£14.02 per hour + £1.69 holiday pay
Advertising End Date
15 Jun 2026
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  • Social Media and Science Communication Widening Participation internship

Role & Department Overview

This internship offers an opportunity for a student from a widening participation background to gain hands-on experience in social media, digital engagement, and science communication.
 
The intern will support the development and promotion of the Drs Confess podcast co-hosted by Dr Kate Slade (Lancaster Medical School) and Dr Helen Nuttall (Department of Psychology), helping to communicate information about research to broad and diverse audiences in accessible and engaging ways.
 
Preferred Start Date: 29th June 2026
Expected End Date: 28th December 2026
Working Pattern: Ad Hoc Hours (1 per week)
Location: On the Lancaster University Campus and Remote Working

Job Description

Key Responsibilities
  •  Support the planning, creation, and scheduling of social media content for the Drs Confess podcast (e.g., posts for TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
  • Assist in developing creative approaches to communicating the podcast research to non-specialist audiences
  • Help promote podcast episodes through digital campaigns and audience engagement strategies
  • Create visual and/or multimedia content (e.g., short videos, audiograms, graphics) where appropriate
  • Monitor social media engagement and contribute to evaluating impact and reach
  • Assist with drafting accompanying materials such as episode summaries, blog posts, or newsletters
  • Contribute ideas for improving the podcast’s reach, inclusivity, and accessibility
  • Attend occasional team meetings (remotely or in person if intern is on campus)
 
Working Arrangements
  •  Hours are flexible with no fixed working pattern
  • The role is designed to fit around academic commitments
  • Work can be completed remotely
  • Opportunities are available to join team activities and meetings in person where feasible
 
Support and Development
  • The intern will receive supervision and guidance from an academic lead and and work with a podcast producer
  • Opportunities will be provided to develop skills in science communication, digital media, and public engagement
  • The role will support broader professional development, including creativity, communication, and project management

Person Specification

Person Specification
This internship is open to students from a widening participation background, in line with Lancaster University’s commitment to improving access, representation, and inclusion within higher education and professional development opportunities.

Applicants should review the University’s widening participation criteria here:
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/widening-participation/strategy-and-engagement/eligibility-criteria/

To be eligible, applicants would typically meet at least two of the listed criteria (e.g., first-generation student, low-income background, care experience, estrangement, disability, or other underrepresented circumstances). 

Applicants should clearly demonstrate in their application how they meet the criteria below.

Essential Criteria
Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
  • That they are a current student at Lancaster University from a widening participation background (as defined by the University criteria linked above)
  • An interest in research, science communication, or public engagement
  • Good written communication skills, with the ability to explain ideas clearly and accessibly to non-specialist audiences
  • Experience with creating content for social media platforms (e.g. Instagram, TikTok)
  • Creativity and willingness to contribute ideas for digital content and audience engagement
  • Ability to work independently and manage tasks with a flexible, ad hoc schedule
  • Excellent inter-personal communication

Desirable Criteria
It would be advantageous if applicants can demonstrate:
  • Basic skills in design or multimedia tools (e.g., Canva, video editing apps, audio editing) Interest in podcasting or digital storytelling

Application Requirements
Applicants should submit a CV and short cover letter to Helen Nuttall ([email protected]) outlining:
  • How they meet the essential criteria, including confirmation of their widening participation eligibility (with reference to the University criteria)
  • Any relevant experience (formal or informal), including examples of social media use, content creation, or communication activities
  • How they would approach engaging a broad and diverse audience from undergraduates to Professors to listen to podcasts
 
Working in this role will help develop the following skills and experience:
  •  Analysing
  • Creativity
  • Curiosity
  • Decisiveness
  • Flexibility
  •  Integrity
  • Knowledge Sharing
  • Multi-tasking
  • Organisation
  • Persuasion
  • Planning and organising
  • Problem solving
  • Research
  • Self-motivation
  •   Teamwork
  • Time Management
  • Verbal communication
 

You are required to submit a cover letter to support your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, this role is only open to individuals living in the UK.

Under the terms of this work, we endeavour to provide the advertised number of hours however, hours are not guaranteed and that work may cease if there is a fall in demand. 

Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Apply

Help and advice on making applications can be found on the Lancaster University Careers pages. Visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/careers.

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