Biological & Biomedical Sciences Placement

Job Details

Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Multiple Roles) Placement

Roles Available in Location: Stevenage

Education required: 

To apply for this placement, you must be:

Currently studying an Undergraduate Degree in Life Sciences, including but not limited to: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Immunology, Genetics, Physiology, Microbiology or Computational Biology, Material Science, etc

Please read the degree requirements for each role carefully before applying.

Other requirements: You will have completed a minimum of 2 years of your undergraduate degree but will not have graduated at the start of your placement. You must be enrolled at a UK (United Kingdom) or ROI (Republic of Ireland) University for the duration of your placement.

If you have already graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and are currently studying a postgraduate Masters, you are not eligible for this programme.

Language requirement: Written and spoken fluency in English

Expected Start date: September 2025

Duration: 1 year (approximately)

Salary: A salary of £24,700 plus a bonus.

Application Closing: 9th October 2024

Early applications are encouraged as candidates will be reviewed regularly and the advert may close at any point.

Are you looking to gain valuable real world work experience and help positively impact the lives of others?

A GSK internship offers you the opportunity to kickstart your career – to take on a real role with genuine impact. You’ll take on challenging tasks within live projects or assignments. You’ll also get to learn from others in your team and other parts of GSK whilst developing your skills and gaining valuable experience for wherever the future takes you.

Typical skills you can expect to learn on this placement will include:

• Teamworking through working with multidisciplinary teams
• Communication (written & verbal)
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Networking
• Data analysis and management
• Technical skills (detailed within each role description)

Once you accept your offer you will be invited to join LinkedIn groups and pre-joining webinars, to enable you to connect and network with new students. You will join IPUnite, GSK’s community of over 250 students across all UK sites and business areas, run by the Industrial Placement students committee and will receive access to GSK resources, including employee assistance programmes, private healthcare, and well-being programs.

The Roles (17 available)

This advert contains multiple roles. Please read each role carefully before proceeding as you will be asked to provide a preference later in the application process.

Role 1 – Respiratory and Immunology Biology Unit (RIBU)

Overview of the Department

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Respiratory and Immunology Biology Unit, a department which oversees preclinical and early clinical assets across several disease areas including lung, liver, neurology, and immunological diseases. The Biology Unit consists of multiple large groups including Immunology (T Cell Biology and B Cell Biology), Respiratory, Complex Models (In Vivo), Emerging Specialties and Analytics.

Key Placement Activities

• Human and mouse primary cell isolation / primary and cell line culture
• Immune cell phenotyping through flow cytometry
• Immunoassays (ELISA and MSD) and biochemical assays
• Transcriptomic analysis by qPCR
• Gene editing via CRISPR
• Assay design, development and use across the RIBU portfolio.
• Designing and conducting experiments, documenting, and reporting and presenting your scientific findings.
• Conducting literature reviews.

Role 2 - Genome Biology and Omics Technologies

Overview of the Department

Roles within the Genome Biology and Omics Technologies department comprise of several disciplines that provide the scientific knowledge required to discover and validate potential novel therapeutic targets. The department utilises the application of high throughput genome editing in human cellular models or using complex multicellular humanised in vitro models with microfluidics. The role will involve deep characterisation of these models using advanced imaging, barrier assays, flow cytometry, ELISAs and omics.

Key Placement Activities

• Key area 1 – Complex In-Vitro Models: Application of advanced humanised cellular models with microfluidics such as organ-on-a-chip platforms and organoids.
• Key area 2 – Genome Biology and Gene Editing: Application of gene perturbation at scale to discover and characterize novel therapeutic targets.
• Key area 3 – Application of high-throughput genomics and transcriptomics to support programme efforts.
• CRISPR genome editing
• Cloning/construct generation,
• Lentiviral vector production and high content image analysis.

Role 3 - New Chemical Entity (NCE) Molecular Discovery

Overview of the Department

The primary responsibility of the Discovery Biology and Screening department is to deliver high quality, biologically relevant pre-clinical leads for all GSK therapeutic areas, by employing a combination of scientific tools and methodologies, including but not limited to assay development, high throughput screening, compound profiling, and mechanism of action studies.

Key Placement Activities

• Individual project driven by student, generating data to contribute to program progression or the implementation of new technologies.
• Analyse data to determine the next experimental steps.
• Screening against safety liabilities for progression of multiple programs and reducing attrition.
• Regular journal clubs to learn how to analyse and write journal articles.
• Attend meetings and present progression and contributions.
• Cross department awareness days to learn about other parts of the business.
• Fluorescence
• Luminescence
• Flow cytometry
• Scientific communication (for example presentations and scientific writing)
• Planning and designing experiments.

Role 4 – Genetic and Investigative Toxicology

Overview of the Department

The department provides data in the areas of drug safety, bioimaging, biological markers and disposition to support the transition of therapeutic molecules from pre-clinical to the clinical stages of development. Genetic and Investigative Toxicology scientists provide expertise around safety and drug disposition to projects from the earliest biological target identification stage through to GSK medicines already on the market.

Key Placement Activities

• Designing, planning, and conducting experiments to answer specific objectives or hypotheses.
• Critical assessment and interpretation of data
• The importance of collecting and documenting experimental methods and results carefully
• Running in vitro experiments and measuring toxicity using a range of multiparametric plate-reader assays, transcriptomics, DNA sequencing, bioenergetic assays
• In vitro cell culture - working with cell lines and primary cells or bacterial and mammalian cell/tissue culture, microscopy, flow cytometry or image analysis.
• Writing up experiments in laboratory notebooks to aid current and future projects with decision making regarding the development of compounds.

Role 5 - Cellular Biomarkers Flow Cytometry

Overview of the Department

Cellular Biomarkers is responsible for the delivery of complex multi-parameter flow cytometry panels and the subsequent application of these panels to clinical trial sample analysis. The data generated by these biomarker panels helps us to evaluate disease heterogeneity, drug-target engagement, drug mechanism of action and patient responses.

Key Placement Activities

• Assist in the design, development, optimisation, and validation of new flow cytometry panels for immunophenotyping, cytokine production, rare cell identification, target engagement and/or receptor occupancy.
• Work with both conventional and spectral flow cytometers within multiple disease areas spanning the entire GSK portfolio, as well as develop extensive wet lab and analytical skills.
• Plan, execute, and interpret scientific, present results and collaborate with other scientists within Precision Medicine.

Role 6 – Immunoassay Bioanalysis & Soluble Biomarkers

Overview of the Department

Soluble Biomarkers and Immunoassay is responsible for the identification and implementation of new precision medicine strategies, as well as the close monitoring of Target engagement and surrogate biomarker endpoints to support clinical trials. The department delivers high-quality data to support both preclinical and clinical studies for both NCEs and biopharmaceuticals, as well as developing analytical assays to measure drugs and soluble proteins.

Key Placement Activities

• Immunoassay platforms such as Gyrolab, MSD, ELISA and HD-X.
• Working across multiple disease areas, such as oncology, respiratory and immuno-inflammation
• Developing and validating methods for the measurement/characterization of drug and soluble proteins in biological samples (pre-clinical or clinical)
• Routine analysis of drugs (bioanalysis/pharmacokinetics) and soluble proteins (biomarkers/pharmacodynamics) in biological matrices to applicable standards using defined analytical methods
• Processing and evaluating data using appropriate software.
• Author reports summarising data generated during routine analysis.

Role 7 – Biopharm Analytical Scientist

Overview of the Department

This role is within Drug Substance and Product Analysis UK, which is committed to de-risking and speeding up GSK's portfolio of biopharmaceuticals from Discovery Research to Clinical Manufacture. The department uses cutting-edge analytical technology to screen candidate molecules for 'manufacturability' and quality before transferring to late-stage development and clinical manufacturing.

Key Placement Activities

• Operating advanced automated equipment such as analytical instruments, multifunctional platforms, and liquid handlers.
• Organizing, conducting, and reporting on project work experiments.
• Producing high-quality results within set timelines and contributing to the evaluation and interpretation of experimental data.
• Teamwork and flexibility, making it an ideal opportunity for those eager to gain experience in a multi-disciplinary department.
• Regular interaction with other groups within GSK R&D at Stevenage and the USA.
• Playing a vital role in employing, optimising, and developing automated workflows to expedite drug development processes.

Role 8 - Molecular Modalities Discovery and Platform Technologies

Overview of the Department

The Molecular Modalities department’s research and development in targeted protein degradation is at the forefront of medical breakthroughs, aiming to treat diseases that have long eluded conventional therapies. You will utilise various laboratory skills within this placement, for example Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, CRISPR/Cas9, techniques for protein-protein interaction and protein-ligand interaction studies.

Key Placement Activities

• Design, execute, and interpret experiments in the field of targeted protein degradation and proximity induced pharmacology.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance the understanding of protein degradation pathways and their therapeutic applications.
• Utilize state-of-the-art techniques and technologies to identify and validate novel targets.
• Maintain detailed and accurate experimental records, analyse data, and present findings to the research team.
• Contribute to the drafting of research publications and patents.
• Gain knowledge in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and chemical biology, especially in the areas of proximity inducing modalities and antibody drug conjugates.

Role 9 - Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalysis

Overview of the Department

The Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalysis group discovers, develops, and delivers engineered enzyme biocatalysts supporting several therapeutic modalities within R&D and manufacturing. Using biocatalysts in the synthesis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) can offer a number of advantages over traditional synthetic processes, with increased selectivity and mild operating conditions leading to reduced environmental impact and more efficient routes.

Key Placement Activities

• Build enzyme panels using molecular biological techniques to clone and engineer enzyme candidates.
• Develop and optimise expression of recombinant enzymes on a variety of scale.
• Apply lab automation to facilitate high throughput experimentation
• Develop assays for detection of enzyme activities using UPLC, GC, LCMS, or other techniques.
• Generate, curate, and interrogate large datasets.
• Gain a deeper understanding of biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, and their real-world applications.
• Presenting at team meetings, engaging in collaborative projects, and overseeing experimental processes.

Role 10 – Laboratory Automation

Overview of the Department

Precision Medicine’s ambition is to transform clinical care by identifying, developing, and leveraging the right precision medicine solutions for the right patient at the right dose at the right time supported by the right platforms. You will support the in-house laboratory automation specialist designing workflows, maintaining and troubleshooting laboratory automation equipment such as the Hamilton Star, Agilent Bravo, Labcyte Echo and SPT Dragonfly.

Key Placement Activities

• Contribute to flow cytometry and immunoassay workflows and develop expertise in these areas.
• Work across multiple disease areas, such as oncology, respiratory and immuno-inflammation
• Develop and validate methods to support in house flow cytometry and immunoassay scientists with automated liquid handlers.
• Develop coding expertise to program complex robots.
• Use and maintain multiple instrument platforms.

Role 11 – Biopharm Process Research

Overview of the Department

BioPharm Process Research (BPR) is an early process development function responsible for de-risking and accelerating biopharmaceutical assets into clinical manufacture and onward late-stage development and commercial manufacture. BPR consists of four key teams: Cell Line Development (CLD, Upstream, Downstream, and Digital Data Analytics (DDA). In CLD, they engineer the best performing cell lnes that form the basis of our final product. The Upstream team then scales up these cell lines in bioreactors to generate the required material for processing. The material is further processed by Downstream team, which purifies it from undesirable impurities. DDA team supports our digital solutions that drive our BPR operations.

Key Placement Activities

• Mammalian cell culture work
• Bioreactor work
• Cell culture purification
• Transfection
• Single cell sorting
• Chromatography.

Role 12 – Protein and Cellular Sciences

Overview of the Department

Protein and Cellular Sciences (PCS) is an early-stage drug discovery department within GSK, which uses advanced technologies to generate and validate protein and cell-based reagents in support of both small molecule and biopharmaceutical programs.

Key Placement Activities

Design and production of vectors using a range of molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques (gene cloning, DNA sequencing, PCR)

Expression of proteins and antibodies using bacterial and mammalian cell culture systems (e.coli, HEK transient, CHO stable)

Purification of proteins/antibodies using appropriate chromatographic techniques in conjunction with programmable purification platforms (affinity, ion-exchange, size exclusion chromatography)

Characterisation of proteins/antibodies using state-of-the-art analytical tools (mass spectroscopy, electrophoresis, reversed phase chromatography)

Development of automated methods for high throughput expression and purification of proteins/antibodies

Role 13 – Large Molecule Discovery

Overview of the Department

Together with their therapy area partners, GSK Large Molecule Discovery are discovering, developing, and manufacturing novel medicines to benefit patients around the globe. The department is building a state-of-the-art end to end Biopharmaceutical capability, which delivers efficient discovery of antibody molecules that are selected and engineered for rapid development.

Key Placement Activities

• Develop scientific writing and presentation skills
• Gain experience in data analysis
• Build on existing understanding and interest of Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Immunology or Protein Biochemistry.

Role 14 – Extracellular-Targeted Cancer Therapeutics

Overview of the Department

The Extracellular-Targeted Cancer Therapeutics (ETCT) Biology Unit is part of the GSK Oncology drug discovery pipeline. The department aims to develop effective cancer therapies targeted at cancer-specific biology. Their primary focus is on two antibody-based modalities: Bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs), and Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Key Placement Activities

• Cell culture, cell viability assays, flow cytometry, molecular biology and ELISAs.
• Develop scientific research and professional skills, e.g. experimental design, experimental record keeping, data analysis, reporting and presentation skills.
• Gain a deeper understanding of tumour biology, T-cell function, targeting modalities and the immuno-oncology landscape.
• Deliver a research project aligned with our department goals
• Perform experiments in our cell and molecular biology laboratory
• Learn data analysis methods and present experimental results within biology meetings and departmental meetings, with opportunities to present to a larger audience.

Role 15 - Oncology Translation Research

Overview of the Department

Oncology translation research organisation is a newly department created to contribute to preclinical development programmes within GSK. It is composed of two main teams: Digital Biology Twin (DTB) and patient-derived explant exploiting patient-derived organoids or tissues (respectively) from the same patients in order to develop and implement cutting-edge cellular, genomic and molecular techniques with a multimodality analytic approach, plus machine learning models to improve cancer patient risk stratification as well as to predict future targeted and/or immuno-therapy susceptibilities.

Key Placement Activities

• Expansion of patient-derived organoids alone or in coculture with fibroblasts
• Cytotoxicity assay on patient-derived organoids alone or in coculture with fibroblasts
• Isolation of exosomes from patient-derived organoids and analysis of their protein content
• Spatial omics analysis on patient derived tissue explant
• Performing patient-derived organoids quality control steps (such as cell density, proliferation rate evaluation)
• Immunofluorescence-based imaging assays including wide-field imaging and confocal microscopy.

Role 16 – Biopharm Analytical Automation

Degree requirements – Biochemistry, Biology, Biochemical Engineering, Bioinformatics and related courses

Overview of the Department

Analytical Platforms and Platform Modernisation (APPM) sits in the Analytical Development department of Pharma R&D. In our department, we focus on providing technologies for the business to facilitate and support the development of new medicines. Among these technologies, the Analytical Automation and Digital Platforms Team UK aims at implementing automated workflows to optimise the use of resources, accelerate drug development, and generate high quality, standardised data.

Key Placement activities

• Operating and scripting advanced automated equipment such as liquid handlers, multifunctional platforms, and analytical instruments.
• Employing, optimising, and developing automated workflows to expedite drug development processes.
• Close collaboration with scientists from various departments, offering exposure to a multidisciplinary environment.
• Comprehensive training in essential analytical techniques and processes.
• Playing a role in producing high-quality results within set timelines and contributing to the evaluation and interpretation of experimental data or new instruments

Role 17 – Bioimaging – Non-Clinical Histology

Degree requirements – Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology or equivalent

Overview of the Department

The NCH team supports non-clinical Research from early Discovery up to the point where the project enters the clinical trials for the first time. We use classical histology techniques, advanced molecular biology, and computer science to analyse tissue samples from pre-clinical animal models and Complex In Vitro Models (CIVMs) . These methods enable us to deliver unique data to project teams to enable them to progress projects with confidence. Specifically, we deliver focused spatial biology transcript/protein measurements to address specific hypotheses addressing mechanisms of action of tool molecules or GSK drugs and/or spatial localisation of cells/cellular responses.

Key Placement activities

• To provide support for projects using the capabilities and technologies within the Spatial Multiplexing Team.
• Learn spatial transcriptomic and proteomics quality control of samples and full assay workflow.
• Project scoping and planning
• Building relationships with diverse matrix teams supporting project delivery
• Sectioning, RNA extraction, slide staining and image acquisition.

This opportunity has the following recruitment stages you must successfully pass to be offered a placement year with GSK for 2024:

1.   Eligibility Form

2.   World of GSK Online Assessment

3.   Written Assessment

4.   Virtual Assessment Centre or Virtual Interview

You’ll find hints, tips and guidance on our recruitment process on our website here

You can learn more about GSK and our careers here.

We’re 100% open to all talent – whatever your gender, marital status, religion, age, colour, race, sexual orientation, nationality, learning difference or disability. We want to recruit the right people for GSK from the widest possible backgrounds, so we can better serve the diversity of our patients and also because it’s the right thing to do.

You can learn more about Inclusion and diversity at GSK here.

Need help with your application?

Please email us at UK.InternRecruitment@gsk.com or call us on 01582 692870 and let us know how we can help you.

# IndustrialPlacements # SciencePlacements # Research&Development # BiologyPlacements

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GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

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About GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years. Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, itʼs also about making GSK a place where people can thrive.

We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together

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Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.