I was keen to gain some research experience over the summer whilst also earning money before the start of my PhD in September, so when I found out about this placement, it was the perfect opportunity to combine my interest in research with my passion for writing.
Career Connect
I found the placement through the weekly emails I receive from Career Connect about relevant job opportunities. I applied through the Career Connect platform, which included submitting my CV with a relevant cover letter detailing why I wanted the position and what relevant experience I had. Not long after the closing date, I was invited to interview and also complete a short written task to assess my skills for the role. The following week, I was offered the internship position and happily accepted.
As the internship was advertised as 108 hours, it was decided that it would be beneficial for me to spread these hours over 9 weeks, in order for me to get the most out of the time. Additionally, throughout the duration of my internship, I was split between two teams in the company - Comms and Marketing, and Uploads - to gain a broader understanding of IN-PART.With the Uploads team, my main responsibility was editing and formatting technology summaries submitted by research institutes and universities from around the world. This included reading through the technology overview to check for spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, and correcting these when necessary. Furthermore, I was tasked with finding relevant stock images for headers for the technology and crediting the artist, in addition to editing the keywords to ensure the innovations reached the correct audiences.When working with the Comms and Marketing team, I was essentially responsible for creating content to expose IN-PART and engage their audience. This included writing social media posts for Twitter and LinkedIn to boost new technologies on the platform, welcome new institutes joining us, and promote blog posts and articles. Additionally, I often summarised technologies for use in our top innovations blogs, which meant condensing the technology overviews (which I formatted with Uploads) into digestible chunks, emphasising the need for said technology and the basics of what this new innovation was. These top innovations blogs were often based on a broad subject, such as COVID-19 technologies, nanotechnologies, and chemistry-based innovations.
I split my time between working in the office and working from home when I needed to. I would start the day by reporting to my respective contact from either the Uploads team or the Comms team. I would be given my tasks for the day, which would often include feedback from my previous tasks to act upon. These tasks included editing and formatting technology overviews for the Uploads team, and creating content for blogs and social media posts with the Comms team. I would then complete my tasks, communicating with my colleagues as and when I needed help, and also when I completed tasks. At the end of the day, I would have a little chat with my line manager to discuss what I had done in the day and if I was happy with the work I had done.
I hugely enjoyed this entire opportunity and being able to immerse myself in science communication and seeing the real-life impact of research first-hand is rewarding itself. But something I am immensely proud of is the fact that my writing is being used to promote such innovative technologies and hopefully will have a hand in attracting new audiences and facilitating connections between universities and industry R&D worldwide.
One of the most challenging aspects of this internship was tailoring content for a plethora of audiences, from scientific researchers to industry professionals to the general public. Having a background in STEM greatly helped me quickly understand a lot of the technical aspects of the technologies on the platform, but disseminating this information for a non-STEM audience to easily digest could be quite testing at times, particularly when trying to avoid jargon. However, I was lucky to be surrounded by a team who are more than happy to help and could direct me as to how to construct content for everyone to understand and enjoy.
Throughout my placement, I have developed a whole host of skills and built upon skills I grew on my course, from academic writing to personal development. Having the opportunity to format and edit pieces of writing, I have improved my own writing skills and my ability to think critically. Furthermore, this internship has allowed me to receive feedback and advice on my work, which I continually acted on and took forward into any following tasks. Overall, this experience has facilitated my personal development, giving me a true representation of a possible future career coupling my love for writing and my passion for scientific innovations.
I implore anyone who has the opportunity to do so, to go for an internship as they are a fantastic way to build new skills and develop relationships to further your career interests. I understand being hesitant and anxious about starting something new, as that was me before I applied and then again, before I started the placement. But now, on my final day of the internship, I can only say that I massively enjoyed the opportunity and I cannot fault the company or the team I have worked with along the way. It has been a lovely summer, where I have grown both personally and technically with help from this placement, and I have realised my love for writing once more!
I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity, and it has honestly been one of the most fulfilling experiences I have been a part of. I greatly admire IN-PART, and their aim and direction, and I am honoured to have been a part of such a lovely and welcoming company with a message I can really get behind. I appreciate everyone that has allowed me to have this opportunity.
Form completed: 19 Sep 2021