Chemistry Intern Review

Some of the work I was provided with I enjoyed. I was given a project to investigate whether there was a relationship between tidal height and the amount of hypochlorite dosing and this was a good opportunity to work independently and manage my own time. However, since finding these results I haven't had to present them and they aren't being implemented. As I am only there for a short amount of time there is no real opportunity to get stuck into lots of tasks which is a shame. As a chemistry undergraduate I wasn't using much chemistry in this internship at all which isn't necessarily negative if you want to explore what you can do with a chemistry degree that isn't lab based.

I only have two valuable tasks to do daily which only takes me an hour and a half maximum. The rest of the jobs I have been tasked with just consists of shadowing colleagues or doing small errands. as I mentioned earlier the results I found in my investigation were never really looked at properly and aren't being implemented but it is difficult when there is so little time.

In the beginning of the internship time was taken to explain the job role and other job roles thoroughly to me. I now have a good understanding of what chemists do in a nuclear power plant and the workings of a nuclear power plant. On occasions I would be left sitting at my desk with not that much to do or just a stack of reading when there was no one to set me to do a job.

Whilst I was conducting my investigation I was busy for the entire day and the work was satisfying but the only lasted for a week and I have spent the rest of the internship asking for tasks to fill my time. Everything at EDF is such a long process and nothing is ever simple. For example I was tased with labelling and making a barcode system for gas monitors but it took two weeks or the equipment to arrive a further four days for the equipment to be PA tested so a lot of my time has been spent waiting to be able to get on with a task.

The two daily tasks I have been assigned do carry quite a lot of responsibility. I test gas monitors to make sure they are working correctly and issue you them to other colleagues. This is an important task because toxic gases can be made on a nuclear power plant like carbon monoxide and others so it is important the gas monitors are working as they should be.

Unfortunately I haven't learnt any new chemistry or any new skills. I came into the internship with work experience already, however I now have a better understanding of the nuclear industry and what I could be doing as a chemist that isn't working in a lab. I would say the insight into the industry is the most valuable thing I took from the internship.

I get on with everyone in the office and at lunch time everyone chats to each other. The atmosphere is a good one.

The HR department that was dealing with organising my placement was shocking! I was told I could start on the 24th of June then whilst I was away on holiday I was told I couldn't start for a further 2 weeks. This was distressing as I was planning on spending the money I was going to earn, over my 10 week internship, on funding already booked holidays. I had also signed a contract with the start date of the 24th of June. On the Thursday before I am due to start on the Monday I receive a phone call informing me that I am unable to start on the 8th of July and told I will definitely be able to start on the 15th. I ring on the Friday before my internship is due to start to double check that I am able to start only to find out I cannot start on the 15th. Had I not rung I would not have known that I wouldn't be able to start and I am told my start date will now be the 22nd of July. My internship was delayed 4 weeks meaning I only had 6 weeks of actual work experience and 6 weeks of pay. I tried to get into contact with HR on three different occasions to get train tickets refunded for the three different promised start dates and I had no response so had to go to my manager about it only to be told I could only get one set refunded. I have 10 weeks rent to pay as I've had two two week holidays in-between my 6 weeks of actual work and the money wasted on trains means that doing this internship has left me worse off financially than when I started which is a great shame as I was planning to have some savings to start uni again and it just means in my final year I will have to get a job which will potentially impact my grade. I know of another intern that was also trying to get paid from the start date on his contract but was unsuccessful. I feel this is very poor treatment of students looking to better themselves from a massive company like EDF and has put me off working for them completely. Now I just view the internship as something to put on my CV. if you want to do an internship at EDF be prepared for massive delays.

I did basic training on a computer that was mandatory for all EDF employees.

I would never apply to work for EDF Energy. There have been no perks of the job since starting I have paid for all my own travel and accommodation. Just to put this into perspective I applied for a first year shadow day at BP in Reading and they paid for me a hotel to stay the night as the commute was too far they paid for my train and taxi to the offices and I got a free lunch. At EDF I paid for my own travel to the interview and travel to get to the internship. If a company cannot invest in me a student then they aren't going to invest in me as a graduate.

I have been asking since the start of my internship to be put in touch with other interns or graduates but that never happened. I spent most of my evenings on my own in Scotland with nothing to do but miss my family and friends in Yorkshire.

I paid £100 a week in Dunbar which is cheap/standard for the area. I haven't socialised outside of work but if I did I would go to Edinburgh.

The only night life is a few pubs.

No opportunities at all.