Description Science and Technology Facilities Council Salary: £23,493 per annum Contract Type: Fixed Term - 12 weeks Hours: Full-time Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX Closing date: 8 th March 2026 Interview: Virtually via Microsoft Teams in April 2026 Start date: July 2026 The Particle Physics Department (PPD) in STFC, is one of the largest Particle Physics groups in the UK. We work with people across the world to understand and discover the fundamental building blocks of the Universe. We design, construct and operate some of the most sensitive scientific instruments in the world, collaborating with partners in academia, industry and international laboratories such as CERN. We currently work with the ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, DUNE, Hyper-K, T2K, MICE, Lux-Zeplin, DEAP-3600, CERN DRDs, Electron Ion Collider and AION collaborations. Many particle physicists spend their time building and running statistical analyses to ‘get the new physics out’ of their colossal datasets. Both the development and execution of analysis, and the excitement of making new measurements of the smallest building blocks of our reality are key motivations for scientists working in the field. However, communicating the exciting details of this process to the wider public effectively is difficult because those details are realised through sophisticated statistical techniques and computer code, that are not widely accessible to non-experts. We’re excited to offer a placement student the change to work on a project to develop an interactive exhibit that will allow members of the public to engage with a simulated particle physics analysis and take away some of the broadly applicable techniques that we make use of every day: modelling, statistical inference, and the updating of knowledge. 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 We will support the successful student to: Development of an interactive exhibit demonstrating key features of particle physics analysis in an engaging and visual way: A proof-of-concept exists: Tactile controls are read by a microcontroller and sent to a computer which uses them as inputs to perform a mock neutrino oscillation analysis, the results of which are displayed live on the monitor. By varying the controls, a user can modify a prediction to better match some observed data; simulating measurements that will be made by the DUNE neutrino experiment in the 2030s. The successful applicant will lead the development of this proof-of-concept into an exhibit that will be used at outreach events to communicate the excitement of particle physics analysis to the interested public. The project will provide opportunities to work across many subject areas: microcontroller project development (C or micropython), electronics prototyping, physics simulation and statistical analysis code development, front end web development, and good science communication. The successful applicant will be able to either focus on one or two of these subject areas more closely or gain broader experience by contributing to all parts of the project. 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) Demonstrates willingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a team (S&I) Self-motivated, enthusiastic, innovative, logical approach to problem solving, organised, reliable and collaborative (I) Able to communicate to both a technical and non-technical audience (S&I) An interest in computer programming (S&I) An interest in building interactive projects (I) Evidence of practical experience through university labs (S&I) Desirable: An interest in science communication and outreach (S&I) Experience with (micro)python (S) Experience with Javascript and front-end web development (S) 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!