Internal Placement Student Review

I enjoyed my work placement thoroughly. I not only had to opportunity to grow and develop new skills in a professional environment but I got to get involved in lots of social events and experiences. This included work and team socials as well as socials with other placement students on site.

My department colleagues were very supportive. Initially I received lots of training to get up to speed in the lab and get familiar with the key principles. Then throughout my placement I was supported on all my projects and activities in and out the team.

My supervisor offered lots of guidance. They made sure I was proficient and confident in my work and project. They helped me set goals in placement and personal objectives. This also included the goals to go to other departments and sites to witness other fields of the company outside of my department. They supported me in all activities be it for the team or for personal learning or in community and STEM engagement.

There was a good balance in the work place. I would spend 3-4 days a week in the lab and the rest of the time conducting data analysis, training and attending seminars and meetings. In the big company at GSK there were always opportunities to get involved in seminars and other projects.

Once I felt confident in my lab technique I was given my own project. This allowed me to independently research around a disease area and conduct my own experiments. I would modify and optimise my methods learning new techniques and exploring new platforms.

I developed a huge range of technical and soft skills on my placement. My communication and team work skills improved working in a mutli-disciplinary team and contributing and presenting in meetings. My leaderships and resilience skills also massively improved. These skills are applicable to any job role. The lab skills I learnt also are applicable well beyond my placement year into a career in research.

the office was a professional working environment. this meant you came to work to complete lab work and data analysis. However there was still a fun element to the office. going to lunch together was a common occurrence and coffee breaks also happened frequently. This meant there was a really nice social friendly environment in the office.

the organisation was good. As placement students you were employed by a separate agency called SRG. They were in charge of pay and holidays. There was sometimes a lack of unison and communication between SRG and GSK. Despite this GSK and my department themselves were very helpful and made sure I got everything I wanted out my placement. any issue I had was resolved.

At the beginning of the placement there was lots of online training so you were familiar with GSK principles and principles of biosafety and working in a lab. This was universal for all placement students. Then there was further training in my department. The particularly useful and meaningful training was the use of different of technologies with automated liquid handling platforms and immunoassay platforms.

the future employment aspects are good. GSK offers a futures leaders programme for graduates to work in a series of departments in a certain area. I am more interested in the PHD's GSK offer. These are not so common but do offer exciting research partnerships. I am also interested in direct entry roles after I complete my study.

Yes very much so. At Stevenage there were over 90 placement students. There were organised socials throughout the year through the IPUNITE scheme which included a New Years ball in central London. there were also many independent socials between the placement students including nights out and football and lunchtime running clubs.

Stevenage was a fairly cheap place to live. The rent was reasonable and bills were okay as I lived in a shared house with other placement students. the cost of living is cheap with supermarkets and shops in walking distance. GSK site is out of the town centre however there is good cycle ways and a free shuttle bus making the commute free if you live in the town.

The nightlife was okay. There 2 WeatherSpoons and a series of nice pubs and bars on the old town of Stevenage. These are good places to socialise with friends and eat out. there is one club in Stevenage which was okay. you are also a 20 minute train ride from London which offers a huge range and great places to go out.

There were good opportunities outside of work. I had the ability to go to a USER meeting on how to use a new technology and meet scientists from all over the world to discuss recent developments and discoveries on the ELLA platform. I also had the opportunity to go to an Over the Wall child volunteering camp where I had a great experience helping children with serious health challenges.