Medicinal Chemistry Placement Review

The job consisted of everyday setting up reactions, purifying compounds and analyzing analytical data such as NMR to ensure things were pure to submit for biological screens, during drug discovery. I had a say as to how reactions and which reactions should be performed, though these were generally predetermined by supervisors, as such I did not come up with synthetic routes all by myself, though I could investigate them.

Synthesis, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, lab experience.

Not all that much responsibility, supervisors tended to predigest all the chemistry for you by giving you predetermined reactions to follow, as such no chemistry knowledge was actually necessary and you were more converted into a lab technician than an actual chemist at times. If you wanted to know the why of something you would need to spend your own time doing so, which was not something actively encouraged by supervisors.

This was highly dependent on the supervisor, for some students, guidance was ample, for others the supervisors had a preference of no communication.

From a social aspect, hard to say, as Covid makes it hard to judge. As restrictions were lifted the general atmosphere did get better. In terms of culture, trying to improve disease, the company does strive (at least in R&D) to come up with better medicines to cure diseases and that does drive most people. Though the existence of me too drug programs does put that into question.

I did not enjoy my placement, a substantial lack of social activities, sense of connection, help and communication with my supervisor, as well as Stevenage (the town where you work) being a very poor place to live, as it has nothing going for it. Resulted in a very stressed and anxious year. Not something I would repeat or want others to experience. Go somewhere with more stuff going on such as a university town.

No

If you are coming to Stevenage for a placement, make sure you live with nice people, as they will be the foundation of emotional support, which you WILL need in this environment. For the interview, be prepared, study your coursework and be ready to answer not too complex organic chemistry questions such as alkenes or SN2, reductive amination etc. Be enthusiastic, that is the most important of all.