Summer Student Induction - 27th June

19 penultimate year undergraduate students began their 10-12 week summer placements under the supervision of postdoctoral fellows at the LRI last week...

The 2011 Summer Students began their 10-12 week placements at the LRI on Monday 27th June. Students were met by their post doc supervisors for a short lab visit and chat before returning for coffee and welcome presentation by Academic Director, Sally Leevers and an introduction to working at the LRI by Richard Byrne.

Students spent the day attending workshops and receiving advice. Jasmine Abella and Sally Leevers held a ‘crash course in lab survival’ in which students discussed the culture of working in a lab and essential skills, such as, forward planning, using equipment and attending lab meetings and seminars. After Lunch, students received advice on organisation skills and how to keep a lab book from Quentin Gueranger, followed by a health and safety induction.

Finally, in small groups, students were asked to have a go at designing their own experiments, which they then presented to the rest of the group by summarising their key points.

 

The students will have guidance and support throughout their placement in the form of PC to Mac, and software training, as well as advice on applying for a PhD. The placements will conclude in September with a Summer Student Symposium. During this event the Summer Students will give a 10-minute presentation to the institute and each other about what work they have carried out during the summer. This will give the students a chance to practise giving a talk and using PowerPoint, and explaining experiments that they have carried out and the scientific background behind them.

The day ended with pizza party to which Post doc supervisors and participating group leaders were also invited. This gave the students the chance to get to know each other and their colleagues in a more informal environment. Many thanks to the Post docs that gave up their time to help the day.