Vials on ice in a Crick lab,

Crick-Calleva Summer Student programme

We look for high-calibre, motivated undergraduates with backgrounds in a relevant subject (e.g. biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and computer science) to join a team at the Crick. Applications for the 2020 programme are now closed and information on the 2021 programme will be available in January 2021.

The importance of 'trying out' research

Hear from some of our undergraduate students on how their time at the Crick showed them what life in the lab is really like.

Read the article

Our nine-week summer student programme provides bright, ambitious undergraduates considering a future in biomedical research with hands-on experience of what it's like to work in a research lab.

You will be paired with a postdoctoral supervisor, who will train and supervise you as you participate in institute life over the summer.

You'll benefit from a supportive and stimulating research environment, and scientific and transferable skills training. The types of techniques that you learn will depend on the project and could include molecular biology, cell biology, biochemical, biophysical and computational biology techniques. 

This summer at the Crick has been the most rewarding summer internship I've done. I was able to use my knowledge to contribute towards the discovery of something new - like a real scientist.
Liz Cheng, 2019 summer student, Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory

The programme

The programme starts with an induction to introduce you to the Crick, working in its labs, and to each other. During the summer, you will work on your projects and have the opportunity to participate in various student activities including attending a workshop on finding a PhD position.

You will also receive training in scientific presentation skills prior to presenting your work at the Crick-Calleva Summer Student Symposium - a programme highlight at the end of the summer!

What we offer

Successful applicants are provided with:

  • a place on the Crick-Calleva summer student programme;
  • a 9-week full-time (36 hours per week) contract of employment as a Summer Placement Laboratory Research Assistant;
  • a salary that meets the London Living Wage to cover living and travel costs during the placement.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must:

Any questions?

Get in touch with us at student-recruitment@crick.ac.uk.

Email the team
  • have the legal right to work in the UK,
  • be registered at a UK university, and studying in the UK for an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, and 
     
  • be in the second year of study for an undergraduate bachelor's or integrated master's degree in England, Northern Ireland and Wales; 

OR

  • be in the third year of study for an undergraduate bachelor's or integrated master's degree in Scotland;

OR

  • be in the second year of a medical degree in the UK.

Further eligibility information

Students studying for degrees at universities outside the UK are not eligible for the programme.

First year students, final year students and students studying on a postgraduate master's degree are not eligible for the programme.

Vicky Alexiou

"I was interested in taking up a lab experience in biomedical research so Crick felt like the perfect place.

As I working on a wet lab project, I got a lot of hands-on experience on advanced techniques such as tissue culture, CRISPR and flow cytometry that wouldn't be available as part of undergraduate labs. It's a great feeling when you slowly gain independence in the lab and start feeling like you are part of a team."

Vicky Alexiou
2019 Summer Student, Immune Receptor Activation Laboratory

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