Undergraduate Industrial Placement Student Review

Overall, I really enjoyed my year in industry. I learnt a lot about scientific research, and navigating corporate politics and pressures, about project managements, and most importantly about what I do and don't enjoy and want to do in later life. There were definitely challenging periods - due to the science, the corporate politics or the working environment, but from these challenges I have learnt a huge deal and taken away very valuable lessons.

I felt really valued by my colleagues and I really enjoyed being part of the office and part of the research team.

My supervisor was really helpful in giving technical support, in helping my plan my time, the direction of my project and giving guidance in my project report. Due to other work commitments he didn't have as much time as he would have liked to spend with my on my project, however this did teach me to become an independent worker and to use my own initiative, which was a very useful lesson.

It varied quite a lot. When experiments were running, I could be extremely busy, in the lab all day. In contrast I could have quieter days or weeks. The last few months were very busy report writing. Overall I felt like I had a productive year and did a decent amount of work while still having time for coffee breaks with the team - hectic days were balanced out by more relaxed ones!

Over the first 4-5 months I took on responsibility for all the practical work of my project, and was always involved in the planning of future experiments with my supervisor. I feel this is a good amount of responsibility for an undergraduate who is on a steep learning curve.

I have decided that I don't wish to pursue a career in research science, and my final year University lab project won't involve the same lab techniques as those I developed at AstraZeneca, so from a technical point of view I won't take the lab techniques forward. However, the skills I have learnt in terms of project planning, time management, project management, public speaking, gaining confidence in trying new lab techniques, scientific report writing, preparing presentations, data analysis, how to navigate social and corporate politics and pressures, gaining confidence in my own abilities and gaining an insight into my own strengths and weaknesses has truly been invaluable.

The atmosphere in Alderley Park could be quite difficult at times, due to the gradual site closure. However the people in the office were really lovely, and by the end of my year felt more like friends! There was usually someone to have a chat to - about science and non-science subjects. People took an interest in each others work and were happy to offer advice.

My placement was very well organised - the project aim evolved over the course of the project, but I had a clear field with general aims at the beginning which developed into a clear independent research project which I spent the whole year working on. My supervisor was realistic with time lines for lab work and writing up.

They invested a lot of time and effort in technical and scientific training. But personally the more valuable personal development came from the numerous public speaking and presenting opportunities (data presentations to teams, internal symposiums, student poster competitions etc) and project management opportunities, which AZ offer if you are willing to be proactive and get involved.

I am seeking a non-lab based role with the company, since I enjoyed working for them this year and value their ethos of valuing the employees and working as a team to create life saving medicines - a cause I care about.

Yes, despite there not being that many of us! We all got on well which was good and found things to do in Macclesfield.

Cheap!

The nightlight in Macclesfield is... small. But if you're with good people/drunk enough you can still have a right laugh!

Loads! 'ClubAZ' is an extensive 'club' offering different sporting sections (teams) as well as other groups (choir/pilates/walking etc). I had a great time as part of the AZ badminton team - it was a great opportunity to meet people outside the student bubble/your office, and to improve my play!