NIHR GOSH BRC Research Communications Internship 2023

Our NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre underpins world-leading research at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where we aim to be not just a hospital that does Research but a truly Intelligent Research Hospital - where Research, data and innovation are embedded in all that we do.

Much of this funded and supported research from the Centre and its collaborators makes the headlines in international outlets and online, including social media. With a growing audience for science and research, communicated clearly and consistently online, this internship offers a chance for training and experience in communicating complex, cutting edge research to an online audience.

This Research Communications Internship post will work with the Research and Innovation Communications team to craft stories and create compelling content for online audiences, deepening their understanding of our Intelligent Research Hospital ethos and the breadth and depth of work at GOSH and our primary research partner, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

With a focus on creating content that works well online, including social media, this post will also get training and experience in the basics of writing for the web.

Undertaking this Research Communications internship will upskill the applicant, allowing them to better understand how corporate communications function in healthcare and research. Once complete, it is expected that the post holder will return to their role at GOSH/UCL GOS ICH as an ambassador for communications and research.

Applicants must be able to show an aptitude and desire to communicate complex ideas clearly, in written form.

Communications work is always very varied and you will very much be part of an integrated busy team that handles high profile research and innovation, commercial partnerships and creates engaging content for our own channels. Last year's intern was Dr Maryam Clark who joined the team for around 4 months for 3 days a week, alongside her lab research at UCL GOS ICH.

The internship allowed her to:

• Work with the team on filming for a news story with international coverage
• Design and launch a science animation with social media colleagues
• Develop an article on travel grant opportunities from the BRC
• Design and implement new NIHR GOSH BRC illustrations

This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience in an area that will improve your communication skills with your peers, patients and the general public.

The internship will offer:

• Training in writing for the web
• Training in using a Content Management System (CMS) for websites
• Training in social media best practice
• Experience in sourcing and writing research stories for an online audience
• Experience in creating content for social media across a variety of channels
• Experience with social media and online analytics platforms
• The chance to work with a variety of stakeholder groups, including at GOSH, NIHR GOSH BRC, UCL GOSH UCH, UCL and GOSH Children’s Charity.

Applications are welcome from all staff employed at GOSH or UCL GOS ICH, including clinicians, non-clinical, nursing and AHP staff and any others not mentioned here.

Applicants would ideally be post-graduate and above, for example, late-stage PhD candidates or Postdoctoral researchers, or clinical/non-clinical staff with a comparable level of experience or interest in research or innovation. Applicants could use this time to develop a different skill between research grants or job roles.

The internship is aimed at supporting an individual who is organised, creative, willing to learn and can build good relationships. The ability to write clearly and concisely will be a good building-block for this internship, with the post used to hone those skills for online audiences.

Proficient IT and digital media-related skills will also be useful for the internship, but training will be given, so an appetite to learn new skills will be just as important.

A budget of £15,000 is available through this call to support salary costs for one post. This funding can be used in any way to support a proportion of salary to be spent by 31st March 2024 at the latest. Ideally this internship would be for 2-5 days per week for ~12 consecutive weeks. These timings should not be a barrier to application and the team are open to discussions on flexibility. The proportion of salary requested should not exceed the budget available.

In most circumstances, spine point increments or grade/band increases will not be allowed as part of this call, other than standard annual increments already built into someone’s contract. Exceptions may be made e.g., if individuals are already in the process of applying for a promotion. If you are applying to be graded at a rate higher than your current grade, then you will not automatically be paid at the higher grade if the internship is awarded. HR policies and procedures regarding promotions must still be followed and if it relates to a clinical post then there may be national boards which have to agree to any increase. Please contact relevant HR departments for further details.

The person applying for the internship must meet the following:

1. An existing substantive GOSH staff member, or an existing substantive UCL staff member based at UCL GOS ICH (including students based primarily at the institute), or be employed by either GOSH or UCL GOS ICH on a temporary basis, through a staff bank or agency that has an existing arrangement with GOSH/UCL GOS ICH.
2. Have written agreement from your line manager or supervisor to support the application and its implications for your current job role.

We have tried to keep the call as broad as possible to cover different scenarios for possible salary funding, and we would welcome conversations with anyone who think they might be interested in this position but aren’t sure if their circumstances fulfil the requirements.

Research and Innovation Communications particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the team, at this time.

The application process will be:

• A one-page expression of interest including relevant experience, reason for application and how this would fit with your current role, including your availability. Your writing ability will be assessed through this page so, while this doesn’t have to be perfect, take some time to proof read this and show us who you are.
• In addition to a short 2-page CV and an email from your line manager confirming their support of your application.
• Please submit to research.communications@gosh.nhs.uk by Midnight Sunday 1 October 2023.
• Applications will be assessed by their expressions of interest.
• If more than one applicant is shortlisted, they will be offered an interview with representatives from the BRC’s Leadership Team and the Research and Innovation Communications Team.

Please contact research.communications@gosh.nhs.uk if you have any questions about the scheme.