PIPS Search Process

• Being customer focused 
• Influencing others - Leading, developing and managing people 
• Managing finances and resources
• Planning and organising
• Problem-solving and making decisions
• Pursuing professional excellence in a particular non-academic environment
• Thinking and acting strategically

• Industry: a short desk-based research project; review or analysis of manufacturing, processing or production techniques; non-research roles such as marketing, publishing or sales; business development or project management.
• Legal offices: patent related project; research contracts  
• Consultancy: auditing project ; research project  
• Teaching: in schools, using the Researchers in Residence scheme, or through other mechanisms  
• Policy sector: developing policy or working in a related setting, such as a government department, local authority, non-departmental public body, professional association, charity (with clear links to scientific activities), research funder or medical organisation (such as NHS Primary Care Trust)  
• Media industry: a wide variety of roles are possible here that help students understand the wider societal context of their research. Such internships could include working in science communication roles or other roles in:  
• Press office  
• Science publishing company 
• Zoo, museum or botanical gardens – for outreach projects or research assignments.  

As students continue to receive the monthly allowance, all PIPS placements must be unpaid. If the placement site is outside of metropolitan London, it is expected that the PIPS placement will provide transport and/or accommodation. In the event that the PIPS placement is not able to financially contribute to travel and/or accommodation, then students can request funds from the PIPS Travel Allowance. The maximum allowance is £1000 and can only be used for transport (train, flight) and accommodation/lodging (temporary housing, AirBnB). When completing the PIPS Proforma, please be sure to include this request along with supporting reasons. If your request is approved, you must submit an Expense Form and copies of the receipt(s) and email it to dtp@imperial.ac.uk. Payments will be made after the completion of your PIPS placement. NB You must get pre-approval for the PIPS Travel Fund. Retroactive requests will not be considered.  

It is likely that you will be able to carry out good quality PIPS locally. PIPS can however be taken abroad but any extra costs associated with this should be met by the PhD student and/or host organisation. All overseas internships must be 12 weeks long. If you have secured a PIPS placement outside of the UK, you must thoroughly read the 2021-22 Placements Abroad Handbook (available here) as it provides critical information regarding visas, travel accident,s and insurance information, as well as helpful information such as budgeting. It is imperative that you register your placement travel with Imperial College/RHUL in order to be covered by the respective College’s Overseas Travel Insurance. Please note that the travel insurance is not a health insurance but an accident and travel benefit. You will need to print out the Overseas Travel Insurance Policy form for the 2021-22 Academic Year. For additional information, please refer to the Placements Abroad Handbook.