Research Assistant Review

by MSD

Rating

4.1/5
  • Skills
    4.3
  • Responsibilities
    4.0
  • Support & Guidance
    4.5
  • Culture
    3.8
  • Your Impressions
    4.0

    Overview

  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
  • My role involved designing and leading an exciting research project that, if proved successful, would help to accelerate the progress of the discovery of targets to combat the world's most challenging neurodegenerative disorders. Alongside the project, I attended events, seminars, and workshops that were led by excellent scientists from around the world. I participated in the Buddy Scheme where I was having frequent meetings with a colleague from a different department.


    Skills

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
  • MSD is an incredible workplace to develop professional as well as personal skills. Having access to interesting scientific and self-development resources, I was able to learn new things and deepen my knowledge in a variety of areas: from neuroscience and drug development to leadership and effective communication. Importantly, I developed many laboratory and data literacy skills that helped me throughout the year.


  • How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
  • 4/5

  • How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
  • 4/5

  • How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
  • 5/5

  • Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
  • 4/5

    Responsibilities

  • 3. Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
  • Throughout the year I was supported by an amazing team of scientists that gradually gave me more and more responsibility in the laboratory and when designing my own project.


  • Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
  • 4/5

    Support & Guidance

  • 4. How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
  • I was a part of a rather small group within the department and so I always felt supported and was never afraid to ask questions. I was in touch with several people from other departments that were very helpful with any questions I had about personal development and challenges within the workplace.


  • How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
  • 4/5

  • How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
  • 5/5

    Culture

  • 5. What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
  • Everyone was very friendly and encouraging. Although due to the pandemic we were not able to socialize as much, having online events and socials made me feel like part of the team.


  • How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
  • 3/5

  • How would you rate the social opportunities?
  • 3/5

  • How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
  • 5/5

  • How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
  • 4/5

    Your Impressions

  • 6. To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
  • I am very grateful for the opportunity to work among inspiring scientists that are leading innovative research aimed to tackle the world's most challenging diseases. MSD's culture is very inclusive, diverse, and resourceful so I always felt supported, challenged, and encouraged. I would definitely recommend MSD as an incredible place to do a placement at!


  • Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
  • 5/5

  • Please rate how your experience met your expectations
  • 4/5

  • Please rate the future employment prospects at MSD
  • 3/5

  • 7. Would you recommend MSD to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 8. What advice would you give to others applying to MSD
  • I think one of the most important things is to be yourself during the interview and give honest and informative answers. Also, do not be afraid to ask hiring managers about what your role would be like so you would know if that is the right choice for you. I was very inspired by the laboratory facilities and office environment during my in-person interview and so I was sure that I would love to do my placement there!


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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Science

International

August 2021


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