Undergraduate – Research Placements & Opportunities

Undergraduates

Research Experience Placements

The Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet DTP invites applications from undergraduates for Research Experience Placement (REP) summer placements.  

The REP scheme is funded by NERC to enable undergraduate students to undertake a research project within the environmental sciences over 8-10 weeks, giving an insight into the world of research – a unique opportunity which will be of great benefit to future careers.   

This year, the SSCP DTP will host six REP students who will be based in a number of departments across the College and at Partner institutions.

REP students will receive a weekly stipend of £200 per week. 
Research and training expenses of up to £500 can be covered as agreed in advance between the SSCP DTP and the project supervisor.

Please see below for current available projects and eligibility criteria. If you have any questions about the process, please email the Project Manager sophie.smith@imperial.ac.uk.

Deadline: 3 July

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Current Available Projects

Project TitleSupervisorDepartment
 Computational Tools for the Design of Tidal Lagoons/Barrages  Professor Matthew Piggott  Earth Science & Engineering
 Testing the ancient geomagnetic field at high-latitudes  Dr Adrian Muxworthy  Earth Science & Engineering
 Determination of surface complexation constants via potentiometric titration for the modelling of arsenic adsorption over a bicomposite sorbent  Professor Dominik Weiss  Earth Science & Engineering
 Enhancing the usability of the Thetis ocean model  Dr Gerard Gorman  Earth Science & Engineering
 Understanding the potential for reducing energy and material use through lifestyle and behavioural changes  Mr Ajay Gambhir  Grantham Institute
 Predicting the functioning and evolution of microbial communities  Professor Tim Barraclough  Life Sciences
 Measuring and modelling dry season energy exchange characteristics for deciduous woodlands  Professor Jon Lloyd  Life Sciences
 Evaluating the abatement cost emissions mitigation technologies in terms of energy  Professor Jenny Nelson  Physics
 Mapping and designing a sampling strategy for an inselberg archipelago of Eastern Bolivia  Dr Nicholas Hind  Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
 
Current Available Studentships

REP Eligibility Criteria

Student eligibility

Students are subject to eligibility criteria to be able to apply for NERC REPs. Selected students must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for a REP. The students must:

  • Be studying for an undergraduate degree in a quantitative discipline outside of NERC's scientific remit (eg mathematics, statistics, computing, engineering, physics).
  • Be applying for a placement in a different department to their undergraduate degree.
  • Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters).
  • Be expected to obtain a first or upper second class UK honours degree.
  • Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (ie UK, EU or right to remain in the UK).

Research project criteria

Proposed REP student projects are also subject to suitability criteria. Proposed projects must:

  • Have a clearly defined objective.
  • Be within the science remit of NERC.
  • Be suitable for a student feasibly to complete within the timescale of the award.
  • Include more than purely a computer/modelling component ie some element of fieldwork, data collection, activity to give an understanding of the wider context etc.
  • Give scope for thought and initiative on the part of the student and should not use the student as a general assistant.
  • Be based at an eligible UK research organisation.