DTP Biosciences alumna, Dr Raphaella Hull from Botanic Garden, giving a presentation on internship opportunities.
On Friday 20 March 2026, the Cambridge Biosciences BBSRC DTP welcomed doctoral students and representatives from 11 partner organisations to the Babraham Research Campus for an afternoon dedicated to exploring Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS). The event showcased the breadth of internship opportunities available to DTP researchers and strengthened links between students and the organisations that host them.
The symposium opened with a warm welcome from Professor Ross Waller, Director of the Cambridge Biosciences BBSRC DTP, followed by Dr Matt Castle, Chair of the DTP Training Committee. Both emphasised the central role that PIPS placements play in equipping students with professional experience, confidence, and a broader understanding of career pathways beyond academia.
The first half of the afternoon featured a series of short presentations spotlighting recent PIPS experiences and the wide-ranging opportunities offered by host organisations:
- Dr Ajay Mishra (European Bioinformatics Institute) & Harry Roussos (SBS DTP, 2022 cohort)
- Sara Chelaghma (SBS DTP, 2022 cohort)
- Dr Thomas Foets (Armium)
- Dr Raphaella Hull (Cambridge University Botanic Garden; DTP alumna, 2019 cohort)
Speakers shared insights into project work, workplace culture beyond the university environment, and the skills and perspectives they gained through their internships.
The panel of students and host companies took part in a Q&A session following the presentations
A lively speed‑networking session followed, giving students the chance to meet representatives from participating organisations in a fast‑paced, informal format. This provided a valuable opportunity for students to ask questions, explore internship possibilities, and learn how to tailor their PIPS experience to their personal career development goals.
The afternoon concluded with open networking over a buffet and drinks, enabling students and partners to continue conversations in a relaxed setting.
Representatives joined us from:
- Armium
- bit.bio
- Cambridge Enterprise
- Cambridge Enterprise Ventures
- Cambridge University Botanic Garden
- Charles River Laboratories
- DSV UK Ltd
- EMBL‑EBI
- Gentian Limited
- GSK
- LifeArc
- Nutopia
Students were able to learn about roles in biotechnology, data science, innovation, consultancy, science communication, enterprise, and beyond - highlighting the versatility of biosciences training and the wide range of sectors engaged with the DTP.
PhD students networking with internship host companies