Student placements and work experience
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute welcomes students who wish to gain hands-on experience of working in a scientific research environment while studying.
The Placement Scheme will open on the 28th November 2011.
We run a number of placements schemes for students at various stages of their education:
- Sandwich Year Placements
- Undergraduate Placements
- Work Experience Placements (14-19 years)
Please read our Frequently Asked Questions for further information. If you have questions on any of the above schemes which are not covered by the information on our web pages, please email hrservices@sanger.ac.uk.
You can find out more about life at the Sanger Institute and the working environment by visiting the Working Life and On Campus pages.
Accommodation & other useful links
Cambridge has many accommodation options. The following websites contain useful information to help you with your search:
The Sanger provides shuttle buses to Cambridge and various outlying villages. Please see our bus information leaflet on this service and to obtain a timetable.
For further information about accommodation and the local area visit moving to work at the Sanger Institute.
Placements
Sandwich Year Placements
Sandwich Year placements are available for students who are following a four year degree with a dedicated year for a work placement included in their course.
Placements are available for twelve months starting in the summer or autumn.
Placements are potentially available across the full spectrum of the Institute's activities however previous placements have included work that primarily falls within the following subject areas although work in other areas of the Institute may be considered if available:
- Virus Genomics
- Computer Science
- Genetics of deafness
- Genetics of Instinctive behaviour
- Parasite Genomics
- Malaria Interest group
These placements are limited in number and we cannot accommodate all requests. Applicants will be shortlisted to attend an interview based upon the merit of their application. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages.
These short-term Placements are open to EU students or non-EU students who are studying at a UK university or who have the right to work in the UK.
We will pay you a salary of £15,364 per annum. This is subject to UK standard tax and National Insurance deductions. Contracted working hours are 37 hours per week. The Institute's normal working day is 9am - 5pm (4:30pm on Friday).
You will also be entitled to 25 days per annum paid holiday plus bank holidays.
Applications are invited from 28 November until 31 January each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility. To apply, visit Current jobs and look for Industrial Placement.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during March and early April.
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will need to provide a letter of recommendation from your Course Tutor.
Undergraduate placements
Undergraduate placements are available to first degree level students (including medical and veterinary students) who are seeking research/work experience, usually during the summer break.
Placements are typically for three months between June and September although it may be possible to accommodate alternative periods on request, ranging from one to four months.
Placements are potentially available across the full spectrum of the Institute's activities however previous placements have included work that falls within the following subject areas although work in other areas of the Institute may be considered if available:
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
- Computer Science
- Protein Sequence Analysis
- Model Organisms
- Data Analysis
- Laboratory Work
- Virus Genomics
- Systems Biology of Bone
These placements are limited in number and we cannot accommodate all requests. Applicants will be shortlisted to attend an interview based upon the merit of their application. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages.
These short-term Placements are open to EU students or non-EU students who are studying at a UK university or who have the right to work in the UK.
We will pay you a salary of £12,000 per annum pro rata. This is subject to UK standard tax and National Insurance deductions. However as a current student, if you have not had any other earnings in the tax year you are unlikely to pay income tax.
Applications are invited from 28 November until 28 February each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility. To apply, visit Current jobs and look for Undergraduate Placement.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during April and early May.
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will need to provide a letter of recommendation from your Course Tutor.
Work experience placements
Work experience placements are available to school age students (14 to 19 years) who are looking to gain an insight into careers in scientific research.
Placements are typically for one week, although two weeks can be accommodated subject to availability of hosting departments.
Placements are based within specific teams where students will observe and where possible, become involved in the work of that team. When making an application, please indicate any areas you are particularly interested in. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages.
Applications are invited from 28 November until 31 January each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility. To apply, visit Current jobs and look for Work Experience Placement.
Successful applicants are selected by team managers on the basis of their written application. All applicants will be informed if they have secured a placement by April.
Useful background information on work experience placements can be found on the following websites:
