IP student - Biopharmaceutical Process Research Review

The placement was enjoyable, as both an opportunity to experience life in a massive pharmaceutical company - i.e all the branding and team building events, which may not be present in less prominent organisations. I was able to attend lots of seminars presented by external speakers, in-house talks about company direction and future strategies. I was also able to visit other parts of the business, such as GMS, and the animal unit. The placement really puts it into your own hands in terms of how much you explore and self-improve. Despite this, I'm not sure how much I enjoy working in a laboratory environment, and as my placement was lab-based, I'd like to experience something different to see my alternative career options.

I felt valued in terms of my position within the team, and the importance of my project work, which is being continued after I leave the department. My department was very welcoming and there were quite a few team builds. Everyone is always more than ready to help you with any career advice, or answer any technical or scientific questions you have. I think the lack of value is more self-awareness - you are aware that you are only a student, and have nowhere near the level of knowledge of anyone else. This wasn't the colleagues fault though.

My supervisor guided my throughout my project, which was technical method development. This included technical help with machines which I had never used before, as well as advice on what to try next. I had monthly 1:1s with my manager but frequently would have chats/ask questions at his desk aswell.

Business depends very much on your specific project, and departmental activities at the time. At the start of the placement you are just doing online learning constantly for a couple weeks, before you enter the lab. Some days I was really busy, and would work a whole day in the lab without sitting down. At other points I would have to try very hard to stay occupied, so would read scientific journals ,or new findings related to my project.

I was given responsibility in terms of the runnings of my actual project, including being able to operate expensive pieces of equipment completely unsupervised. I was ultimately responsible for the laboratory actions which I took, for my method development work. We also got responsibility in giving presentations to the rest of the department, and feeding back results. However, I was not carrying out mainstream departmental work, so in the main meetings I had 0 responsibility other than attendance.

I have received extensive training in a number of scientific techniques which I would never have experienced at university, as well as background knowledge and theory in these areas. I have also improved a number of skills such as experimental planning, data analysis, and presentations, which will be important for the final year of university and my dissertation.

My office was very friendly. People would obviously do their work, but we had frequent cake celebrations e.g. for birthdays and anniversary of working at GSK. We also had frequent team builds such as the Christmas party, a BBQ, drinks after work. With hot desking people would move around, so it was a collaborative atmosphere.

As GSK employ hundreds of placement students every single year, the entire process is very smoothly operated. The system in place for filling out things like holiday, and working hours works fine. Training programmes are in place for new starters, and everyone in the site is used to seeing fresh faces around, looking a bit lost a first. As it's such an established scheme, I don't think there will ever be a question or problem raised which they haven't experienced before, which is reassuring.

They invested in terms of training such as early lab stuff in the centrifuge, and operating mass spec machines etc. We also had external seminars specifically for placement students, such as one about how different generations in the workplace interact, and CV workshops. I was also able to visit other departments for an insight, as a development day.

You cannot be offered a new job following the placement, as I have to complete another year at university, and GSK don't hire many people with just a Bachelor's degree. GSK offer a graduate 'future leaders programme' which lots of placement students will apply to, and the IP year definitely gives you a head start for that.

We had organised social events such as a black-tie event at Christmas at the Hilton in London, and a summer boat party along the Thames. Most other events weren't organised, but friend groups would go into London, or out for drinks etc. My site was in a quiet place, so there wasn't much to do. Most people spend lots of weekends visiting university or home.

Stevenage is quite expensive, as it is close to London. My rent was higher than at university, despite the house being not as nice. Cost of living in terms of bills and food wasn't any different. Travelling into London adds up with multiple tickets, but as you're earning it's not as significant. As Stevenage itself only really has Wetherspoons, socialising is cheap.

Stevenage (the GSK R&D site) doesn't really have a nightlife. There is 1 club, which isn't very good. If we stayed in Stevenage for a night out we would usually do a pub crawl or something instead. Or we would just go out to London, as the train is quite quick.

The company offers activities such as Tough Mudder and marathon places. There is also a health club for squash and badminton games etc, and a gym on site, which lots of people would go to. Activities outside of work were often organised by the department or just groups of friends/colleagues, for example lunches to Nandos.