Do you fancy getting some research experience on your CV? Thinking of trying your hand at research before applying for an academic foundation programme? Are you passionate about a particular area of medicine and want to do more?
If any of these options sound like you, or if you’re just thinking of ways to add to your medical CV, an undergraduate research opportunity could be worth a look.
What are they?
Undergraduate research opportunities come in a number of guises. Some are formally advertised whilst others require you to be a little more proactive in seeking them out.
Formal opportunities such as ‘undergraduate vacation studentships’ are offered by a selection of research organisations. They have competitive application procedures and set closing dates.
Other opportunities exist where pots of research money become available which enable academics to take on undergraduate students to carry out a research project during the vacation.
Vacation studentship:
Also know as undergraduate research studentships, these are specific research projects offered by societies, charities and research institutes. They usually take place over the summer and can last between six and eight weeks. Successful applicants are paid a stipend of around £185.00 per week and are placed in a research facility, sometimes within a university, to work alongside a research team.
Once you have found an opportunity that you wish to apply for you must first approach a lecturer or tutor who is willing to act as a superviser for the project. Your superviser can be someone from your own university or another. It is then up to the superviser to apply to the organisation offering the project in order to secure funding. You may have to work together with your proposed superviser to put in an application allowing you to carry out the project.
An example of an undergraduate vacation studentship can be found on the Society for Endocrinology website.
Think about the areas of medicine that interest you and have a look on the relevant society’s webpages for details of any undergraduate research opportunities.
The HE Academy for Bioscience produces an annual list of bioscience related vacation studentships which may also be of interest:
www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk
Other undergraduate research opportunities:
Consider contacting a lecturer or tutor who is currently researching in an area that interests you. You can find out about areas of research on the Faculty website.
The Faculty sometimes receives sources of funding which they can allocate to undergraduate research awards to enable to students to undertake research over the summer.
Get your skates on!
Deadlines for undergraduate students are usually between February and April so if you’re keen it’s worth looking now.
Making applications:
Don’t forget that if you would like an objective opinion on your CV or an application form, call the Careers Service to book a drop-in advice session (0161 275 2829, bookings taken from 9.05am on the day).
Filed under: Academic Medicine, Medical Research | Tagged: Academic Medicine, Medical Research, undergradaute research
