Behind Cambridge keycard-coded doors, amidst the thrum of overworked coffee machines, while grant applications and journal papers are frantically scribbled out on deadline days, the secrets of life, the universe, and everything in between are being discovered. Denizens of this other world surface to give lectures and supervisions in our mundane student plane, returning, before long, to what really matters: the social cognition of corvids, the protein clusters that might trigger Parkinson’s disease, the way an electron spins.

Cambridge University does fantastic research; over 90% of it is considered world leading or internationally outstanding. What’s more, as a student you have untold opportunities to help get that percentage up, all while learning sought-after skills and potentially getting paid.

But, of course, the most important part is what you research. This will depend on the academic supervising your project – whose lab you will become a part of. When deciding on a topic, your supervisors and director of studies can provide a wellspring of trustworthy advice, making them great first ports of call. They can help with choosing a laboratory or research project, and with navigating research grants.

“Over 90% of Cambridge University research is considered world leading or internationally outstanding”

When choosing a research topic/lab, first check out the department’s website for a list of principal investigators. Once you’ve shortlisted according to your interests, simply send each prospect a nice email saying who you are, and what your goal is, making it brief to maximise the chance it gets read. I suggest a format as follows: introduction (normal polite email salutations); brief expression of interest (I read your paper X and thought Y…); state intentions (I’m looking to do a research project over the summer, my interests are…); and, of course, a nice ending.

Make sure to attach your CV, so they won’t have to email back asking for it. This all might seem daunting – you’re emailing important strangers out of the blue. Keep in mind that many academics will have been in similar positions before, and that they love research. The worst thing they can say is no. This may happen a lot, so it’s crucial to keep a learning mentality – which is a useful thing to have in university anyway.

Unfortunately, our cold world necessitates finding some funding (this may be a better introduction to academic research than any lab experience). You won’t need bags of cash for your project expenses, since most labs are well-equipped already, but departments require research interns to be paid the national living wage. Luckily, there are lots of promising sources floating around Cambridge. Have a look at your college website, ask your tutor or DoS; there’s likely to be a college scheme for summer project grants, or a student research fund. A good next stop is departmental schemes, which can be found by browsing the departmental website for your research interest, or emailing a department leader and politely inquiring about undergraduate summer research funding.

“The worst thing they can say is no – it’s crucial to keep a learning mentality”

One way to sidestep this rather messy business is by applying to a set research scheme with a formal application process and designated laboratories participating, often involving a personal statement. Using my expert investigative skills (googling “Cambridge summer research”), I found the university career service’s list of programmes fitting this criteria. Have a peruse, especially if you are indecisive and/or desire intense competition. In any case, applying to some of these schemes before cold emailing and scrambling for funding won’t hurt.

I’ve humbly waited until this far into the guide to discuss myself – no longer. I’m a mildly prolific summer researcher at Cambridge, having done summer lab internships after first and second year, likely contributing to much of that leftover ~10%. My first project (on recycling waste with insects) was suggested by a fantastic supervisor, then funded through a yearly college scheme, and I found my second (on ant social evolution) through cold emailing. As well as being great fun, and feeding my malnourished CV, these experiences knocked down my research preconceptions (that it would be stuffy and formal) and reservations (largely about my ability). Through trials, tribulations, and inordinate coffee breaks, I, at least partially, learned how to think like a scientist.

My final advice is to get thinking about summer research now. First, think about what you’d like to study. After you’ve ruminated on your interests, think about applying to set research schemes, which usually have deadlines in early Lent, and start getting in contact with principal investigators. College and department funding programmes usually have deadlines later, in Easter term. Good luck, and don’t forget to give me a mention in your Nobel prize acceptance speeches.