Summer Studentships at the LRI

The LRI Summer Student Scheme

The Cancer Research UK London Research Institute has an international reputation for outstanding research into the basic biology of cancer and is committed to training the next generation of research scientists.

Our Summer Student Scheme is aimed at high calibre, motivated and enthusiastic undergraduate students who are contemplating a career in research. If you are considering doing a PhD after your undergraduate degree, then being a summer student is a great way to find out what 'working at the bench' is like and to gain some practical experience.

Successful applicants will get the chance to develop their practical skills working alongside world-class scientists in well-resourced laboratories at Clare Hall (just north of London in South Mimms) or Lincoln's Inn Fields (central London).

The techniques learnt will depend on the project, but may include molecular biology techniques such as cloning, sequencing and SNP analysis, biochemical techniques such as Western Blotting, immunoprecipitation and analysis of protein-protein interactions, and cell biological techniques such as immunofluorescence and light and confocal microscopy. The day-to-day supervision of our summer students is carried out by postdoctoral fellows in our research labs.

The summer student scheme starts with a one-day induction, to introduce students to the LRI and working in a research laboratory, and to give them a chance to get to know each other before they start work on their projects. During the summer, the students:

• are given the opportunity to attend a session offering advice on choosing and applying for PhD positions,
• are given training in giving talks and using PowerPoint, and
• participate in several student social events.

The highlight of the scheme is the Summer Student Symposium, in early September, when each student gives a 10 minute presentation about the work they have done over the summer.

Practical details

LRI summer students are paid £200 per week for 10 or 12 weeks. In 2010, the scheme starts on Monday 5 July 2010 and ends on Friday 10 or 24 September 2010.

Applications for our 2010 PhD Programme have now closed. Interviews for shortlisted applicants will be held on Monday 29 March 2010.

To be eligible for the LRI Summer Student Scheme, you should be an undergraduate student studying a Life Sciences discipline and in your penultimate year at a UK university.

Please note that this programme is not suitable for students studying medicine/on medical degree programmes.

See below for details of summer student projects that were offered for 2010.