An internship programme to help talented Black health data scientists flourish in STEM careers
The UK has an urgent need for new health data scientists – it’s a rapidly expanding field with the recognised potential to transform the future of health and care for all, and we believe that health data science should be as effective as possible in serving and reflecting the needs of the entire UK population.
With the UK Health Data Research Alliance and the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation, we are committed to delivering the fourth year of our programme. We continue with our aim to tackle the underrepresentation of Black people within health data science and, with your support, provide motivated candidates with an opportunity to expand their knowledge around the sector and gain the experience they need to advance their careers.
The programme is championed in the Medical Research Council’s Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-25 as a way to develop a diverse research and technical workforce with the skills to address today’s innovation challenges.
What HDRUK offers to host organisations
- Promote the programme to a national audience of students and graduates to generate a large pool of potential candidates
- Oversee the recruitment process from receipt of applications to sifting, whilst also ensuring that host organisations have suitable interviewees
- Manage the internship education and co-ordinate cohort-wide training programmes and activities throughout
- Support mentors for interns and mentoring guidance
- Highlight the impact from the programme and provide communications toolkits
- Provide ongoing support to you before, during and after internship programme
- Develop and deliver networking events for all involved in the programme
- Highlight relevant career opportunities across your organisation for alumni interns
What HDRUK asks from host organisations
- Pay interns the Real Living Wage for London (£13.85/hour) as a minimum (regardless of where host or intern are based)
- Reimburse interns for their travel expenses for the opening and closing ceremonies according to your organisation’s staff expense policies
- Obtain organisational permission to host interns
- Let us know about logistical requirements in our pledge form
- Carry out interviews – (we will screen and match applicants for you)
- Conduct Right To Work in the UK checks
- Create an 8-week health data project for your intern(s)
- Provide a laptop if needed for your intern(s)
Dates for the Black Internship Programme 2025
- Pledge deadline: Wednesday 20 December 2024
- Recruitment windows: February and March 2025
- Opening ceremony: Wednesday 25 June 2025
- Internships: Monday 30 June – Friday 22 August 2025
- Closing ceremony: Wednesday 27 August 2025