Founded by Lord Rank in 1972, Rank Prize is a family charity that celebrates breakthrough research in optoelectronics and nutrition and supports talented researchers with grants and studentships.
This grant is for undergraduate students to get hands-on research experience during the summer before their final year. It encourages supervisors to get students directly involved in the day-to-day activities of their research group or lab.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Monday 11 March 2024.
The Rank Prize Nutrition Committee awards this grant for research in nutrition and crop science and welcomes applications from supervisors in UK universities who are already working on these kinds of projects and are willing to share their experiences with undergrad students.
The value of the grant is £400 per week per student together with up to £500 in total for consumables. The grant covers up to 8 weeks.
While the student is usually expected to be in the penultimate year of their degree, which can be three or four years in length, this year the placement can also be held by final-year undergraduates if their exposure to lab work during their degree has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility
The project must be carried out at a UK university or research institution that has a major commitment to teaching and research in nutrition or crop science. However, the university or research institution that the student is registered at does not have to be in the UK. The student must be expected to obtain a first or upper second-class honours (or equivalent). They should currently be in the penultimate year of their degree, or, exceptionally, in their final year if their experience of lab work was significantly limited during their degree by the pandemic.
Research Project
The proposed research project must have a clearly defined objective, be within the remit of Rank Prize’s charitable objectives and be suitable for a student to sensibly complete within the timescale of the award. The project should not be part of the normal degree course or propose that the student undertakes the research outside of the UK. The project should give scope for thought and initiative on the part of the student and should not use the student as a general assistant.
"The vacation studentship provided a unique opportunity to work with an excellent student, test our new setup, initiate new international collaborations and new projects, and gave the backbone for a future publication. I am very grateful to Rank Prize for this opportunity."
Dr Fabien Massabuau Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde
FAQs
How to apply?
Please click on the Apply Now button and complete our online application form.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Monday 11 March 2024.
If you have any questions about the process which are not covered in the terms & conditions below, please email [email protected].