research internships

summer research internships

Summer research is a great way to get involved in science. It gives you the time and flexibility to focus on your work while allowing you to be a part of a larger community of scientists.

There are many different institutions where you can do summer research including colleges, universities, national labs and industry. National labs are mostly federally funded centers for scientific research and development, like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory or Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Some large companies also allow students to do internships with them. A good example is the Chevron Research Center in Richmond CA where students can take part in cutting-edge oil exploration technology. Most universities have a lot of different centers that provide undergraduate research opportunities including biology, engineering, medical schools and physics–check out your university’s website under “research” to see if there’s something that catches your eye!

spring break research internships

Spring break is a great time to take part in research internships. Many colleges and universities offer their students this opportunity to work on a project with others over their break, and sometimes the program even provides travel grants. At some schools, students are given the option of traveling away from campus or doing online research through a program at home. It’s important to keep in mind that these internships usually don’t pay you for your work, so you may want to consider supplementing it with an internship that does provide compensation if it’s important that you earn money over spring break.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in pursuing, make sure to start looking early—some programs have deadlines as early as December of the preceding school year!

student research opportunities during the school year

• Work with a faculty member. This can be done in exchange for credit through a directed study, independent study, or internship course. (Please note that these courses must be approved by the appropriate department chair prior to registration.)
• Volunteer in a research lab.
• Undertake an independent study project with a faculty sponsor—you’ll collaborate on a research-based project that meets requirements set by your academic department.
• Work with a graduate student on his or her research project; is there something you’d like to learn about or contribute to? Approaching someone who’s researching and asking how you can get involved is one way to do this.
• Apply for a research assistantship (RAship). These opportunities are funded positions that provide students with valuable professional experience and monetary compensation for their work in labs and other settings.

research during undergraduate studies

Research internships are opportunities for students to help with research projects while learning about a field and gaining new skills. These experiences are usually full-time positions that last 1–12 months, during which you’ll join researchers in conducting experiments, analyzing data, and writing reports.

Internship programs may also have social events and lectures to help you meet people in the field while learning more about their work. Some programs even offer extra training through seminars or workshops on topics like mentoring or scientific writing.

Research internships can be great ways to make professional connections, learn research skills, and discover new career paths.

thinking about a career in science and medicine?

What is research? Research is the process of finding practical, reliable answers to questions and problems. When we think of research, a scientist in a lab coat comes to mind. However, all kinds of people do research. As you read this article, you are doing some research on how to get involved in scientific or medical research!

Why should I do research? Research can give you great experience in science and medicine that will help you decide if this is something you want to pursue as a career. Besides gaining information about your chosen field, getting involved in research helps you build valuable skills including communication skills (which are essential for giving presentations), teamwork skills (so that you can work well with others), and analytical thinking skills (to help solve complex problems). These skills will be important for your future career no matter what path you choose!

finding research opportunities

If you have a particular research topic in mind, you should talk to your professors and/or classmates to identify the experts in that field. You can also search online for researchers who are working on relevant projects. Most universities have websites dedicated to faculty profiles, so check your departmental and faculty websites for more information. Your advisor may also be able to point you in the right direction if you’re not sure who to ask about a specific topic. If you don’t find any promising leads on campus, consider visiting local research institutes such as hospitals or labs that could be related to your interests. Finally, attend campus events like job fairs or conferences where you can talk to potential employers or mentors about opportunities in their labs.

There are many great ways to get involved in scientific research.

You may find your research internship by asking a professor whose classes you have enjoyed for recommendations, by networking with students and professionals in your field, or by searching online databases. Your professor might know of a research opportunity coming up at his university or in the local community, or he might be able to connect you with an organization that’s looking to hire interns. A student or professional may tell you about the research they’ve done on campus and recommend the program to you. You can also search databases like Indeed and Internships.com for research opportunities that fit your interests and career goals.

Regardless of which method you use, apply for all available positions that interest you as soon as possible—especially if it’s for a paid position. Competition for these positions is usually high; early applicants are more likely to get accepted than those who wait until the application deadline has already passed. If there aren’t many opportunities available at first, keep checking back regularly so that you can take advantage of any new openings as soon as they’re announced.

Once you’ve applied and been offered a position, prepare yourself professionally and personally so that your experience goes smoothly from day one of your internship forward:

• Gather all necessary items ahead of time—you don’t want to show up empty-handed on someone else’s hard work!
• Learn everything you can about the type of work will be doing each day before beginning your internship so that you stay focused while working.