Placement Student Review

Varies from day to day, but a typical week would consist of about 50% spent in the lab, 50% in the office, attending meetings, writing up lab results and reading papers

Yes, I have learnt lots of new labs skills and presented to the team a few times so that's good experience too. I think just generally working 9-5 improves other skills like organisation and prioritising tasks

I was in charge of my own project so in that sense yes, but my supervisor would sometimes tell me what to do even though I disagreed with his instructions, and would then later do what I thought I should have done anyway. In terms of the organisation I was not given responsibility, and was asked to do some menial lab tasks that helped the team out.

The support from the actual people running the placement scheme was amazing, particularly Anne Theury, she was incredibly dedicated to listening to the students, and when I mentioned I was interested in doing a PhD she set a meeting up with me and gave me loads of great advice. I think with individual projects it can be a bit hit or miss because I didn't receive much guidance or support from my supervisor or manager, but I know other students did; some would have weekly meetings with their supervisors etc.

The company culture is great, very good about letting you take holiday and if I'm not in the lab at all I can work from home, and work hours are flexible so if I need to leave work early, I can just come in early. I appreciate that, especially coming from uni where I can organise my time how I like. Overall a really great environment to work in.

Overall I enjoyed my placement, I got to spend lots of time in the lab, the wider team were amazing and so kind and I felt like the genuinely wanted to talk to me and give me advice. The hours were flexible and we had loads of holiday. The other students were really nice and I've made friends I will definitely keep in touch with. I think I was a little unlucky because I think some other students had more solid projects given to them, whereas I'm not sure that my supervisor or manager exactly knew what I was supposed to be doing. I don't think I was given much guidance which meant sometimes it was quite stressful. Sometimes when I tried to go for help to my supervisor or manager (and some other management), I felt a little dismissed that I was 'just the student'. Again, having said that I know other students had very different experiences with a lot more support, so I think I was just unlucky.

Yes

When I applied, I was asked if I was interested in any areas particular area. I just said I was happy with anything because I didn't want to damage my chances of getting accepted. I wish I had instead been really specific about some interests, or disease areas. I think that the best projects are given to people who are using the year for a masters project (which is understandable) but if you are coming from second year and using the placement as experience I would also mention something about your university needing you to be heavily lab based and you need to spend most of your time in the lab. Some weeks I'm only in the lab maybe an hour or two so maybe this may improve your chances of getting a project that is better.