Data Analyst Review

I did enjoy my placement a great deal. The work was very interesting and the work atmosphere was pleasant. The project I was given was tailored to my interests and was reasonably challenging. The work I have done will also be used after I leave, so I also feel like I have made a worthwhile contribution.

All my colleagues were very welcoming and supportive. I feel like I was given a choice in the work I did and was given worthwhile work. My contributions/ point of view was always taken as seriously as other members of the team and so I feel like I was treated as part of the team, not just an intern.

The welcome and introductory support was more than sufficient. My colleagues were very supportive and welcoming and were always happy to answer any questions I had. My supervisors were very helpful and gave me as much guidance as I required. There was a dedicated “new starters” group who were very active in organising events to welcome people into the organisation.

At the beginning of my placement I was less busy as a suitable project was arranged. However, this was to be expected and was designed to ensure I enjoyed the project provided and would contribute usefully. For the remainder of my placement I always had plenty of work to do.

I was given a suitable amount of responsibility. I was given a standalone project to work on, which involved developing a new procedure from scratch. However, I had the guidance and support from senior members of the team to help and guide me. The sensitive nature of some of the work was also important.

The data analysis, critical thinking and literature research skills I had the opportunity to develop will be extremely useful in the next two years of my degree and beyond. Working on topics completely outside my field of study has widened my appreciation of analysis as a whole, which extends beyond simple statistics I have previously encountered in Biochemistry.

Very sociable and chatty. Everyone was happy to help in any way they could with work or in helping you settle in.

There is a good structure to the placement and the design works well.

There is potential to return in my fourth year to carry out my Masters' research project in a different department which is attractive. I have also been encouraged to apply to the graduate scheme which is well run and popular with placement students. When I have graduated, albeit in two years’ time, I would consider applying for a job here.

Yes, there is a very good social scene. There is a dedicated group for new starters which is very active. They hold weekly events, such as a local pub quiz which is popular and good fun. My colleagues were very sociable and organise trips and socials regularly across the local area.

Depends what area you are in but the vast majority of Portsmouth and Southampton are very affordable, especially in the most student-type areas. I would also recommend student accommodation as it is easier to rent a student property for just the summer. Plenty of bars and places to go visit, and if the weather is good there is always the beach!

Plenty of bars and clubs in both Portsmouth and Southampton, particuarly in the student areas obviously!

There is a massive range of activities offered outside work, from language groups to choir. There is an active archery group and netball group and plenty of other sports that you can get involved in. The new starters group helps you find out about the different groups there are available.