Description Science and Technology Facilities Council Salary: £23,493 per annum Contract Type: Fixed Term – 10 weeks Hours: Full-time Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX Closing date: 8 th March 2026 Interview: Onsite in April 2026 Start date: June or July 2026 Are you passionate about making science accessible? Do you want to develop your communication skills while showcasing the technologies driving scientific innovation? At STFC's Technology Department, we empower researchers to make major scientific breakthroughs through the invention, development, and application of cutting-edge technologies. We also provide organisations from science to industry with access to our world-class expertise, facilities and IP, helping them innovate, solve problems and scale new ideas. We are now looking for a student passionate about science communications to help us share our vital work and promote its positive impact on the UK public, industry, international science community, and beyond. In return, we'll support your development into a well-rounded science communications professional through varied experiences and support from our science and communication teams. This role is ideal for students who excel at taking complex scientific concepts, like gravitational waves or dark matter, and making them accessible to non-expert audiences. A science communications degree is beneficial, but not essential. You could be a communications or journalism student looking to focus on science, or a science student interested in communications – your enthusiasm is what matters. Summer Placements at STFC STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team Key Duties & Responsibilities The successful candidate will complete a 10-week placement at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in South Oxfordshire and will be responsible for: Writing engaging content for our LinkedIn page, newly designed Technology website, and staff newsletter. Creating short-form videos that showcase our collaborations with industry. Meeting with staff to collect compelling stories that bring our work to life for diverse audiences. Using photography and graphic design to create promotional materials for digital channels. Supporting the department’s involvement with public engagement events. Contributing to other communications activities as they arise. These duties will be conducted with ongoing support and mentorship from your manager. The placement will also include opportunities to manage your own communications projects and develop new skills through training Person Specification The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I). In order to apply for the role, we are looking for the following: Essential: You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S) You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S) Keen interest in science and science communication (S&I) Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex topics clearly (S&I) Excellent organisational and time management skills (S&I) Experience producing digital communications materials (S&I) Willing to learn new skills, both technical and non-technical (I) Desirable: Experience in graphic design or video/audio production (S&I) Experience using social media in a professional context (S&I) Experience using web editing software like WordPress (S&I) Experience in writing for publication (S&I) Employee Benefits We are offering a fixed term position with a whole host of benefits including: 30 days holiday pro rata Flexible working hours. Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking. Excellent learning and development opportunities. Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/ As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y Application Guidance Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate. Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert. Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received. We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!