system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How common is it for labs to operate during summer?

I'm new to academia and just wondering if I'm going to be able to work in a lab over the summer as a 1st year. Is it even common for labs to operate over the summer? I'm sure some do, but do most/all of them? 

I'm in a STEM field if that makes a difference (biology/neuroscience specifically)

Edit: Sorry don't know why I didn't clarify this: I'm a 1st year *undergrad*, not a grad student.
gpt
Pretty common. In fact, it’s when they’re usually most active because there’s no distraction from the research. 

That said, it can be pretty hard to get into a lab as a first year, and summer might be a more difficulty time because a lab is more likely to see a completely untrained student as detracting from productivity. 

I much prefer to start new students fall or spring, and then take them on for the summer when they’ve learned techniques and understand what we do in the lab.