NIHR SPHR Summer Internship in Public Health Research (x 2 posts)
Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UKSalary: £24,215 to £26,093 (or £12.96 per hour)Closing Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026Interview Date: Tuesday 30 June 2026Reference: 0493-26
This is an exciting opportunity provided by the NIHR School for Public Health Research for two undergraduate students with an interest in a career in public health. The successful candidates will gain experience working within an established research team and develop valuable research skills.
Applicants Must Be
- Current Lancaster University undergraduate students
- In the middle years of their first degree studies (normally between years 2 and 3 for a 3‑year programme or equivalent for a 4‑year programme)
- Expected to obtain a first or upper second class UK honours degree
The internship is a casual, part‑time opportunity (0.6 FTE, 3 days per week) over the 2026 summer period, based in the Division of Health Research at Lancaster University.
Project 1: Trauma‑informed, creative research on belonging, safety and first contact (CREATE + Recognised, Not Retold)
Suitable for students interested in health inequalities, the wider determinants of health, and participatory/creative qualitative research. Responsibilities include:
- Exploring what makes support‑service spaces feel safe and welcoming (or not)
- Translating learning from lived experience into feasible improvements for practice
- Structured learning in trauma‑informed approaches
- Involvement in knowledge translation, turning findings from creative activities into stakeholder‑ready learning for settings such as housing, council, NHS and voluntary sector
Project 2: Public health systems and health inequalities (Systems project using Qualitative Comparative Analysis)
Suitable for students interested in public health systems, policy action on inequalities, and innovative methods. Responsibilities include:
- Working with an experienced team using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to explore configurations of system “conditions” that relate to action on health inequalities and social determinants
- Gaining experience with structured qualitative data sources and applying QCA in public health research
Supervision
Day‑to‑day supervision will be provided by the relevant project supervisor:Project 1: Dr Yessica Mestre, Research AssociateProject 2: Dr Zoe Swithenbank, Senior Research AssociateOverall oversight and mentorship will be provided by Dr Rebecca Mead, Division of Health Research.
Deliverables
Interns will be expected to complete a short report and either a blog or a practice/public‑focused briefing at the end of the internship, with potential support for dissemination activities.
Contact
For Project 1: Yessica Mestre – y.mestre@lancaster.ac.ukFor Project 2: Zoe Swithenbank – z.swithenbank@lancaster.ac.uk
Applicants should submit a letter of application and CV, indicating the project they are applying for, to the appropriate contact email.
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