship; please note that the preferred dates are between 23rd July – 15th September 2025

Interviews will be held in person at the University of Birmingham in May 2026. However, remote interviews via Zoom/Teams may be arranged depending on individual circumstances.

Further details 

For any informal queries, please contact Katie Scandrett at k.e.scandrett@bham.ac.uk.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time for a maximum of 13 consecutive weeks. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g.  PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an international student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate authorised absence. 

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.

Regarding the use of AI in applications, we review hundreds of applications and shortlist candidates based on their unique perspective, motivations and potential. Cover letters generated through, or edited by, AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT or CoPilot) are easy to identify. They produce generic answers and will not score highly enough to progress. You may use AI tools for research, but all written content in your application must be your own work. Authenticity and originality are key to standing out in this process. 

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to contact all applicants individually. You can check the progress of your application by logging into the Worklink jobs portal using the same email address you used to apply. If you haven’t heard back within six weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.