The NERC REPs scheme aims to encourage students to consider a career in environmental sciences through funding to support paid summer placements for undergraduate students.
They also enable Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) to address:
- demographic and diversity-related challenges
- the quantitative skills gap in environmental sciences
In addition, REPs encourage undergraduates from any discipline to consider a career in environmental science
REPs are currently supported only in institutions involved in NERC DTPs and CDTs.
Please contact these institutions for information on individual REPs and how to apply.
REP awards to support placements in summer 2023 have been allocated to NERC DTPs and CDTs.
Funding
Funding for a number of REPs is made available to each NERC DTP and CDT annually.
Each REP is for up to 10 weeks during the summer vacation.
REP students should be made an employee of the hosting organisation and receive a salary for the duration of the placement. Students must be paid at least the appropriate national minimum wage rate (for those 22 and under) or national living wage rate (for those 23 and over).
Where necessary, they must receive a contribution towards research and training expenses during the placement. Additional funding beyond this amount must be found from other sources, including the department.
Eligibility
Eligibility of hosting institution
DTPs and CDTs currently recruiting students are eligible to host REPs.
Eligibility of participating undergraduate students
Students are subject to eligibility criteria to be able to apply for NERC REPs and must be:
- undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters). Note: students in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time of the placement start are not eligible
- eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding
Please note this guidance should be read in conjunction with the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) training grant terms and conditions and guidance documents.
Research project criteria
Proposed REP student projects must:
- have a clearly defined objective
- be within the science remit of NERC
- be feasible for a student to complete within the timescale of the award
- include more than purely a computer or modelling component. That is, some element of fieldwork, data collection, activity to give an understanding of the wider context including participation in lab or team meetings, networking and training and so on
- give scope for thought and initiative on the part of the student and should not use the student as a general assistant
- be based at an eligible UK research organisation
Responsibilities of the DTP or CDT lead organisation
The DTP or CDT lead organisation is responsible for administering REPs hosted within their partnership. Specific responsibilities include:
- coordinating the REPs award process across the DTP or CDT partners and advertising across all relevant partners
- ensuring that opportunities are publicised and advertised to all relevant groups and recruitment policies are followed. DTPs and CDTs should utilise and where appropriate, implement the diversity, equity and
inclusion best practice principles in doctoral recruitment for the recruitment of REP students - ensuring that reasonable adjustments are made for students that need them during the recruitment process
- ensuring the application process and placements are as accessible as possible
- collating financial information for each REP and reporting this to NERC
- collating the collected diversity data (mandatory) relevant to each stage of the recruitment process and reporting this to NERC
- ensuring that students complete the REP reporting form
- disseminating REPs funds to host organisations as appropriate following payment from NERC
- DTPs or CDTs may wish to consider positive action such as ring-fenced funding which is allowable where there is evidence of under representation or disadvantage. It is the responsibility of the training grant holder (the director or other lead) to ensure that such action is compliant and delivered in line with the relevant equality legislation. (NERC or UKRI are not able to provide such advice)
Responsibilities of the hosting organisation
The host organisation is responsible for:
- selecting a suitable undergraduate student and ensuring eligibility (see student eligibility requirements above) and confirming their eligibility using the UKRI criteria listed under the ‘eligibility’ section
- ensuring that reasonable adjustments are made for students that need them while undertaking placements
- ensuring that the application processes used are inclusive and accessible
- ensuring the REPs project falls within the NERC remit and is of suitable quality
- ensuring that appropriate supervisory arrangements are in place
- ensuring each student has a PhD student mentor from the DTP or CDT
- DTP or CDT responsibility to report back to NERC with numbers and future plans
- ensuring that the placements are carried out in accordance with all applicable ethical, legal and regulatory requirements including but not limited to relevant provisions of the:
- General Data Protection Regulation
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Bribery Act 2010
- Fraud Act 2006
- Equality Act 2010
- Modern Slavery Act 2015
- the identification, protection and exploitation of any intellectual property rights arising from the work
- ensuring that all facilities, agreements about access and collaborations necessary for the work are obtained before the work commences and can be ensured through the period of the work
- ensuring that all costs awarded by NERC for the REPs are used and accounted for appropriately
- ensuring that details and assessment of the project are reported to NERC (via the DTP or CDT lead organisation), as directed in the allocation letter or subsequent correspondence
- ensuring that a PhD interview (where appropriate) is offered to all students who completed REPs within the DTP or CDT
Reporting
The student will be required to complete a brief report on the outcome of the placement. The DTP or CDT is required to report the financial information about salary and expenses and the mandatory diversity data from all stages of the recruitment process.