I suspect you could easily find a summer position in a research lab if you ask some professors and show enthusiasm! In fact, I did this my freshman and sophomor

I suspect you could easily find a summer position in a research lab if you ask some professors and show enthusiasm! In fact, I did this my freshman and sophomore summers, while most of my classmates went back to their hometowns. (It is only not "normal" because so few students ask.) If you are a US citizen, I also recommend looking at summer internship postings at US national labs. My impression is that not many people know about them and hence don't apply. (Not to mention they must compete with more lucrative industry internships.) Also note that as a freshman, you will likely not be writing papers much but moreso learning good research techniques. However, it is common at the end of the summer to present a poster or technical report. (Make sure you discuss this with the professor upfront if that is your goal.) Good luck!