Health Data Science Black Internship Programme
As the UK’s national institute for health data research, we are helping to transform the prospects of talented Black health data scientists in the UK by providing opportunities to flourish in STEM careers through our health data research Black Internship Programme.
About the Programme
The Health Data Science Black Internship Programme is an exciting endeavour for early career Black data scientists – a heavily under-represented group in the sector. It is run by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and the UK Health Data Research Alliance (the ‘Alliance’) in partnership with 10,000 Black Interns initiative.
The programme is just one of several steps that we are taking to start to address this underrepresentation.
The mission
The UK has an urgent need for new health data scientists – it’s a rapidly expanding field with the recognised potential to transform the future of health and care for all, and we believe that health data science should be as effective as possible in serving and reflecting the needs of the entire UK population.
The overall aim of our Health Data Science Black Internship Programme is to not only to continue to tackle the underrepresentation of Black people within the health data science sector, but to also provide motivated candidates with the experience they need to kick-start their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
The programme is championed in the Medical Research Council’s Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-25 as a way to develop a diverse research and technical workforce with the skills to address today’s innovation challenges.
Register your interest for summer 2024 here
In the news
For the G word podcast, interns and members of the advisory panel discuss the need for black talent in genomics and how the programme is breaking barriers while regaining trust to give researchers a broader insight into our genomic data.
For The Lancet, the programme manager and a former intern highlight how UK digital health initiatives are tackling racial inequality.
For Bloomberg Businessweek, head of people explains why the programme removes resumes from the hiring process and how this practice can improve diversity.
Watch our launch video below:
The 2023 Programme
The 2023 programme ran from 3 July – 25 August.
For information on the application process for interns and host organisations, please see below.
Information for host organisations
Find out more
My HDR UK Black Internship Programme experience in health data: Phinehas Arkorful
We caught up with Phinehas Arkorful mid-way through his placement on the Black Internship Programme to find out if it's what he expected and what's he's learnt so far.
My HDR UK Black Internship Programme experience in health data: Uzoma Ochulor
We caught up with Uzoma Ochulor mid-way through her placement on the Black Internship Programme to find out if it's what she expected and what's she's learnt so far.
My HDR UK Black Internship Programme experience in health data: Chrysie Alexiou
We caught up with Chrysie Alexiou mid-way through her placement on the Black Internship Programme to find out if it's what she expected and what's she's learnt so far.
Meet our Advisory Board
Our 2022 programme
In our most recent programme we placed 80 interns with 44 host organisations in business, charity, government and academia and with members of the UK Health Data Research Alliance.
This was a major expansion from 2021 when we placed 48 interns – over half being women – at 23 of host organisations. The aim is to continue expanding the programme in the years ahead.
Latest news
Press Release
The UK’s national institute for health data science announce their 2022 Health Data Science Black Internship Programme
Today, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and the UK Health Data Research Alliance (the ‘Alliance’) are pleased to launch both intern and host organisation applications for their 2022 Health...
In the news
A Health Data Research UK Black Internship Programme experience
Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) is the UK’s national institute for health data science, aiming to unite the UK’s health and care data to enable discoveries that improve people’s lives. The...
In the news
Internship programme aims to tackle underrepresentation of Black people in STEM
Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) is launching an internship programme this summer, as part of its response to the heavy underrepresentation of Black people in the science, technology, engineering...