Drug Discovery Work Experience Review

I really enjoyed my week spent at AstraZeneca and how I really got a taste of a variety of different departments throughout the company. I particularly enjoyed the lab tours we did and also getting the opportunity to do some practical work ourselves in the protein science lab. The talks we received were also very informative and interesting (e.g. the talk given on the future of personalised medicine).

[This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyPlacement Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] (who organised the work experience) and all those that gave talks and lab tours had dedicated a lot of time to our visit and were extremely welcoming. Everyone was really enthusiastic to show us what they did at the company and the steps they had taken to get to where they were in their career.

I received lots of guidance and advice on pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry and what it is like to work in research and development. We even did quite targeted/specific sessions on how to approach AstraZeneca interview scenarios, which was particularly useful. I also received really useful advice on what it is like to study a degree in Biochemistry and how best to approach writing a CV/personal statement.

The skills I developed really helped me in applying for university, both with my personal statement and entrance interview. The information I received also gave me clarity in the degree I chose to apply for at university. The experience also enabled me to apply knowledge gained in my A Level Biology and Chemistry studies to real life scenarios.

The work experience was really well structured as we were given a schedule at the start of the week with all the activities planned for our time at AstraZeneca. There was also however really good flexibility; if there was an area that the group was particularly interested in seeing, we were able to add it in to the plans.

The atmosphere was fantastic throughout the work experience as people seemed to be really happy working at the company and were also very enthusiastic in talking to us and showing us what they were doing. The company seemed to be really inclusive and there was a passion for science and innovation that was great to be surrounded by.

People dedicated a lot of time and effort into making sure we got lots out of the week.

We were introduced to a lot of people that had a variety of different full time roles throughout the company who were very open about the best things about working at the company and what the most challenging aspects of having a job there were. We also got to experience the general atmosphere of the company through visiting the labs and walking around the site.

I really got to know the company culture by talking to so many people that worked at the company and spending time at both the R&D and manufacturing sites. We were also informed of the fundamental company values and how these are used in selecting the best people to work at the company based off interviews.

The experience was really valuable as it helped me discover whether a career in the pharmaceutical industry is for me, or whether I am perhaps more suited to academic research. It also provided confirmation that I was choosing the right degree to apply for at university, based off talking to other people that had studied the same/similar degrees.

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We met lots of people from various different departments who were very open and enthusiastic in talking to us. We even got the opportunity to present to a small group of people at the end of the week and gain their feedback, which was a really fantastic opportunity for us to have.

We found out about the various social events that are organised by/for employees and the different events and activities that occur at Alderley Park. I also found out about the Women in Science schemes at AstraZeneca which were really interesting to me and demonstrated the core values of the company.

The work experience was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the drug discover process and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. I got to talk to some really interesting people who gave me great advice on pursuing a career in science and there was a great atmosphere throughout the whole week.