Marketing & Communications PhD Internship
Location: 21 Albemarle Street, London (hybrid working available for this internship)
Contract Type: 3-month full-time internship for PhD students - 35 hours per week. Payment by stipend from university, Doctoral Training Programme, Research Council. Please check funding with your DTP before applying.
x1 placement Oct 2025- Dec 2026
This placement involves joining the Ri at its busiest and most exciting time of year; the planning, filming and broadcasting of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are the UK's flagship science series. This three-part series is filmed in front of a live audience in the Ri’s famous lecture theatre and watched by millions on the BBC over the festive period, and on BBC iPlayer and the Ri YouTube channel afterwards.
This year’s Lectures will be presented by Dr Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, renowned space scientist, broadcaster, and passionate science educator. In this 200 year anniversary series, Dame Maggie will take audiences on a journey through space and time, exploring humanity’s evolving understanding of the universe – from ancient astronomy to the cutting-edge discoveries of today.
Each year we look for new ways to share the science behind the Lectures with as many people as possible across the UK and beyond. One way we promote the Lectures is through the media, with whom we work hard to secure high-quality, in-depth interviews and feature opportunities for the Lecturer and the wider CHRISTMAS LECTURES team across TV, radio, print and online platforms.
The Marketing and Communications Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the many different media and communications campaigns in the lead-up to the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES. You will also have opportunity to help support the Ri’s Public Programme of Theatre science talks through listing sites and reciprocal partnerships, focussing primarily on the first quarter of 2026.
Depending on your skills, there may also be the opportunity to undertake your own intern project as a ‘writer in residence’, creating a body of works which can be pitched to media contacts as interest pieces for the Ri. This will also potentially be used as website content for the Ri blog to support organic search engine optimisation and provide content for social media and email communication.
About You
This placement would be ideal for anyone interested in gaining an insight into a science communication organisation and the inner workings of the Ri. You will have the opportunity to establish new and working relationships with partner organisations, to identify and use new listings websites, and to meet with Public Relations agency, Riot, for training in how to pitch media pieces and written content. As ‘writer in residence’ you will be expected to produce 3-5 pieces of writing about the Ri, the brand, its heritage, programmes etc, by the end of your placement with us.
There is no need to have any formal experience, but a passion for writing copy and the ability to edit content would be ideal.
The following experience and personal attributes are also highly desirable, and when applying you should demonstrate how you meet them in your supporting statement:
- A strong understanding of how science content can engage an audience, as we seek ‘To create a space for scientists and the public to explore science together.”
- The ability to develop engaging science content for a non-academic audience.
- An understanding of the needs and requirements of website and digital users.
- The ability to work collaboratively in a creative team with a passion for science communication.
Interested?
To apply, please send your CV and a supporting statement, (of no more than 500 words) to recruitment@ri.ac.uk, explaining why you are interested in this internship and how you meet the criteria for the role.
The closing date for applications is: 9am Wednesday 30 July.
We plan to interview in August but may also interview as applications come in.
Read a blog from one of our previous PhD interns here: Being a Digital Media Intern at the Ri | Royal Institution (rigb.org)
Eligibility
Eligibility
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.
Participating Research Councils include (but may not be exclusive to): BBSRC, NERC, MRC, AHRC, EPSRC.
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.
Please note, the Ri is unable to assist with accommodation costs; applicants need to be able to arrange accommodation in London or the South East for the duration of the 3 months. Some assistance with travel costs may be available.
Safeguarding is of paramount importance to the Ri; we expect all those who work with us to share our commitment to safeguarding children and adults at risk, prioritising their welfare and protecting them from harm. Interns will be given appropriate safeguarding training and may be required to undergo DBS checks upon appointment, depending on their role.