Highlighting Student Opportunities for 2023

Diamond Light Source is a cornerstone of world-changing science in the UK, with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) professionals from around the world using our synchrotron to solve our biggest 21st century challenges. Supporting this mission, Diamond is committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers with a wide range of student programmes. Our 2023 student programme includes opportunities for students from secondary school to PhD placements.  

Andrea Ward, Diamond CEO and Director of Finance and Corporate Services notes: 

With openings still available for this year, here are some of the ways that students can contribute to some of the world’s most ground-breaking research: 

2022 Summer Placement Students

Our popular 12 week ‘Summer Placement’ scheme allows undergraduate students studying for a degree in Science, Engineering, Computing, or related subjects to gain real-world work experience within a number of different teams at Diamond.  

The placements are paid positions and will provide successful students with an opportunity to work on a research or development project. They are available to students who are registered as undergraduate students at the time of the placements – typically during the summer of their penultimate year. Diamond has an excellent track record for helping students execute work which is valued not only by Diamond staff but also our User community. We have also welcomed previous summer placement students back to Diamond as they work and study towards one of our competitive joint PhD studentships, which shows how impactful our placements can be.  

Diamond Summer Placement alumnus Aurys Silinga (class of 2021) recalls that: 

Explore this year’s projects and apply here, deadline for applications will be this Sunday, 8th January 2023, 23:59pm.

Summer Placements

Designed for school/college students in Years 10-13 (ages 14-18), our work experience programme is a weeklong immersion into the real world of synchrotron science. Students will receive an introduction to the facility and see first-hand how it operates, before embarking on a three-day project in a specific area – with a wide range of choices from coding to legal placements! At the end of the week, students will present to peers and colleagues on their work, learning valuable workplace skills. The programme is accepting applicants for this year’s placements (3rd – 7th July 2023) until Sunday 19th February 2023, 23:59pm.  

Director of Physical Sciences Dr Adrian Mancuso states: 

Learn more about the programme and apply here:

Schools Work Experience

2021 YiN student Johan Glerup on our I24 beamline

Diamond’s 12 month ‘Year in Industry’ scheme allows undergraduate students studying for a relevant degree to gain valuable paid experience working in specific projects and teams across the scientific facility. The programme typically opens for applications in the Autumn, with interviews in the winter, with the placements beginning the following summer. 

For the 2023 Year in Industry programme, our final project is open for applicants, as a Social Media and Digital Content Creator. This role will help Diamond to produce content for social media and the website, including photography, videography, and online copywriting. Helping to manage and grow Diamond’s online communities, create brand-relevant content, and evaluate online analytics, this project will allow you to dive deep into the ever-changing world of online content creation for a technical and professional industry. 

Applications close February 16th, 2023, 23:59pm. Learn more and apply here:

Year in Industry: Social Media & Digital Content Creator

PhD Programme 

Finally, one of our most popular and enduring student programmes is our repertoire of PhD studentships in collaboration with universities across the UK. Diamond currently has around 110 active PhD students, taking on 15-20 per year. These are fully funded studentships that Diamond support by a 50% contribution towards university fees, student stipend and certain travel, subsistence and accommodation costs combined with a 50% contribution from the university. 

Our PhD Students are given the opportunity to undertake a research project and submit a thesis for examination in accordance with the University’s regulations governing their PhD programme, and the research is intended to lead to academic publications and to further the student’s career. Studentship projects are extremely varied but are all similar in the sense that they are pushing the boundaries of what is possible on Diamond’s beamlines. 

Our full list of 2023 PhD projects will be opening soon for applications, but you can register interest today to be kept up to date for application openings. Visit our webpage here to explore the opportunities and register your interest:

PhD Studentships

Dr Mancuso concludes;