Associate Study Manger Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year. I have been given so many opportunities and learnt so much about the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. If I had the opportunity I would chose the same placement again.

I have felt very valued by my colleagues and I have enjoyed getting to know them over the year. I work across a few study teams which have all asked for my contribution which has been really nice. I have had the opportunity to lead projects, as well as regular roles which I do every month or so.

I have had great guidance from my manager. We have had one-to-one sessions about once a week. This has been great as she has been able to monitor how busy I am, and it has meant that I am never overloaded. My manager has also strongly encouraged me to get involved with STEM and development days - visiting other GSK sites, these have both really enhanced by time here at GSK.

I have been working with on a few different studies which are all on different timelines, this has meant I have been involved in study start up, recruitment, follow-up and close out. There is always something I can help with and often I have not been able to help out one of the studies as much as I would have liked to because I have not had enough spare time.

I have gradually been given more responsibility throughout the year, it took a few months for me understand the complexity of the studies and complete my online training, but once I had done this I was given more tasks. I know that some other students may have had more responsibility and more pressure, but I think it depends a lot on the style and size of the studies that you are working on.

So many of my skills have developed this year, and I have gained more confidence. I now feel competent to send emails on behalf of GSK to other companies, vendors or sites. I have also ran a journal club with the support of a doctor in my team. He has taught a group of students including myself how to analyse scientific papers - a skill which I am sure will be useful in my future studies.

The atmosphere was friendly. Sometimes it is quiet (particularly when permanent GSK staff work from home on a Friday), but so many people are easy to talk to that I know feel like I know everyone in the community that I work in. Infectious Diseases seems like a therapy area which does communicate over different studies, I know it can be more difficult in other departments though.

Very well organised. All the placement students with a similar role had a familiarisation day about 2 months before our placement started. There was someone to set us up with laptops, training and security passes in the first week, and it was really nice that there were a group of us starting on the same day - this meant that we were all in the same boat.

There was a lot of online training at the beginning of the placement. Some of these were engaging however I am not sure I was beneficial to have so many Standard Operating Procedures which needed to be read in close succession. My manger did support me going on development days to many other GSK sites which was really good - particular when I went with other placement students.

I feel like there is definite opportunity to come back into the company in the future, either by Direct Entry, or in the Graduate Scheme (rotational) in the future. During this year I have seen how large this industry is and how many different career paths are facilitated here at GSK.

I became friends with all the placement students that worked in the same building, we all had lunch together most days of the week. There were socials for all (about 300) GSK placement students that were organised by IP Unite, this involved a Christmas party, a few nights out and a Boat Party in May.

I lived in Reading which meant I could continue to live with my university friends, then I commuted in to Stockley Park (Heathrow) everyday. This journey was about a 40 minute drive. The cost of living and socialising in Reading was far cheaper in London - however it is quite far out to live unless you have reason to be there (friends and hockey).

It was easy to go in to central London when it was someone's birthday. But I did not go out in Uxbridge once.

There were a few activities inside my therapy area (department), this involved a team building day and a few self funded dinners and drinks evenings. There were a few graduates in my department who the placement students went out for drinks with as well.