UK National Capabilities for Global Challenges Internships 2025

Applications are now OPEN for the prestigious National Capabilities for Global Challenges Internship Scheme 2025, offering an incredible opportunity for students and recent graduates to engage in cutting-edge environmental science research. Managed by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), this program invites passionate individuals to contribute to impactful projects addressing global challenges.

The program features 8 unique internships across UKCEH sites in Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, and Wallingford, with the chance to apply for more than one.

Why Apply?

• Hands-on Research: Work alongside world-class scientists in innovative projects.
• Skill Development: Enhance your research, coding, and communication skills.
• Networking: Collaborate with leading experts and peers.
• Stipend: Receive approximately £2,847 (before deductions) for the 6-week program.
• Flexible Locations: Internships are available in Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, and Wallingford.

Basic Information

• Internship Duration: Monday, 30 June to Friday, 8 August 2025.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, 2 April 2025 (Apply early to avoid missing out!).
• Interview Period: 30 April – 14 May 2025 (conducted online).
• Work Hours: Full-time, 37 hours/week for the internship duration.
• Stipend: £2,847 (before deductions) for the complete internship.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Master’s or PhD) or have graduated within six months before the start of the internship (30 June 2025).
• Have the right to live and work in the UK for the internship period.
• Be able to work 37 hours per week for the entire 6-week program.
• Demonstrate strong communication, teamwork, and independent work skills.
• Provide a 1-page report and a short testimonial after completing the internship.
• Present findings at a UKCEH event and appear in promotional materials.

Internship Locations and Projects

Here’s a snapshot of the exciting internship opportunities available:

1# Bangor (Wales):

• • Project: Impact of Ozone Pollution on Forest Biodiversity
    • Tasks: Literature review, spatial data analysis (GIS, R/Python), and report writing.
    • Skills Needed: Environmental science background, GIS, Python/R.

2# Edinburgh (Scotland):

• • Project 1: Unified Approach to Environmental Modelling
    • Tasks: Implementing the Basic Model Interface (BMI), coding tutorials, and GitHub documentation.
    • Skills Needed: Python, modelling, GitHub.
  • Project 2: Restoring for Ecological Recovery and Resilience
    • Tasks: Ecological modelling, network analysis, and report writing.
    • Skills Needed: R/Julia, ecology, conservation interest.
  • Project 3: Detecting Canopy Phenology in Tropical Forests
    • Tasks: Remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis, and canopy phenology mapping.
    • Skills Needed: GIS, R, GitHub, satellite imagery experience.

3# Lancaster (England):

• • Project: Nutrient Retention Dynamics of Biochar in Malaysian Oil Palm Agronomy
    • Tasks: Lab experiments, soil analysis, and literature review.
    • Skills Needed: Lab experience, soil biogeochemistry knowledge.

3# Wallingford (England):

• • Project 1: Drivers of Thunderstorm Frequency in India
    • Tasks: Data analysis, statistical evaluation, and report generation.
    • Skills Needed: Python, statistics, meteorology interest.
  • Project 2: Training Needs and Funding Sources for International Audiences
    • Tasks: Market research, training needs analysis, and partnership identification.
    • Skills Needed: Environmental science, international development.
  • Project 3: Functional Plankton Metrics Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
    • Tasks: Image clustering, open-source workflow development, and data analysis.
    • Skills Needed: Python/R, machine learning.

How to Apply?

To submit a complete application, you’ll need:

1. Letter of Support: From your university supervisor, tutor, or director of studies.
2. Cover Letter: Highlighting your motivation and internship preferences.
3. CV: Outlining educational background, experience, and publications (if any).

Submit your application through the UKCEH Careers page (https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/internship-scheme-summer-2025) before Wednesday, 2 April 2025.