Hours are flexible. While students do not receive credit, they do receive a salary from the laboratory. This provides a student with hands-on experience in that field. There are three types of summer research opportunities for students who have completed their sophomore year. Summer Internships .
Some industrial companies hire students to work as laboratory technicians in summer intern programs.
These positions usually pay well, but may involve routine lab work rather than participation in a research project. Industrial internships also provide the student with an opportunity to explore the career options available to an industrial chemist. University Summer Research Programs . Most universities with major research programs, including the University of Maryland at College Park, offer summer research programs for undergraduates. These programs provide the student with the opportunity to become involved in an open ended research project on the cutting edge of science.