SEEDS (Supporting Equity, Engagement and Development in Science) is a 2-month paid internship programme aimed at providing undergraduate students with hands-on research experience in environmental science. The programme is funded through the NERC Research Experience Placements (REPs) scheme and is part of TREES’ broader commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in doctoral training.
Interns will receive at least the National Living Wage and can undertake the internship full-time or part-time, depending on their circumstances.
What SEEDS Offers
- A Real Research Experience
Interns will join a live environmental science research project based at one of the 10 TREES partner institutions, working under the supervision of experienced researchers. Projects are drawn from critical areas in environmental science and provide opportunities to build quantitative research skills. - Induction & Training
Interns will begin with a week-long training and induction held at UCL, including workshops on environmental research, data skills, and pathways into academia. - Mini Conference
The programme ends with a mini-conference, where interns will present their findings to peers and researchers from across the TREES network. - Pathway to a PhD
Interns who successfully complete the SEEDS programme will be guaranteed an interview in the next TREES PhD recruitment round following completion of their undergraduate degree or integrated Master’s. While this does not guarantee a studentship, SEEDS is designed to strengthen future applications.
Who Can Apply
We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented in environmental science research and academia. This may include students who identify with one or more of the following groups:
- From a low-income background
- From a low participation neighbourhood (e.g. POLAR4 Q1 or Q2)
- First in family to attend university
- From an ethnic minority background
- A disabled person
- Care-experienced or young carer
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- LGBTQ+
- Mature student (aged 21+ at start of first degree)
- From a Gypsy, Roma, or Traveller background
You will be invited to voluntarily self-identify during the application process, with the aim of prioritising places under our positive action policy (Equality Act 2010, Sections 158–159). Your data will be treated confidentially and used solely for monitoring and prioritisation purposes.
Eligibility Criteria
- Education: You must be currently enrolled on an undergraduate science degree or integrated Master’s science degree in the UK. You must not have graduated prior to the internship. The degree must be your first degree.
- Right to Work: As SEEDS is a paid internship, you must have the right to work in the UK (e.g. UK/Irish citizen, or indefinite leave to remain). Your right to work must be verified before the internship can commence.
- Language: Interns must be fluent in English to participate fully in the programme.
- NERC PhD Eligibility: You must meet the criteria to be eligible for future NERC PhD studentship funding (see UKRI eligibility guidance).
Applications
We are currently gathering projects from supervisors. Projects will be advertised on this page soon, and the application process for SEEDS Summer 2025 will open shortly. If you would like to be notified when applications go live or receive updates, please sign up to our SEEDS mailing list.