Summer Placement Student Review

I found the experience very helpful to give me an insight into the world of research. I was able to design, plan and carry out field work, then analyses my data in lab then on scientific computer programmes, such as R programming to see if the results were significant. This was very fun and interesting to see how all the work is put together

My colleagues were very appreciative and made me feel valued during the internship, they were down to earth and approachable. I could easily to talk to all of them and I felt part of the team in the field, lab and office. I would see most of them daily and I had a closer relationship with the members who came out on the field trips.

I was supported well during my internship and my supervisor guided me well during the time of the 8 weeks. He gave me sufficient information and advice and would reply promptly to all of my emails and keep me updated and involved with other events that were taking place relatable to my internship.

Most days I was, we only sampled in the field every 2 week, but I was in the lab or office everyday either identifying specimens with the microscope or entering data into the spread sheet to be later analysed. I also collected information and read scientific journals to understand the data obtained.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility during the placement, yet, if I struggled to identify certain individual specimens I could easily ask my supervisor for advice and help, he was very enthusiastic in the subject area. I analysed the data alone once being shown the commands and how to use the software, but this was all checked with my supervisor.

Once completing this internship, the skills learned were really useful for modules I completed in my final year of university which used the same programming software and skills such as collecting data in the field, analysing it in the lab and presenting the data. I felt more confident in these areas.

It was very sociable and rather informal, we were often quiet and didn't talk, but lunch we all ate together and people brought in food for each other.

The internship was rather well organised, traps were set out weekly to collect data and we all arranged dates to go out and collect data each fortnight and were sent reminders about the field work. Sometimes I had to wait a little while longer to obtain some of the samples, but I still had plenty of other work to get on with.

I was taught important concepts of ecological modelling and field work, especially in an arachnological context. I felt that my supervisor wanted me to be as invested in the project as he was and he tried to help me with this. I even was offered an opportunity to work with the team once I finish my degree, which I might take up!

They are appealing, however it does revolve a lot around sitting at desk and using a computer, which is less appealing to me, I don't think I would like to spend over a year doing something like this, but it is all very important and interesting for modelling responses using less time, money and being quite reliable.

Another student doing a similar internship was also in some of my lectures during university, so it was nice to see a familiar face and talk to them and see what topics they were working on. However, I spent more time with older colleagues as these were more common in the workplace than students my age.

I was provided with money to cover the cost of living which was really useful and helpful - this encouraged me to take part in the placement. I already had a privately rented flat so I knew the area and the cost of living or socialising was no more expensive than elsewhere in the north, but cheaper than the south of England.

I do not go out at night or drink, so I am not entirely sure, but from what I have heard, students seem to have a good night out and enjoy themselves.

I was not aware of many activities to be involved in outside of my work, however, I feel I had enough to get on with without doing other activities. I could attend other activities that were connected to the placement, such as museum talks or volunteering around the university, or working for university open days.