.png)
Name: Pei Cing Ng
Email address: katerrific27@gmail.com
Course and year of study: 3rd year Biochemistry & Microbiology
University/ College: University of Sheffield
LinkedIn profile/URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peicingng
Company name and location of internship: The Genetics Society; supervisor from Uni of Sheffield
Which year did you do your internship? 2020
At what point in your academic journey did you do your internship? Summer of my 2nd year
Which field was your internship in? Molecular genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology
How long was your internship? 6 weeks
Was your internship a location-based or virtual? Virtual
What was the application process like?
My supervisor had to submit an application consisting of a research proposal, a COVID mitigation statement (how you plan to carry out this project should it not go to plan/be disrupted by COVID), and from me a statement of purpose and CV.
What were you looking to gain from the internship experience?
Some proper research experience - what it's like to do research in a world-class lab, how to run experiments to answer a research question, gain new lab techniques as well as deeper insight into ones learned from degree. I also wanted to learn more about the research going on in my areas of interest to see if I could potentially work in that area in the future.
What attracted you to the company for internship?
Their research areas were in line with my interests, and I personally knew my supervisor so we were able to communicate well and submit a strong research proposal.
What did you enjoy the most about your internship?
Getting to learn stuff outside of my degree! My supervisor works in an area that isn't covered well in lectures so it was fascinating to hear about the different kinds of questions they're pursuing in the lab. Plus I got to observe the busy life of a PI!
What did you enjoy the least about your internship?
The fact that it was virtual :'( it would've been so much fun to be able to go into the lab and actually run the experiments!
What is the typical working day like?
It depends on what we're doing each week and the schedule of my supervisor. Typically we had around 3 to 4 video calls/week to design experiments, discuss results and for me to ask any questions. We'd also keep regularly in contact through email and my supervisor would send me protocols or pictures of results. Communication is key if it's a virtual internship!
What tasks were assigned to you during your internship?
I was tasked to do my own experimental design, check sequencing results and do some bioinformatics. After the internship ended I was asked to do a project presentation (via Google Hangouts!) to the lab and also a shorter 3 min version to the Genetics Society on a virtual Zoom workshop. I'll now be writing up a project report to submit to the Genetics Society too.
What was the most challenging part of your internship? The fact that it was virtual and my supervisor was often busy meant that there were often times when things were underexplained so I struggled with understanding the project a lot as well as interpreting the results that were sent. What I've learned from this is to just persevere, keep asking your supervisor questions and do further reading that'll help you understand your project better. It's also really important to keep your lab book up to date and as I was able to type faster on a laptop that was my way of writing notes when on a discussion call with my supervisor.
How did the experience benefit your career in the future? It's helped me understand where my interests lie in and be more confident on my third year research project! Doing the presentations have also helped hone my communication skills tremendously which is really important if you're considering a career in research when you often need to communicate your science effectively to get grants. I now know better how to present results at a lab meeting which was something I'd never experienced before!
Any advice you would like to give to the others who are looking for internship?
Seek out the right supervisor for you as that can make or break an internship. The person ideally is doing research in an area you're interested in and is someone you can communicate effectively with. Also establish with your supervisor how often you'll meet to discuss potential experiments or results and who will be responsible for supervising you on a daily basis. Also - start early!
Rate your overall internship experience: 5/5
How much did you learn during the internship? 4/5
How was the general atmosphere during your internship? 4/5
How difficult is the internship application process? 3/5
How valuable is your internship opportunities in deciding your future career path? 5/5
Are you satisfied with the salary you got from the internship? 5/5
How were the networking/social event opportunities? 2/5
To what extent did you feel being valued during the internship? 3/5
Would you recommend this internship to a friend and why?
Yes, absolutely! You get a generous stipend to explore your research interests over the summer so why not?
Comments