Work experience
We offer opportunities for young people to experience a scientific working environment first-hand through our work experience weeks. As the Rosalind Franklin Institute is an interdisciplinary institute, rather than focusing on one specific project during their placement with us, students have the opportunity to rotate between different research groups. Students experience how different aspects of science work together to achieve a common goal.
In previous years, students have been able to create synthetic aspirin in our chemistry labs before analysing their compounds with mass spectrometry and comparing the compounds to store brought versions. They have also worked with researchers preparing samples for microscopy. Students will have the opportunity to meet a variety of researchers across the Franklin, tour other facilities on Harwell Campus, and practice their presentation skills in group talks at the end of their week.
Hear from one of our past work experience students about their week with us:
https://www.rfi.ac.uk/our-first-work-experience-week/
We run two work experience weeks with cohorts of up to 6 students per year for year 10 and year 12.
Work Experience at the Franklin 2027
- Year 12: 15th – 19th March 2027
- Year 10: 17th – 21st May 2027
Applications for our work experience programme will be opening in December 2026.
We aim to align our work experience weeks with local Oxfordshire school’s planned work experience weeks. If you are a school careers lead and would like to speak with us about the possibility of aligning our work experience to your school, please get in touch with the work experience team: public.engagement@rfi.ac.uk