Sun, fun, friends, and empty inboxes. All signs that we are well into the summer vacation. Many of us use this time off from Cambridge to travel, catch up with family and friends, spend time at home, and prepare for the year ahead. Others, however, take on that thing that is in every Cantab’s list of twenty most commonly used words: an internship. But in this case, I’m not talking about Goldman Sachs or Deloitte. I’m talking about summer research placements at Cambridge. Though I wasn’t aware of this type of programme before this year, I’m lucky enough to have some very smart friends currently working on summer research placements in Cambridge who shared their experiences of what it’s like behind the scenes.

All on eight-week placements, the topics they are researching are varied. Ojas Supe, a NatSci at John’s, is using CL hyperspectral imaging to analyse the efficacy and luminosity of a material called AlGaN, used in UV-LEDs. Qing Lu, a medic at King’s, is on a lab placement working on a topic based around placental immunology and is culturing cells and studying different interactions, while Lynne Jewson, a mathmo also at King’s, is researching quantum information, creating computational models to simulate various systems. Told you they were smart.

“Before I started, I was terrified I would be out of my depth […] considering I was basically going to be doing what a PhD student does for eight weeks with only the knowledge up to second year”

They’re especially smart because these research placements don’t operate at undergraduate level, but are led by fellows and PhD candidates. Ojas told me: “Before I started, I was terrified I would be out of my depth […] considering I was basically going to be doing what a PhD student does for eight weeks with only the knowledge up to second year. However, because you are reading so many papers, books, and websites you learn quite a lot quite quickly. I also found that a lot of the content I had done in Materials Science and Chemistry during second year was actually pretty up there and there wasn’t as big of a gap from that to the level that the researchers are working on.”

Qing and Lynne agreed. Lynne told me: “The work was difficult at first and I felt very out of my depth, but the department has been very helpful and I have learned a lot in the past few weeks.” Even better, she says that academic research as a career is a lot more approachable now that she’s had the chance to meet researchers.

Though one might assume that staying in Cambridge means you’re unlikely to meet new people, those I spoke to said the opposite. Qing said: “Everyone in the department is really friendly, even those outside the lab – everyone is comfortable with each other. I think the placement’s been a really good opportunity to get to know lots of other people whether it’s students, academics, or clinicians – everyone’s been really lovely and helpful, despite all being very busy with their work.” Ojas echoes this, mentioning weekly cake rotas and group lunch breaks as opportunities to get to know the people he is working with. He added the placement is a chance to “learn from people who are potentially further down the path you may want to take, from the PhD students to some of the post-docs who have 20/30 years of experience in their fields.”

“I am paid the over-21 minimum wage, which I feel is fair for what I do”

Luckily, a lot of their friends have stayed in Cambridge on placements, but not being able to leave Cambridge during the week and see friends from home is a downside. Not to mention that there are fewer people around college in general, meaning that it can get very quiet. With regards to the finances, all three felt happy overall with how they are being paid. Ojas reflected that while lab research isn’t “the best-paid job in the world […] this is commonly known.” He added, “I am paid the over-21 minimum wage, which I feel is fair for what I do,” ending up with “a net plus earning from my eight weeks as an intern.” However, he did mention that this is because the project is being funded by the Henry Royce Institute and that others wishing to take on lab research placements may have to seek funding elsewhere, either from college or other sources.

Meanwhile, Lynne and Qing had their placements organised centrally through King’s, meaning their rent is lower than term time, although Lynne would have preferred to choose her rent band rather than it being assigned to her. Nonetheless, they say they are both happy with how they are paid, with Qing also mentioning that as she is learning alongside working, she feels it works out fairly well.

So, it seems that research placements are a unique and hopefully enjoyable way to spend the vacation. You’re able to enjoy Cambridge without the usual pressure and stress, decide if research is the thing for you in the future, and obviously, build up your CV at the same time. If you’re considering applying for a research placement next summer, I know my friends would recommend it.