Biology Internships

What Biology internships are there?

Too many! Internships are a great way to gain valuable work experience and get some hands-on training with a company while being paid. By doing one, you’ll gain a headstart in your career and boost your chances of getting a job after you graduate.

There are tons of biology internships you can apply for:

Kew Gardens

Each summer, the prestigious Kew Gardens offer science internships to undergraduates and recent graduates.

You’ll work with botanists, mycologists and conservation scientists, developing your research skills, and contributing to projects that align with Kew’s mission and values.

Cambridge University: School of Biological Sciences

Experience Postgrad Life Sciences is an eight-week research internship programme in partnership with Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

It’s aimed at helping biology and biomedical undergrads gain lab-based work experience and discover what postgraduate study is all about.

Internships are open to internal and external students. So you don’t need to be a Cambridge student to apply. But you’ll still get the perks of having it on your CV. How brilliant is that?

Wellcome Trust

Want to work for a global charitable foundation, using science to tackle urgent health issues like disease, climate change and mental health? Now’s your chance.

Wellcome Trust runs eight-week summer internships for first, second and third year students. You’ll learn how a charity runs by working on some real projects, as well as attending industry events and making fab new connections.

Cancer Research

Cancer Research has a range of schemes, including scientific research internships in various locations around the UK, including London and Oxford. Best bit? You’ll work in a supportive environment while carrying out research to improve the lives of those living with cancer.

Throughout your programme, you’ll attend lots of career skill-development workshops too. You’ll learn how to craft the perfect CV and nail that interview prep. So that when you finish, you can apply for permanent roles within the charity. And beyond…

In your final year and looking for your first full-time gig? You may have met your match.

What skills do you gain during your internship?

As a biology student, you’ll have broadened your knowledge of biological systems and concepts, and put this knowledge into practice during lab or field work. Once you start your internship, you’ll transfer these skills and pick some cool ones up along the way.

These include:

• Communication – report writing and presentations

• Organisation – ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines

• Investigative – analysing specimens and assessing risks

• Numeracy – design accurate experiments and run clinical trials

• Research – conducting studies and interpreting results

How do you find Marine Biology internships?

Feel more at home at sea than on land or space? If cockles and mussels float your boat (rather than mountains or meteors), marine biology internships could be calling your name.

In 2019, The Crown Estate launched the Marine Futures Internship, giving recent grads a chance to experience the broad range of careers available in the marine sector.

As an intern, you’ll find yourself mud dipping, carrying out seal surveys and looking into sustainable fishing methods (using creel pots instead of trawling). Or bulking up in other areas like renewable energy development and community engagement.

And that’s not all! Biology internships can take you all over the world – from the warm waters of Fiji to the coral reefs of Australia’s Great Barrier.

What do you say? Ready for a fun-filled adventure?

Take that first step today!