If you’re planning to pursue a career in chemistry, undertaking a chemistry internship is a great place to start. It allows you to enhance your theoretical knowledge by applying it to real-life problems in a working environment. By learning on the job, you’ll also gain a wealth of practical skills that will give you a competitive edge when applying for full-time positions.
Your exact duties and responsibilities will vary depending on the specific sector and organisation you’re working for. Generally speaking, chemistry interns assist qualified members of staff with basic day-to-day tasks, either in the laboratory or, in some cases, out in the field. They’ll be supervised by a regular employee who will also act as a mentor during their placement.
Whether you’re still studying for a chemistry degree or you’ve recently graduated, this article will give you an insight into the life of a chemistry intern and the type of work it might involve.
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Types of chemistry internships
There are various types of chemistry internships available in the UK. The exact nature of the program will depend on the specific industry and company or organisation that’s providing the internship. However, some of the general categories of internships include research and development (R&D) internships, quality control internships and manufacturing and production internships.
Industry-specific internships
Most chemistry internships are industry-specific and the tasks involved will be based on the job description for that particular company.
For example, if you’re undertaking a pharmaceutical-related internship, you’ll probably be asked to complete analytical tasks for testing pharmaceutical products. However, if you’re working for an environmental protection agency, you’re likely to be assigned fieldwork such as collecting water, soil, and other environmental samples for testing.
Research vs corporate internships
Virtually all chemical corporations, including chemical manufacturing companies and pharmaceutical firms, have their own R&D departments. However, some businesses outsource this function to universities and research laboratories.
It’s important to note that there’s a significant difference between internship programs offered by chemical corporations and those available at university research institutes and laboratories.
If you’d prefer not to deal with business matters, manufacturing details, and production quotas, it’s probably better to apply for an internship program with a research institute. This is also a good option for anyone intending to focus on pure research.
On the other hand, if you’d like to have a more comprehensive grasp of the chemical or pharmaceutical industry, you should apply for a corporate internship program.
Typical roles & responsibilities of a chemistry intern
Regardless of the type of chemistry internship you undertake, you’ll perform a range of simple routine tasks and operations. You certainly won’t have as much responsibility as a qualified or senior member of staff.
As an intern in a research laboratory or corporation, you’ll work closely with a full-time chemist who will supervise and mentor you. Your responsibilities may vary, but they’ll generally include assisting in laboratory experiments, testing various materials, and recording and analysing results. You might also be asked to perform some administrative tasks.
As you might expect, most chemical and pharmaceutical companies guard their trade secrets very closely. Sensitive information isn’t typically divulged to interns, so many of the tasks you’ll be assigned will have lower security clearance. If you are privy to confidential information, you’ll probably be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before beginning your internship.
Daily life as a chemistry intern
If you’re undertaking an internship as part of your chemistry degree, you’ll probably have to work between 10 and 20 hours a week, depending on the university and the specific program. Your placement will typically last three to four months and will usually coincide with the academic semester.
Students or graduates completing a summer internship may need to work longer hours. Interns in the UK are entitled to the minimum hourly wage, although some companies pay more than this.
Chemistry interns are considered part-time employees in training. They’re closely supervised and mentored by a full-time chemist. A typical day of a chemistry intern is based on the routine tasks of the supervising chemist. It usually involves calibrating the laboratory instruments and double-checking their accuracy. You may also perform a series of planned experiments, analyse data, and carry out some administrative tasks.
Skills acquired during an internship
Internship programs are designed to help students and graduates acquire practical on-the-job skills that are relevant to their chosen industry. These may include learning how to use or operate specialist machinery and instruments, as well as patented methods and chemical formulations.
Generally, however, interns gain practical skills based on the theoretical concepts they’ve learnt at university, as applied to work-related problems and routine tasks.
Aside from acquiring technical expertise, an internship is a great way to build and enhance your people skills. You’ll be working and collaborating with supervisors and other team members, which will help you develop your communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
Whatever your chosen career path, learning these skills is essential for professional success.
The transition from intern to full-time
Chemistry internships for students are usually temporary positions that are designed to teach them the practical aspects of their chosen field. This is why many universities are in partnership with chemical and pharmaceutical companies. If you’re required to complete an internship as part of your degree, your university placements office will help you find a suitable program.
However, internships are also a means for companies to identify the most capable students and graduates. By forging bonds with the intern community, employers can spot fresh talent and recruit the best students before they’re snapped up by a competitor.
In fact, many businesses recruit regular, entry-level employees from their poll of interns. This is one of the reasons why some internship programs – particularly those at large corporations – are so competitive.
For more advice, read our tips for getting a chemistry internship here.
Conclusion
Chemistry internships provide on-the-job training for chemistry students and graduates. The exact nature of the program will vary depending on the specific industry and the particular company. However, most chemistry interns perform simple, day-to-day tasks under the supervision of a qualified chemist. Their duties might include conducting laboratory experiments, quality control, data analysis, administrative tasks and, in some cases, fieldwork such as collecting samples.
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