Work Experience
The LMB offers a variety of work experience placements for students in Years 10 to 13 (aged 14 and above). Our placements provide hands-on experience of working in an academic research institute. Placements may be within an LMB research group, scientific facility or support services, highlighting the variety of roles that underpin our cutting edge research.
We have partnered with In2scienceUK to offer in-person placements to disadvantaged year 12 students at the LMB during the summer – see further details below.
Additional placements will be advertised via this webpage when they become available.
If you are an undergraduate student, you may be interested in our Student Placement Scheme.
For any questions relating to work experience, please email Public Engagement Team.
In2scienceUK
The In2scienceUK programme provides disadvantaged Year 12 students (or equivalent students, aged 16+) with the support, skills and experience needed to achieve their potential and progress to degrees, apprenticeships and careers in STEM.
In partnership with In2scienceUK, we host in-person placements during the summer school holidays (end of July/August). Placements will last one or two weeks, and will be under the supervision of the LMB host to whom the students are matched with by In2scienceUK.
Eligible students should apply via the In2scienceUK website: https://in2scienceuk.org/students/
Placement details
Placement length
Depending which placement you apply for, the advert will tell you how long they run. Advertised work experience placements from the LMB can vary from 1-2 weeks across the summer holidays (usually in July and August).
In2Science placements also run for 1-2 weeks over the summer. More information here: https://in2scienceuk.org/students/
Nuffield Research Placements are for Year 12 or equivalent students and include 45-60 hours/ 2 weeks lab placement. More information here: https://www.stem.org.uk/research-placements/students
If selected for work experience, you will be expected to attend all days of the placement.
Food and travel expenses
For all students who applied via an advertised work experience placement on our website, In2science and Nuffield Research Placement students we will cover reasonable travel expenses and offer a voucher to cover food and refreshments (approx. £5 a day) throughout their placement. This is given as a voucher which is covered in cost after spending by the LMB
Meet our work experience students
Quotes from 2022 placements
“Working in a research-focused environment was something I found very enjoyable. I liked the emphasis on taking the time to do something right instead of making something commercially for a profit.”
“My time at the LMB was my first hands-on experience in a lab outside of school. During this time, I really enjoyed learning about and seeing what a career in science might look like. I particularly enjoyed learning about and examining Drosophila melanogaster, as well as learning about how they could be used to aid research and test out theories in the lab. I also thoroughly enjoyed carrying out a bacterial protein expression and learning about the science behind this.”
“My time at the LMB has certainly been very helpful in guiding my decision-making over my future career, as it has given me first-hand insight into what a career in science might entail. I had a great time while I was here, and I plan to pursue a career in this field.”
2019 Work experience – Shannon
Shannon, a Year 12 student, came to spend a couple of days in the Schafer group with Denise Walker to see the research first-hand and get an experience of what it’s like to work as a scientist: “Although never really considering neuroscience as a subject, seeing Denise’s passion and dedication made me want to know more about it; at which point I was lucky enough to receive two days of work experience in the lab!”
After her visit to the LMB, Shannon commented, “I study English Literature, Psychology, Business and Dance for A-Level, so not exactly the standard ‘Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Biology’ subjects. However, I think that this experience has really aided my decision on what I want to do in later life (there are endless choices) as I have always been torn. In respect to a Psychology degree and which road of specialisation, following these two days I am now considering a neuroscience path as these researchers have made me want to know more and have really helped me have a taste into the real-life situation.”
See our news story here: https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/public-engagement/supporting-education/inspiring-students-to-think-about-science-in-a-different-way-through-dance/