Particle accelerators underpin many of the existing and forthcoming research facilities supported directly by UK Research and Innovation and STFC, such as Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the Large Hadron Collider, and the European Spallation Source (ESS). The Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) within STFC is a centre of excellence which brings together all of the skills and expertise required to develop world class accelerators for the UK’s future research needs.

The five technical groups are:

• Accelerator Physics
• Magnets and Radiation Sources
• Radio Frequency and Diagnostics
• High-Power Lasers
• Vacuum Solutions

A Work Experience placement in ASTeC could involve a small project that gives students experience skills such as soldering, identifying electronic components, problem-solving, and manufacturing. Students might find out about how we support other groups with expertise in the fabrication and assembly of electronic systems. Students might also learn how technicians operate the group’s facilities for rapid prototyping of new designs through on-site circuit boards and additive manufacturing. These placements would suit students who are logical, patient and who are able to spot fine details – good at paying attention.

The Business Innovation directorate (BID) collaborate with UK businesses, both big and small, to develop new inventions and bring them out into the wider world where the technology can solve real world challenges and impact people’s lives. This includes thinking about Intellectual Property and entrepreneurial activity such as creating new businesses. We are the connecting point between academia, industry and the wider world.

Work Experience projects within BID generally involve students working with a supervisor across a week to deliver a small project that could include marketing, social media, science communications and business development. The placement would suit students who are good at sharing information and ideas with other people, are imaginative and can think of new and interesting ideas, are organised and make sure that they finish things.

Our Estates and logistics teams provide an essential support role within our Laboratory, without which we would not be able to carry out our amazing science and technology. This includes the management, development, service or repair of the grounds and buildings, the receipt, distribution and shipping of goods, mail and equipment, or the security of site. A Work Experience placement within our estates and logistics teams will provide students with a look behind the scenes, enabling them to see how their own skills provide an invaluable contribution to the efficient and smooth running on an international science and technology laboratory. These placements would suit students who are organised, hard-working and can stick with an activity and try their hardest to make it happen.

The finance team are responsible for STFC’s overall budgeting and associated financial planning. Supporting the work of all of STFC’s departments, the Finance team provide an essential Science Support role enabling the incredible science and technology work that STFC undertake.

A work experience placement within the Finance team would involve learning about how Finance Officers operate within a large science and technology organisation, learning about the key tasks that this type of work involves. A placement would give students the opportunity to see what costs are incurred as part of a scientific project and see a range of projects in progress. You would assist the Finance department to check the status and budget controls set up on live projects and highlight where they do not match expectations. There would also be the opportunity to learn how to use excel spreadsheets to view project Finances and manipulate and present Finance data. Placements would last one week and would suit students who are organised, are able to spot fine details, and are good at paying attention.

At the Hartree Centre, we want to see UK businesses outperforming their global competitors. We want to grow the economy, create skilled jobs and train people to excel in them. Most of all, we want to keep the UK at the forefront of industrial innovation. We’re making all this happen and more by enabling UK industry to fully embrace and integrate the latest digital and cognitive technologies.
We provide collaborative research, innovation and development services that accelerate the application of high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies. By working with us, businesses and research partners can gain a competitive advantage that enables them to produce better outcomes, products and services more quickly and cheaply than through conventional R&D.

Work Experience projects within the Hartree Centre could involve working with and learning to understand data with the potential of applying Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence algorithms to that data. Previous projects have included training a photo recognition model and integrating AI skills into a simple game. Placement would suit students who are curious about learning new things, logical, and enjoy working with data.

Daresbury Laboratory is one of the UK’s leading centres of expertise in data-intensive science, and home to sophisticated high-performance hardware. Our computational scientists, software engineers and project support staff meet the ever-increasing demand for innovative software solutions, digital research infrastructure and computational expertise in a variety of disciplines.​ Our staff have cutting-edge skills and expertise in scientific software research and development, and world-leading capabilities in:

• ‘big data’ storage and analysis
• visualisation and simulation, and
• scientific information management. 

Scientific computing is fundamental to modern research. This broad and rapidly-advancing field involves exploiting advanced computing capabilities to understand and solve complex problems in science. The huge amounts of data generated by scientific research require advanced computing infrastructure, products and services. Scientists need these resources to ​interpret and manage the information they obtain during their research, and it’s these resources that we provide. Work Experience projects within SCD generally involve students working with a supervisor across a week to run simulations that could be linked to various scientific disciplines such as computational physics, biology, chemistry and engineering. Through running the simulations and analysing the data produced, students will further their own knowledge and learning whilst being encouraged to develop ideas to explain the science behind the observations. There may also be the possibility of experiencing how our administrative activities relate to running scientific activities within our National Laboratories. The placement would suit students who are curious about learning new things, logical, and enjoy working with data.

The Technology Department (​TD) is one of the largest departments in the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)​. It spans two of STFC’s three major sites and is comprised of around 330 staff members, including scientists, engineers, technicians and apprentices. Approximately 140 staff are based at Daresbury Laboratory. Our role at STFC is to provide technology and instrumentation to the organisation’s programmes and facilities and derive maximum impact from its innovations through collaboration with industrial and academic partners. Our work involves the design and delivery of large and complex scientific instruments and we specialise in using our multi-disciplinary engineering skills and expertise to develop solutions where no suitable technologies exist.

At Daresbury Laboratory the Technology Department is split into seven groups, all of whom have different work experience options:

Control Systems and Safety Interlocks
This group is responsible for the design and development of pioneering control and safety systems for several particle accelerators and large scientific facilities both within STFC and in collaboration with other national and international organisations. Student placements could involve projects that highlight the role of Control and Safety Systems. This could include writing software to control industrial equipment or designing hardware that will interface the controllers with the user and the equipment it is controlling. This would suit people who can solve problems by thinking them through in a logical order and who are willing to listen to the ideas of others.

Detector Systems
A placement in this group will enable students to experience the design and manufacture of world leading innovative Detector systems. Students will gain an appreciation of basic electronics assembly skills and basic design/test skills. This placement would suit patient and logical people.

Electrical Engineering
Our role is to specify, procure, integrate and commission complex electrical systems to be installed at various international science facilities. Students will interact closely with the team, experiencing the full life cycle of a project, from concept and design using the latest CAD technology through to assembly and finally operation. This placement would suit those who can stick with an activity and try hard to make it happen in an organised manner.

Mechanical, Metrology and Technical Engineering (MMTE)
Within the MMTE group, we always aim to offer the student a ‘hands on’ experience, be it using spanners and nuts and bolts to create a vacuum joint, or helping to install a support system on a module structure. During your stay, you will gain an insight into the variety of processes and methods that are necessary to build and commission high-end technical projects. It would suit patient and hard-working individuals.

Nuclear Physics

Placements could involve students using simulations to learn about the physics of radiation interaction in matter and will be able to see the outcome of these interactions as they happen. The student could work on the modelling of an existing detector system or be involved in the design of a new detection system. This placement would suit logical people who can solve problems by thinking them through in a sensible order.

Projects and Mechanical Engineering (PME)
PME provide expertise in project management, Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and simulation to predict the performance of engineering systems prior to manufacture. The group is made up of project managers, mechanical engineers, and designers that specialise in providing leading-edge technology to support scientific research projects that involve particle accelerators, nuclear physics, lasers, and space exploration. The group has the latest CAE tools including virtual reality to visualise particle accelerators and detector systems during the design process. Students might have an introduction to the design of particle accelerators using Computer-Aided Design (CAD). This would suit people who like to make new things and have original ideas, as well as those can take a logical approach to the things that they do.

Portfolio and Quality Management (PQMG)

The Portfolio and Quality Management Group contains key functions that support both the Technology at Daresbury Division and the ASTeC/TDL Portfolio. These functions are:

1. Portfolio Management Office (PMO). The PMO function provides the following services to colleagues: standards and good Practice, assurance and reporting services, consultancy services.
2. Quality Management. The Daresbury Laboratory Quality Management System offer generic and specialist advice in the areas of quality planning, assurance, control, and improvement, including statistical process control.

Supervisor: Tony
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 2 weeks
Department: Accelerator Science and Technology (ASTeC) Department

Group: The Accelerator Diagnostics and Instrumentation (ADI) group

This group is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of diagnostic systems on ASTeC’s test facilities, such as the CLARA particle accelerator, and is heavily involved in electronics upgrades to existing systems installed on VELA and the CLARA front-end. In the electronics workshop, we build the units from scratch so our work includes the manufacture and fabrication of systems for ADI.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

The student will build a small project that gives them experience in soldering, identifying electronic components, problem-solving, and manufacturing. Students will find out about how we support other groups with expertise in the fabrication and assembly of electronic systems. Students might also learn how technicians operate the group’s facilities for rapid prototyping of new designs through on-site circuit boards and additive manufacturing.

This project would suit someone who likes working with their hands and is interested in technology but it requires no previous knowledge of electronics.

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Supervisor: Carlos
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: PME group (Projects and Mechanical Engineering).

We do the conceptual and detailed design of several experiments or pieces of equipment for our own laboratory experiments as well as collaborations with other institutes. Our department is heavily involved in using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) / Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools to develop our work. We also have 3D printing capabilities to assist in the development of models and tooling required for our projects.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 12/13

The student will be working in the Hi-Lumi Crab Cavities collaboration project. This may include the development of tooling for the project build or design effort using CAD/CAE. The work experience tasks will be chosen to suit the student’s level of knowledge in terms of computed assisted tools for project design

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Supervisor: David
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: Control Systems and Safety Interlocks (CSSI) Group

Physicists want to be able to run experiments with bespoke machine parameters. The way that these machine parameters are set up determine how the machine behaves. There are also potential safety risks to humans with the type of experiments that are being conducted. The CSSI group at DL works with these physicists and other engineers to create and manage the infrastructure that allows the physicists to operate and modify the machine’s behaviour in a bespoke, controllable and safe way.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

The department is hoping to create an interactive display for Public Engagement, highlighting the role of Control and Safety Systems. Depending on preference, the student could be writing software to control industrial equipment or designing hardware that will interface the controllers with the user and the equipment it is controlling.

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Supervisor: Stephen
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: The electrical engineering Group

Our group supports the scientific programme by providing electrical expertise to design, assemble, install and test specialist electrical equipment. Daresbury Laboratory also has operational accelerators that need frontline support, including fault finding, mandatory testing and planned maintenance. All aspects of electrical engineering are covered, with particular emphasis on accelerator technologies such as vacuum equipment, magnet power converters, precision motion control, personnel safety systems and RF equipment.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

Each student will work on a controls crate that represents many elements of an electrical engineering project and enables the student to learn about design, specification writing, procurement and latterly some basic circuit theory and programming. The students will also spend time with engineers and technicians to practice some basic hand skills like soldering and electrical installation. This is intended to give the students some ‘real world’ experience and provided opportunity to ask questions of people across the team. The students are given a tour of our building (Engineering Technology Centre) to see the construction and test
of equipment for many international projects.

This project would suit someone with Interest in Electrical Engineering or general engineering interest and Science

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Supervisor: Rebecca
Type of Placement: Computing
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Hartree Centre
Group: Hartree Centre Data Science group
The data science group supports businesses to develop their data science capabilities and harness cutting-edge technology to solve real world challenges and improve business performance. We apply AI and machine learning algorithms alongside performing data analysis, statistics and data engineering to turn business data into actionable intelligence.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 12/13

The placement will involve exploring open data around healthcare and education, using data analysis and machine learning to generate insights that can be used as prompts or assets for future projects.

This project would suit someone undertaking an A level course in at least one of: mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics and students interested in understanding data and applying Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence algorithms to that data

Some experience in python programming or data visualisation would be beneficial.

The project would involve a placement for multiple students at a time

Attending the free online ‘Introduction to Python’ Workshop held in May 2024 is advised.

Supervisor: Alex
Type of Placement: Science (computer simulation)
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Accelerator Science and Technology (ASTeC) Department
Group: Magnetics & Radiation Sources (MaRS) Group

Our group is part of ASTeC, and is responsible for the design, simulation, measurement, and troubleshooting of a variety of magnetic systems for particle accelerators. This ranges from magnets that bend and focus the particle beam through to less well known applications such as magnetic shielding and magnetic properties of materials near the beam. We are specialists in using magnetic fields to make particle beams produce synchrotron radiation, effectively turning a particle beam into an x-ray laser for experiments.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 11 and Year 12

The placement will involve the student learning to perform computer simulations of magnetic fields produced by beam focusing magnets using commercial software and a technique known as the Finite Element Method (FEM). The supervisor will guide the student through learning how to use the software. No prior knowledge of accelerators is required, though reading up on magnetic fields would be beneficial. Being reasonably confident with computers would be beneficial.

This project would suit someone with General interest in either electromagnetism or particle accelerator technology would be desirable.

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Attending the free online ‘Introduction to Python’ Workshop held in May 2024 is advised.

Supervisor: Nik
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: Mechanical Engineering group

We design, build and test projects using CAD & 3D printing

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

This placement will enable students to learn the basics of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), producing engineering drawings to solve real problems. In 5 working days most students are able to design, build and test solutions, using CAD and 3D printing, while producing a design placement work portfolio.

This project would suit someone with an interest in an engineering apprenticeship or degree. The student should already have basic IT & problem solving skills with a positive can-do attitude towards work. It would be desirable for students to have technical hobbies and interests and previous CAD experience

The project would involve a placement for multiple students at a time

Supervisor: Nick
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: Projects and mechanical engineering Group
Our group delivers mechanical engineering solutions for science projects. We can often be involved in all stages of delivering the solution from the concept through to the installation. The project could involve using CAD software to design a simple mechanical design component or could be a complex mechanical system which involves a team of people to create the design.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 12/13

The student will work on a mechanical design engineering project and experience how to create a mechanical design, and use the computer tools available (such as CAD modelling software) to deliver it.

The project could involve a placement for one student at a time or multiple students

Supervisor: Debbie
Type of Placement: Logistics and Administration
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Estates Department
Group: Site Logistics
As part of the estates team, the logistics group provide a goods inwards and site delivery service to the site. This also includes waste management and site deliveries.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11

This project will enable students to work with our Logistics colleagues to provide customer focused Logistics services to the Daresbury Laboratory site. The job is to check the incoming goods into the parcels database and to also assist staff with the site deliveries of the goods. There is a lot of manual handling and the person requires a good level of fitness. Basic computer skills will be an advantage but training can be provided. There will also be admin duties associated with the filing of paperwork.
Housekeeping and health and safety awareness is also paramount and the person would be expected to keep the goods inwards area tidy. There might be an opportunity to interact with people in-person and on the telephone. The student would also shadow the imports and exports staff and get an idea of how goods are exported and imported into the laboratory.

We would expect the person to be thinking of taking up a career in a logistics and customer facing environment. They should have a good personality and be confident and able to communicate with people. The person will learn how to work in a team environment. Physical fitness is essential due to the nature of the work.

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

This would be a good opportunity to give students an idea of what jobs are achievable with lower qualifications. It is all about attitude and the willingness to want to work when they leave school. The person could go on to achieve an NVQ and also obtain knowledge in how a busy logistics environment supports the science and engineering here at Daresbury Laboratory.

Supervisor: Paul
Type of Placement: Engineering
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Technology Department
Group: Mechanical, Metrology and Technical Engineering group.
Our work involves build assembly, commissioning and installation of high end Scientific projects, including for our in house Accelerator CLARA, CERN Crab Cavities, PIP2 Cavity and Detector build and other bespoke works of this nature.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

This project will enable students to experience the work taking place in the Engineering Technology Centre and learning how we build, assemble and install components of particle accelerators. The students will spend time with engineers and technicians to practice some basic hand skills to give the students some ‘real world’ experience and provide opportunities to ask questions of people across the team. The students are given a tour of our building (Engineering Technology Centre) to see the construction and test of equipment for many international projects.

This project would suit someone with Drive.

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time

Attending the free online ‘Introduction to Python’ Workshop held in May 2024 is advised.

Supervisor: James
Type of Placement: Science (practical)
Length of Placement: 1 week
Department: Accelerator Science and Technology (ASTeC) Department
Group: Vacuum Solutions Group (VSG) (Research & Development division)

We look at new technologies for particle accelerators involving vacuum. The quality of your vacuum will effect the science capability of a particle accelerator. It’s not as easy as you think! A mixture of scientists, engineers and technicians work together to push the boundaries of what is achievable within research and development (R&D) labs. This is very much a “hands-on” approach to science.

This placement is suitable for students in Year 10/11 and Year 12/13

This project will include looking into vacuum and outgassing effects. This will involve an introduction to vacuum and outgassing, setting up an experimental run and running equipment, taking data and analysing results.

The students will learn about working in a R&D lab. This will involve basic safety and running of a lab, linking up / working with other departments on-site, repairs to chambers/systems and equipment, looking at the “bigger” picture of STFC, and where our work integrates into that.

Some students may get the option to look into SRF (Super Conducting Radio Frequency) thinfilm technologies/coatings. This will involve building chambers/systems, mounting samples and setting up correct conditions, leak testing (seals), deposition using plasma techniques, analysing samples with microscopes (in a separate lab area)

The project would involve a placement for one student at a time