Industrial Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement, I developed so much as a scientist and used the knowledge I had obtained during my degree in a practical manner. I think there was a good social aspect and a good support system for me and I fitted in well with the rest of my team.

I definitely felt valued by my colleagues and was considered as a respected member of the team. I never felt undermined and my team were receptive to listening to my ideas and helping me develop these ideas into possible solutions that would only be possible from their previous experiences and positions in the company.

I had a really positive experience with the management aspect of things. When I first joined, and arguably needed the most support, my supervisor and the extended project team were always there to help, and no question was too silly! As I developed in the company and became more confident, they definitely took a step back and allowed me to try my own experimental ideas and we're there in the background for support when I needed it.

I undertook this year as an industrial placement to contribute to my Masters. Because of this, I think my work load was relatively high, as I was balancing uni coursework, dissertation and lab project write ups alongside my everyday working life. My team we're very supportive of this and allowed flexibility of what was expected of me.

I think I had a great balance of responsibility, and this grew as it became clear to my supervisor that I was understanding the position, becoming more confident and making connections within the business. I really benefitted from the fact that my supervisor relaxed their management role only when deemed appropriate; I wasn't thrown in the deep end or micromanaged.

The experience I have gained from this year at AstraZeneca will be invaluable. It has taught me how to be a reputable scientist, how to communicate my research in presentations and discussions, keeping professional and thorough documentation, how to be a professional member of a business and exposing me to how a large company is organised.

the office was both professional and social, there was a hotdesk aspect so you could sit where you wanted. People we're often chatting - in a respectful way of other people who are working. But it never felt as if you shouldn't be making noise or shouldn't be asking questions. The hotdesking aspect often meant that ideas could be bounced around with people that you wouldn't usually chat with.

I think it was organised well but could maybe do better. From a scientific project perspective, it was very clear what was expected of me, what the aims of my project were and how they complemented the work of full time employees. Where I think it could benefit would be a 'checklist' type criteria at the start that offers placement students more professional development.

From my experience, personal development had to be sought out by yourself. I think this placement would really benefit from a budget for placement students to use to contribute to any development modules that they would like to undertake as part of the placement. I think a more standardised module to ensure that students also develop in their career skills as well as their scientific skills could definitely be beneficial.

Although AZ is somewhere that I would definitely consider a career with in the future. It seems a shame that there aren't any direct job prospects following on from placements/graduate schemes as they seem to be only interested in offering positions to people with phd's. This can be disheartening as it feels like although they respect the work that you've done, it is unlikely to directly contribute to your success with them in the future.

I was part of a committee for young professionals within AZ, so helped to run the social aspect. I think we managed a perfect balance of being both professional and social. I got on really well with my other placement students and also the rest of my team which was really nice.

As this placement was in cambridge, rent was relatively expensive and so was social life. But i think our placement salary was sufficient to accommodate for this, so placement students did not suffer.

There are lots of lovely pubs and bars in and around cambridge city centre which is only around 2 miles from my work location at the Cambridge science park. There aren't a lot of night clubs if that is what you're looking for, but the pub scene is definitely nice.

As I mentioned, I managed to get onto a commitee with early careers people, which I hugely benefited from and thoroughly enjoyed. there are other groups such as AZpride and network for women that you can get involved with. there is also the AZ STEM side of things, I volunteered with them a few times to host science events in the community.