“My paid internship helped me start my career in research. Without having to work for free.”
For students who dream of becoming scientific researchers, getting real-world experience is absolutely essential. But with many work experience opportunities being unpaid, where does this leave those who can’t afford to work for free?
Enter GenerationResearch. A paid internship programme which provides aspiring researchers in science with the much-needed experience to start their career. Seb was one of those students, and he explains how GenerationResearch changed his life…
“Coming to university I was a first-generation student from a single-parent, working-class background. I had few career connections, related to academia or any other skilled profession in general.
I was always in the dark with regards to a career in research, because I came from a background where I didn't know anybody who worked in that area.”
It was while studying microbiology at York that Seb came across GenerationResearch, through which he was offered a hands-on paid internship in scientific research. For the first time, a career in research felt like it could be an option.
“I went into university not really knowing what I was going to do afterwards, but now I've got clear goals. I’ve established a lot of strong relationships with the academics I was working with, and it's allowed me to get my foot in the door.
By having the internship, I feel it has really given me a leg up when applying for jobs.”
Hands-on work experience is the crucial stepping stone that many science and technology students need to begin a career in research. But for many, this means working on a voluntary basis - an option that is only available to those who can afford it.
“There's a lot of universities and businesses that say they are committed to addressing the inequalities within research, but they don't seem to have many programs in place to actually address them.
“Generation Research makes career development accessible to people from all backgrounds, not just those who can afford to spend their summer working for free.”
As a student parent, Seb experienced extra financial pressure to support his family too. In 2023, more than 22,000 students starting university in September 2023 disclosed parental status, representing more than 4 percent of the national intake. Student parents might often face the challenge of having to balance studies alongside caregiving responsibilities.
“I'm in slightly unique circumstances as a student parent living outside of York. In my circumstance, I felt like I had to work over summer to support my family, so if this was just a voluntary career development opportunity, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Because it was paid, I could do it regardless of my circumstances - it makes it a lot more accessible.”
Generation Research is there to make sure that talented students like Seb can get the essential experience they need to achieve their potential. As Seb sums it up:
“I think it's completely changed my outlook on a future career in research.”
Find out more about GenerationResearch
