Jakub's internship: Cambridge Institute for Medical Research

Jakub is currently in his third year on our MSci Integrated Natural Sciences degree. During the summer after his second year he took the opportunity to arrange a summer internship, and secured a placement in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research working on misfolded proteins in living cells. Here, he tells us more.

Jakub in the lab in the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research.

Tell us about your placement and what attracted you to it

Two of three of my second-year core modules focused strongly on proteins; both the structure and tools used in their study. I found these lectures very interesting as they placed an emphasis on the experimental aspects. This is what led me to asking Professor David Ron from the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research for a place, as he specialises in misfolded proteins in living cells.

What was the first thing you did as part of the placement?

I had to prepare everything for the actual experiments. This included expressing a protein mutant in large-scale bacterial cultures and purifying it from the cellular debris and other proteins made by E. coli.

What have you learned as part of the placement?

The internship allowed me to extensively learn how to express, purify, and handle proteins which can often be quite unstable. I also got familiar with some major buffer components which are used to increase the protein stability. But most importantly, I learned how to keep a good experimental record, something that will stay with me for years.

Have you enjoyed any experiences outside of the labs?

Yes, very much! Cambridge is a lovely city where there is plenty to do from eating a lunch in a park with cows feely roaming around to visiting many museums. I also spent one day touring through some of the colleges.

What have you enjoyed most?

It’s difficult to tell, but most probably the balance between supervision and independence in conducting experiments. This allowed me to learn new techniques quickly. At the end of the placement, I even managed to express and purify one protein almost completely on my own.

How do you think the experience helped you?

I learned the key methods used to work with proteins which I am going to apply to my third-year lab-based project, where I will be working on the StayGold fluorescent protein.

Has this changed the way you think about future options?

Probably not, but I would say that this is not as bad as it sounds. Before starting the placement, I had been thinking about becoming an academic and by the end of my time in Cambridge, this has not changed. I would even say that I am even more convinced that the scientific career is something right for me.

Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about summer placements?

Choose several areas that you are the most interested in, start early by making a CV and emailing some academics. Also, do not get discouraged if you get rejected many times, scientists are very busy, and they might not always have the capacity to accommodate an undergraduate summer student.

What are your plans after you graduate?

As I mentioned before, I would love to become a scientist with my own lab group. After graduation, I am planning on going into PhD, but at the moment it is hard to tell in which area.

Internship support at Warwick

There are various support schemes available for those looking for biomedical internships, both internally and externally: