I posted this on the temporary jobs forum too, but I'm thinking here might be better (sorry if that's not allowed).
Hi,
I’m looking for a lab placement for over the summer, and I’m really struggling to find anything at this point. I don’t have any lab experience outside of uni work/modules, and I’m desperate to find some. I’ve applied for three, but my tutor didn’t do the reference for one, so I lost out (John Innes Centre). The other is supposed to email successful applicants in early April, and I haven’t heard back, so I’m assuming I didn’t get it (mrc Cambridge). The last I hear back next week, but I’m not feeling hopeful. There’s an interview if I do get through and I doubt I’ll be successful.
I had started looking from last summer, but I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I didn’t contact an academic about a Studentship at my uni or apply for funding. I tried GSK, but my January exams only averaged a 2:2, so I assumed my predicted to be that and didn’t get past stage 1.
Anyway, I’m starting to worry and stress even more now. I really need lab experience, but work for biochemistry is so difficult to find. I keep seeing the Sanger Institute pop up, and I have job alerts on, but I’ve never seen any actual evidence of them having summer placements. Have I missed something? Or do they usually have really late application dates? Does anyone have any suggestions for biochemistry lab work over the summer? Preferably paid, but at this point I’m fine with eating into my SF for travel and accommodation. I’m so sick of finding funding suggestions, but no actual placements, and I can’t afford to do nothing this summer!
Thanks (sorry it’s so long)!