Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarship in Integrated Cell Mechanisms

Enjoy science but not sure if a career in research is for you? Our 8 week Summer Internship Programme provide undergraduates who are interested in a career in science, with an immersive experience embedded in a research group associated with the Integrated Cell Mechanisms (iCM) Wellcome PhD programme at the University of Edinburgh.

Six undergraduate students preparing for their final year of university will be selected to take part in the programme. Students will undertake research projects that develop expertise in both biological and quantitative sciences. We incorporate a range of additional activities to enhance your overall experience and help prepare you to be successful in a variety of PhD programmes.

Exploiting technological advances to transform our understanding of cellular mechanisms will require scientists who have been trained across the distinct disciplines of natural sciences, engineering, informatics and mathematics. The iCM summer internship programme addresses this training need. Cell Mechanism projects cover topics such as anti-microbial resistance, stochastic heterogeneity, epigenetic and chromatin-based regulation, control of gene expression, non-coding RNA and RNA processing, chromosome structure and segregation, cell-cycle and cell growth regulation. The definition of ‘quantitative’ is broad and includes Computational Data Sciences, Mathematics, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology and Biomaterials.

Who should apply?

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment. Applications are encouraged from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds who have studied a variety of subjects including Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Computational Data Sciences, Engineering, Genetics, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Physics.

Applicants would usually be on track to achieve an undergraduate degree grade of a good 2:1 or First. If your transcript shows year on year grade progression towards a 2:1 or above, then we would encourage you to apply for the programme. We encourage applications from talented individuals who would find continuing into postgraduate study a challenge for reasons other than academic ability.

Eligibility

Please read the eligibility criteria carefully before applying, it is your responsibility to endure you meet the criteria.

To be eligible you must:

• be currently undertaking an undergraduate degree at a UK or Irish university; and
• be in the penultimate year of your course (ie. entering the final year in autumn 2024) when you have not yet undertaken a substantial period of research; and
• not have undertaken or be currently undertaking an intercalated year; and
• not have completed or be currently undertaking a one-year placement in research as part of your degree (eg a sandwich year); and
• not have previously undertaken a vacation scholarship from Wellcome or another funding body, or have had significant research experience; and
• be studying an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area, for example: biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Computational Data Sciences, Engineering, Genetics, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Physics.
• have a good knowledge of spoken and written English - similar to those stipulated for PhD student applicants on the University of Edinburgh website.

Students who meet at least one of the following criteria are particularly encouraged to apply:

• be in the first generation of your family to go to university (e.g. neither of your parents have an undergraduate degree); or
• be care experienced (for a period of more than 3 months); or
• have had caring responsibilities for 3 months or more occupying more than 10 hours per week; or
• be estranged from your parents/guardians; or
• have been considered as statutorily homeless and qualified for assistance under your local authority’s ‘main homelessness duty’; or
• belong to an ethnic group under-represented at Edinburgh (Black or Mixed Black, Bangladeshi or Mixed Bangladeshi, and Pakistani or Mixed Pakistani); or
• be from a low-income background and in receipt of more than the minimum levels of support detailed from your regional funding body (see below to find out how to check whether you meet this financial criterion).
• students from non-Russell Group institutions.

Internship start and end dates are Monday 30th June to Friday 22nd August 2025