What I discovered by being an intern

Hanna, a soon-to-be third year in Biochemistry, tells us why it is good to do a summer internship whilst at university. 

Deciding on what kind of job you want to have when you leave university is always a difficult question to answer. That is why many students, like myself, apply for internships during the summer to figure out what they do and do not enjoy. As part of the Laidlaw Scholarship that I was awarded in my first year I had two opportunities to spend six weeks in a lab across two summers. As a science student, this invaluable opportunity allowed me to put into practice what I routinely learn in my lectures, as well as giving me an excellent insight into further education and future career prospects.

After all, you cannot know if you like something if you do not try it first!

My research project

My research project investigated a neurohepatopathy in a Mpv17 mouse model. In simpler terms, it focused on a mouse with a mutated gene that results in mitochondrial dysfunction. The symptoms include liver dysfunction and as the disease progresses, brain dysfunction such as what is seen in Parkinson’s. Many research techniques that I carried out during the research project were talked about in my lectures and it was a great way to link everything together. As well as carrying out experiments, I attended weekly meetings and was given the opportunity to present an independent piece of research to the team.

There are many skills that you gain from carrying out internships, and many are interdisciplinary so that you can apply them to any job you decide to carry out. So, it is definitely not a waste of time if you decide you do not want to pursue a career in that direction. Of course, the research techniques are specific to my subject area, but general skills such as independence, time-management and resilience are all highly sought-after by employers.

There are many internships available to undergraduates throughout their time at university. Mainly, students carry out an internship between their second and third years but the more experience you get, the better!

Typical internships are those such as mine in a research laboratory but some other popular ones include banks, law and consultancy firms. However, there is a very broad spectrum of internships out there which ensures that you can definitely find something you are interested in to develop your skills and determine whether it is right for you. An internship is a great way to complement your studies whilst still trying to figure out what you want to do!

The internship that I undertook made me realise that I am definitely interested in staying in science after my degree. Whilst many science graduates choose to follow a career in different sectors, my internship confirmed my love and interest in science, particularly being in the lab. The experience of being in a lab, is a great thing to add onto your CV if you want to progress into lab-based further education or lab-based jobs.

Employers, whatever the sector, want to see an active demonstration of what you are interested in.

Getting paid

Typically, you receive a stipend whilst you undertake the work. For science research, sometimes you have to apply for the internship and funding separately whereas for some internships you apply for the internship and the funding comes with it. It is important to note that many internships are very, very competitive and you do not always end up with a paid internship. Many students choose to do voluntary work during their summer for a few weeks to gain experience. Many first year science students, would obtain unpaid work-experience in a lab between their first and second years to increase their chances of achieving a paid second year internship during their second and third year. Application processes can be very challenging in different sectors. For science internships, they typically want to see your love for the subject and specifically why you want to gain experience in their particular field.

I got my internship by achieving a Laidlaw Scholarship in my first year of university. The scheme is open to first-year undergraduates across any degree subject and provides students with the opportunity to carry out two research projects across two summers as well as three leadership weekends. There is also the opportunity to carry out two independent research projects or progress on from the first research project. The scheme runs at many high-ranking universities and creates a network of cross-university scholars.

The scholarship has really enhanced my time at UCL and has made me feel more prepared for life after university. For more information, you can visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laidlaw-scholarships/.