We can offer all MBChB students (who meet the criteria below) the opportunity to apply for one of ten available research internships at EHU this summer (2026). This has been funded by NIHR’s Integrated Academic Training (IAT) Programme.
About the internship placements
The internship placements will be four weeks in length, and interns will receive a stipend payment of £1,889 (approx) part way through the internship.
The 2026 summer internships will take place over 4 weeks between Monday 3rd August – Friday 28th August.
An internship assessment group will consider applications on a case by case basis.
To be eligible for consideration for an internship placement, you should:
- Be an Edge Hill University MBChB student in Years 1 – 3.
- Have no outstanding professional concerns.
- Have passed all summative assessments in the current academic year.
Students are able to select project from either category (res/med/serv), but shortlisting & interview will be based on first choice project.
Recruitment timeline
- 2 February – open date for applications
- 2 March (23:59) – closing date for applications
- w/c 2 March – shortlisting takes place
- Weds 18 March & Weds 23 March – interviews
- w/c 30 March – provisional appointments confirmed; outcome letters issued
Internship projects available to apply for
Medical Education
Named Supervisor: Dr Anthony Adefolaju
Additional supervisor(s): Professor John Sandars
Max number of interns that can join this project: 1
Description of project:
To systematically map the existing evidence regarding the design, implementation, and documented efficacy of blended learning approaches in the teaching of embryology within medical school settings. The central research question is: What characteristics, pedagogical frameworks, and reported outcomes define the use of blended learning models for embryology education in the medical curriculum?
Description of duties:
Execute the pre-defined search strategy (using keywords and MeSH terms) across multiple electronic databases (e.g., MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC). Use reference management software (like EndNote or Zotero) to import all search results and systematically remove duplicate records. Independently review the titles and abstracts of all imported records against the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This is often done using a dedicated screening tool (e.g., Covidence). Locate and download the full text of all potentially relevant articles that pass the title and abstract screen. Independently read the full texts and make a final decision on whether each article meets the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review, noting the reason for exclusion for any discarded articles. Systematically extract and record relevant data from each included study into a standardized data charting form (often a spreadsheet). This data will relate directly to the research question and aim, focusing on: Study Characteristics: Authors, year, country, study design. Intervention: The specific blended learning model used (e.g., flipped classroom, online modules, blended simulation). Context: Medical school setting, student year level, course duration. Reported Outcomes: Efficacy measures (e.g., student performance, satisfaction, retention). Assist the supervisors in summarizing the charted data. This may involve categorizing studies based on key characteristics or contributing to a descriptive summary of the findings (e.g., counting the number of studies by country or pedagogical model). Contribute a written draft of the Methods section of the final scoping review report, detailing the search strategy and selection process they performed
Travel requirements: None
Medical Education
Named supervisor: Dr Christine Mimnagh (ext)
Additional supervisors: Laura Power (ext), June Jones
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
The Transcend Gender Service at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to express interest in hosting two medical students from Edge Hill University Medical School for an internship placement.
Our service is currently developing several key strands of clinical and educational work, and we see significant opportunities for meaningful student involvement. The proposed internship would offer students hands-on experience in the co-creation of high-quality resources to support both clinicians and patients across the gender care pathway. Students may choose to undertake an internship in one of the following areas:
• Development of clinical documentation (e.g., referral templates, assessment tools, patient information sheets)
• Drafting or refining clinical guidance relevant to gender-affirming care
• Creation of audio or digital learning resources to support patient understanding and clinician confidence
• Collaborative produce educational outputs, tailored for a range of audiences including undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees, allied health professionals, and wider clinical teams
This internship will provide students with exposure to:
• Gender-affirming healthcare within an NHS service
• The design and development of practical learning materials
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Real-world healthcare quality improvement approaches
Description of duties:
Attend client appointments to gain understanding of the specialist services we provide. Engage with service users to gain their perspectives. Conduct in-depth literature search and existing policy review documents, create clinically relevant educational resources as appropriate to the selected project area.
Travel requirements: Some travel will be required, to attend clinics 2 days per week. Other attendance can be online
Medical Education
Named supervisor: Dr Jo Hammersley (ext)
Additional supervisor: Dr June Jones
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
This internship will involve a placement with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), based in Manchester. The PHSO investigates complaints about the NHS. To carry out this work, they have a range of expert clinicians in their Clinical Advice Department. They are also engaged in training throughout the NHS to identify factors that can improve standards of patient care by employing safety science. The PHSO also provide training for their clinical staff to manage their wellbeing
The PHSO aim to expand this work to include medical student training. This project will focus on two aspects of their training: Vicarious trauma and moral injury. Vicarious trauma involves the emotional and psychological impact of being exposed to the trauma of others. This is an important aspect of medical student training needs, as witnessing the unexpected death of a patient or a serious patient safety incident can lead to lasting distress. Moral injury involves the profound psychological distress which results from accounts, or lack of actions, which violate one’s personal moral code. Moral injury can be caused by a discrepancy between the care we want to provide and the care we are able to deliver, or by witnessing acts performed/not performed by others that go against our deeply held moral values
Whilst complaints can be stressful, they also present potential learning opportunities going forwards. The medical students on this internship will have the opportunity to shadow clinical advisers working on PHSO health complaints, and to understand how we can learn from these by exploring how complaints can be prevented/resolved at source
We know complaints can be stressful for clinicians and that the nature of clinical work exposes clinicians to distressing experiences as part of their work. This project seeks to identify training resources which can support senior medical students to engage in meaningful ways with concepts of vicarious trauma and moral injury, supporting them to develop strategies to manage their emotional wellbeing. Doing this alongside developing an understanding of complaints and demystifying the complaints process will enable students to develop skills to help resolve and prevent complaints and will also mean that we can equip our students to start their careers as doctors with skills that reduce the risk of being adversely affected by vicarious trauma
Description of duties:
• Students will work with a range of clinicians at the PHSO in the clinical advice and casework department.
• With the support of clinicians, students will identify suitable case studies to develop medical student focused resources on moral injury and vicarious trauma.
• Students will review existing training resources on moral injury and vicarious trauma which the PHSO currently deliver to graduate doctors of all grades.
• Students will identify aspects of the current resources on moral injury and vicarious trauma that would be suitable for adaptation to create tailored resources for medical students.
• Students will integrate new materials and adaptation of existing materials to create bespoke medical student focused resources on moral injury and vicarious trauma.
• It is envisaged that each student will focus on either moral injury or vicarious trauma. Students can work together on some aspects of the project where appropriate but will produce two separate outputs and an individually unique poster based on their part of the project
Travel requirements: Some travel will be required – a mix of travel to the Manchester site 2/3 days per week to work with clinical consultants in the clinical advice department and working independently online from home
Medical Education
Named supervisor: Dr June Jones
Additional supervisor: Dr Alyhan Kassam
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
This medical education project allows students to select a clinical area of interest and undertake a thematic analysis of publicly available Prevention of Future Deaths reports. These are issued by the coroner after an inquest, when a patient has died in circumstances which need to be learned from. https://www.judiciary.uk/?s=&pfd_report_type=&post_type=pfd&order=relevance
Prevention of Future Deaths reports are issued to Trusts to ensure that learning occurs but also have national impact. By conducting a thematic analysis into a range of reports in a clinical speciality, trends can be identified. Students can consider how these trends can influence their current learning and future practice.
Students will be trained in thematic analysis at the start of the project. In addition to creating a poster, students will create a learning resource which can be shared with peers, such as a presentation at a student society event.
Description of duties:
Identify prevention of future deaths reports to be analysed, enter data into a spreadsheet, conduct thematic analysis, create learning resources which can be used to disseminate learning to peers
Travel requirements: None
Medical Education
Named supervisor: Dr Zoe Bell
Max number of interns that can join this project: 1
Description of project:
Exploring how Professor Vicky Karkou’s work on Arts and Wellbeing can be integrated into the MBChB curriculum.
Description of duties:
Rapid literature review (including a review of Professor Karkou’s key publications);
Mapping to the MBChB curriculum; Co-design with relevant staff members;
Create a poster.
Travel requirements: No regular travel is required, however, the student may wish to observe a therapy session, if available.
Research
Named supervisor: Dr Asa Auta
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Antibiotic resistance remains a major global health challenge, increasingly driven by inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics. Healthcare workers are central to ensuring antibiotics are prescribed and administered responsibly, yet knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use can differ significantly between countries, regions, and professional groups. Identifying where knowledge gaps exist is essential for shaping effective antimicrobial stewardship education and policy. This systematic review will synthesise evidence from studies worldwide to assess healthcare workers’ knowledge of antibiotics across different settings and professional groups, providing insights to guide targeted training and support efforts to improve antibiotic use globally.
Description of duties:
Perform systematic review.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Professor Adam Watts
Max number of interns that can join this project: 1
Description of project:
Patient rated outcome measures (PROMs) are an important part of modern clinical practice. They facilitate the evaluation of interventions for people receiving care. There are concerns regarding the burden of questionnaires on patients, and there is evidence that a single question assessment of function can be as helpful as a multi-item questionnaire. Single assessment numerical evaluation (SANE) scores have been used in clinical practice and have been shown to be helpful but have very high ceiling effects that can compromise their utility when evaluating change to treatment. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the responsiveness and ceiling effect of a modified version of the SANE (iSANE) in patients with elbow conditions.
Description of duties:
Analysis of data and writing a manuscript with the intention of publication and presentation.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Professor Adam Watts
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Posteromedial elbow fracture dislocation is a major treatment challenge for orthopaedic elbow surgeons. It is an injury that is sustained by falling backwards on to the hand resulting in a fracture of the coronoid process and ligament injuries. Persistent instability can lead to rapid development of a painful arthritic elbow. Non-surgical and surgical treatment has been described but it is not clear how the results of these treatment options compare. The aim is to conduct a systematic review of the published literature to describe and compare the outcome of each treatment strategy.
Description of duties:
Literature search and review. Data analysis and presentation.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Professor Greg Irving
Additional supervisor: Dr Victoria Grey
Max number of interns that can join this project: 3
Description of project:
The Edge Hill Primary and Integrated Care Research Centre (EPIC) is committed to generating research that strengthens primary care, integrates services, and improves the health and wellbeing of communities. Our work delivers high-quality, applied health and care research that benefits patients and the public, reduces inequalities, and informs decision-making across health systems. Our research has reach and influence both nationally and internationally. As well as contributing to numerous clinical guidelines around the world, evidence from EPIC has shaped strategies and frameworks led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, and the OECD, ensuring that our work not only informs practice in the UK but also supports health system reform globally.
Student will be able to link in with a range of studies including, but not limited to:
- Deep End General Practice Project
- NIHR Multiple Long term Condition Team Science Award
- NIHR Mental Health Leadership award focusing on CYP mental health
- Digital First Approaches
- NIHR Research Delivery Strategic work focusing on research delivery in General Practice
Website for more information about EPIC: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/research/healthresearchinstitute/epic-research-centre/
There is existing funding associated with this project (NIHR Mental Health Leadership Award)
Description of duties:
We will look to embed students in existing research activity at various stages of the scientific process. This could range from undertaking a review or data analysis. We will support all student to generate impactful outputs.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Dr Julie Abayomi
Additional supervisor: Dr Genevieve Stone
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Advice regarding offering complementary foods to infants is constantly being changed and updated. There is also a lot of misinformation shared via the media and social media which leaves parents unsure and confused. Interns will review current literature regarding the knowledge and skills of health professionals in giving weaning/complementary feeding advice to parents. this could be a scoping review or systematic review.
Description of duties:
Conduct literature searches, decide inclusion and exclusion criteria, screen abstracts and papers against the inclusion criteria, create PRISMA charts, write up findings.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Dr Julie Abayomi
Additional supervisor: Dr Genevieve Stone
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Advice about introducing complementary foods to infants is constantly being amended and updated. There is also a lot of misinformation shared via the media and social media, causing uncertainty and confusion for parents. This project will explore the information being shared via popular social media parenting sites (e.g. Mumsnet), identifying the information being shared and comparing it to the evidence base.
Description of duties:
Conduct searches of popular social media sites for parents (e.g. MumsNet); identify conversations where complementary feeding/weaning is being discussed; collect data and conduct content analysis from these discussions; write up findings.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Professor Linda Kaye
Additional supervisor: Professor Lyvonne Tume
Max number of interns that can join this project: 4
Description of project:
The proposal project aims to develop, validate and evaluate the efficacy of the Technology Integration Evaluation Resource (TIER) which measures barriers and drivers of HealthTech adoption. This is an interactive survey tool which asks users to rate their endorsement to a set of questions, designed to measure attitudes about using HealthTech.
Description of duties:
Engage with healthcare practitioners; content creation to support recruitment and engagement of relevant stakeholders; participant recruitment; basic data handling and analysis, dissemination of findings.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Professor Lyvonne Tume
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
The GASTRIC-PICU trial is the largest individually randomised trial done in Paediatric Intensive Care (PIC) and tested whether NOT measuring gastric residual volume (GRV) to guide enteral feeding was non-inferior to routine regular measurement across 24 UK PICUs. It recruited 4700 children led by Professor Tume at Edge Hill. This large dataset will be available for secondary analyses by July, with lots of potential clinical questions around enteral feeding able to be asked.
Description of duties:
1. Generation of a clinical question in conjunction with LT
2. Data extraction
3. Descriptive and Inferential data analysis using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS
4. Writing this up as a paper for publication.
Travel requirements: None
Research
Named supervisor: Dr Michele Monteil
Additional supervisor: Dr Asa Auta
Max number of interns that can join this project: 1
Description of project:
Free form dancing (aka free style dance) is unchoreographed dance. It encourages self-expression and has been linked to improvement in mental health [1]. Further, it required no specific place, time, equipment or partner to be practised. We propose to use a scoping review to ask if it is known if this form of dance, particularly the Afro-Caribbean expression of it (aka Primitive Expression), would provide sufficient physical activity and benefit to patients with diabetes, obesity and hypertension. By identifying gaps in our current knowledge on possible health benefits of Afro-Caribbean dance, we hope to direct future research to determine its application and usefulness in BAME communities with high prevalence of these conditions in the UK [2].
[1] Alexia Margariti et al. Dance Therapy: Primitive expressions Contributes to Wellbeing, in The Oxford handbook of dance and wellbeing [Internet]. Karkou V, Oliver S, Lycouris S, editors. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2017 [cited 2025 Dec 1]. Available from: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=2677850 Edited
[2] Veena Raleigh. The Health Of People From Ethnic Minority Groups In England | The King’s Fund, 17 May 2023.
Description of duties:
Assist with searching, selecting, extracting evidence from the literature. Analysis of results.
Travel requirements: Some travel will be required for face-to-face meetings at EHU with supervisor(s) once a week.
Service Evaluation
Named supervisor: Dr Claire Blennerhassett
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
The details of the project are not yet fully formed. There are two potential ideas:
- An evaluation of ESH in the curriculum: mapping – identifying where ESH already exists in the curriculum and where it could be added – quick wins
- Evaluation: How has the educator development sessions on ESH informed tutors teaching, curriculum or assessments
Description of duties:
Either a desk-based evaluation of the medical curriculum for evidence of ESH or development and/or analysis of an online survey to explore how the educator developer session has influenced their curriculum/teaching/assessment.
Travel requirements: None
Service Evaluation
Named supervisor: Professor Lucy Bray
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
The intern will work alongside the international ISupport team to implement changes into paediatric practice. The placement will include opportunities to work with large datasets of quantitative and qualitative data, collaborate with clinical and academic colleagues to shape quality improvement projects and work on co-producing resources and materials.
Description of duties:
Analysis of data under supervision, working alongside the ISupport lead to audit services and develop recommendations to drive forward quality improvements. work alongside the ISupport lead to co-produce resources and materials.
Travel requirements: None
Service Evaluation
Named supervisor: Professor Lyvonne Tume
Additional supervisor: Professor Ascanio Tridente
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
The intern/s would undertake a retrospective review of the number and duration of intentional feeding interruptions in Alder Hey PICU and Whiston adult ICU and write this up as a report
Description of duties:
Review the electronic health records of children in a 3 week period on these units.
Travel requirements: Some travel required to one or both sites.
Service Evaluation
Named supervisor: Dr Moulinath Banerjee
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Many patients are known to have lower CRP levels in the face of a significant infection, which necessitates hospital admission. They very often mount an adequate CRP response later. This pilot project aims to evaluate whether there is a difference in the outcome of patients between those who lag in CRP response and those who don’t. This will be a short retrospective review of the patients’ data, 25-50 patients in both groups, to identify any differences. The final number will be determined based on the project’s progress.
Description of duties:
Data collection, data analysis, writing a short report and presentation.
Travel requirements: Some travel to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan would be required for collection of data.
Service Evaluation
Named supervisor: Dr Rebecca Farrington
Max number of interns that can join this project: 2
Description of project:
Working with Rainbow Haven, a well-established refugee support agency in central Manchester to evaluate some of the barriers to healthcare access and the support they provide
Description of duties:
Literature review, data collection design and organisational collaboration
Travel requirements: Some occasional travel to central Manchester would be required.
Hear from our students
I was drawn to the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in improving primary care processes through data-driven approaches. This internship also provided an opportunity to strengthen skills essential for my future career as a GP, such as data analysis, critical evaluation of clinical practices, and understanding the broader context of primary care in the UK.
Ayesha Habib
MBChB Undergraduate Summer Research Internship
View student profile
As a medical student I’m always looking for ways to improve my CV & professional development, so I was very excited when my application got accepted. During the internship I had a chance to work on a couple of papers, both systematic reviews. I was mainly involved in the screening process, which was my favourite part.
Eleni Liami
MBChB Undergraduate Summer Research Internship
View student profile
The internship is a structured way to find people. Building connections early in your career is important. I’d really recommend this internship – it pushed me out of my comfort zone, and made me think more critically about the information I was looking at.
Eva Grice
MBChB Medicine – research internship student
View student profile
The internship has provided me with meaningful hands-on experience, developing my research confidence within a field of medicine I’m passionate about. I’m more aware of how research contributes to evidence-based medicine.
Holly Rylatt
MBChB Medicine – research internship student
View student profile
I applied to this internship as I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to understand better how a research team works, as research underpins evidence-based medicine. I have a profound interest in exploring neurodiversity and how it impacts patients, so applying to be an intern on Prof Lucy Bray’s neurodiversity project seemed fitting.
Safiyyah Mahmood
View student profileFAQs
37 hours
No – there is flexibility
Yes. The maximum you can claim for is calculated at 30 miles per day at 20p per mile, based on 5 days per week. You will need to complete a student expense claim form for all travel within the 4-week period, attaching evidence of travel/valid receipts.
Your supervisor will need to see the completed form and email [email protected] to confirm they approve the claim. The claim form will then be passed to the ICAT Office for final sign off (by the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation) and processed for payment.
You are able to apply for both an internship and an intercalation without either application being affected by the other. However, only one application can be successful, and the intercalation would take priority. If your intercalation application is unsuccessful, then your internship application would remain valid.