Industrial placement student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my industrial placement at AstraZeneca. I was given considerable flexibility and freedom over my project outline which was properly explained to me at the start, and I had the chance to build a good network of young scientists met at the company.

Right away, I was integrated in my team, invited to meetings, lunches out and some social activities. My work was always valued and discussed on the same ground as my, more senior, colleagues one. Individual's issues were always treated as team issues.

My supervisor was of support from the start, from helping me getting around the lab, to discussing the project together with me, and also making sure I would receive every email chain that I had to be included in. Moreover, the team leader always had an eye out for my project and caught the occasions that presented to him to make present in front of other teams and scientists.

On a daily basis, I would start by checking my emails and reply to the ones which needed a follow up. Later, I would go straight into the lab and be there until the end of the work day, 5:30pm, some days around 6:30pm. The lab would sometimes be paused by relevant meetings.

From day one, I was given full responsibility over my project's scope and goals. For someone who is at their first days in the lab, it could have been a bit overwhelming, but I also think that if my supervisor knew that it was my first experience, they would have followed me more.

The training received and skills I have gained, I am sure, will incredibly help me not just from the laboratory skills side of things, but also in terms of career progression. They gave me insights on how the pharmaceutical industry works and how it compares with academia, thoroughly informing my future decisions.

The atmosphere in my office was warm and welcoming. From the day 1, I have been welcomed and introduced to my desk mates. During the year, I have been moved around, but the people around me have always been really nice to me, and I rarely had to issue over office issues.

The internship was set up quite well as at the beginning they tried to involve us in many social activities and ice breakers to get the interns to form their smaller community. However, after the first few events, the company's organisation of the internship started fading away, perhaps, partially due to the structural changes the company underwent.

The company was often available to fund training sessions, and many occasions to up our skills. There has been one instance during which I was invited to present about my placement at my university, and my team leader was able to fund the train tickets for me to present on my placement.

At the present moment, I am not able to comment on future employment prospects within the organisation as it is something that I have not discussed with my supervisor or team leader. However, from what I have been told, I think they would be open to working with me again in the future.

There was indeed a very good social scene amongst fellow placement students. We have been brought together by company events at the beginning of the year, but later as well as we had been assigned desks which were all close by. From then, we start hanging out together, organising dinners and more.

AstraZeneca's placements are based in Cambridge in the South-East of England. The area is one of the most expensive in the United Kingdom, only second to London. The rents are very expensive but it is possible to save on groceries due to the large offer of grocery stores. Overall expensive, but the location is worth it.

AstraZeneca's placements are based in Cambridge in the South-East of England. Cambridge is definitely not famous as a great nightlife town, however, there are a few clubs and bars that are heavily frequented by students who either attend the university or work on industrial placements in the area and go to the city centre in the evening.

During the placement at AstraZeneca, the company offered multiple ways to get involved outside of work. Many ERGs, a remarkable one being AZinspire, in which one could also become a committee member as a student. Moreover, there were also trips which one could get involved in and that was of particular interest to me.