Industrial Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement working in the Neuroscience team of AstraZeneca. I found the experience very educational in both learning new lab techniques as well as learning how to function in a scientific team and professional environment. I got the opportunity to independently carry out my project and plan and conduct experiments, which I hadn't had the chance otherwise when at university. The placement was not easy by any means, but the challenge was a great experience of learning how to support myself and learning how to ask for help from others.

My team was really supportive. In the company it is common for students and young professionals to be entering the workplace, so the culture fostered is one of understanding. All of my colleagues knew what was expected of me, and were supportive in offering their personal expertise and knowledge to help enrich my experience. Open dialogue and discussion is frequent between the whole team, and your opinion and perspective is valued, whatever your professional experience or age.

I personally had a great experience with my supervisor. He was very understanding of my nervousness at the beginning of the placement, because he too once went on a placement himself. My supervisor walked me through experimental techniques several times, and slowly we transitioned to supervised and finally unsupervised lab work. We were able to be very honest with each other about what I wanted from the placement, and how I could push myself to achieve my goals and improve, as well as acknowledging my successes and improvements over time. My supervisor has not only been my greatest support in the workplace, but has been helpful in helping me consider my plans for the future.

Depending on the content of you project this can vary. Especially in a lab based placement, there are some days where you can be in the lab for the entire day, and some days you won't be in the lab at all. This variability means that your days are never to repetitive or boring, but requires forward planning in what you need to do in the lab, and what you can do when you are not in the lab. Personally, I did not find it too stressful of an environment, and even if I was getting too busy I could always talk to my supervisor or colleagues about getting help or managing my workload.

The project that each placement student carries out is almost their sole responsibility, and they tend to be the main scientist for researching and carrying out experiments for that area. However this is usually linked to work being carried out by your supervisor, colleagues or teams at the same time so you are not on your own with everything, especially at the start of the placement. By the middle and end of my placement I was entrusted by my supervisor to manage my own time and report updates to him regularly, so was responsible for my own lab work and write ups.

This experience has been really helpful in developing relevant skills for my degree and career. I study Neuroscience at university, and wanted to get a lab based placement in the same field, so I was very grateful for this opportunity. I have been able to learn experimental techniques at a proficient level that I can plan the experiments and carry them out independently, which I didn't yet have an opportunity to while in university. I also learned about what it is like to work in a research lab in industry, which was informative as for my future career path I still wish to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research.

The overall atmosphere of the workplace was very friendly and supportive, while maintaining professionalism. There were plenty of events organised for the company outside the office, where people could relax and have fun. Everyone who I have encountered at the company has an amazing passion for science and drive to work hard, work well as a team and collaboratively, and do good science. I was able to make plenty of friends from work with other placement students, apprentices and phD students.

The organisation of the day to day of the placement was more up to the supervisor than any other administration. Some people helped with transitioning into work at the beginning, but most of what I got to do while I was on my placement was down to my supervisor. I was able to have some input as well due to the nature of my project but this is not always the case. Overall the work placement was very well organised and felt like working a job where I was valued, independent but supported and working on a unique project.

Again, personal development is more the responsibility of yourself and your supervisor. I was able to set up goals and me and my supervisor planned out ways for me to develop my skills and challenge myself. I especially struggled with public speaking and delivering presentations, and there were plenty of opportunities in the workplace for me to do this. There was also the AZinspire group, organised by and for young professionals in the company where there was many opportunities to learn about other areas of the company. Online training also played a part in development and learning in the company.

There are plenty of entry-level opportunities at the company, and the culture very much encourages new faces, and young scientists to learn and enter fields of research. I myself am interested in the graduate schemes and phDs through the company but right now am keeping doors open. There have been plenty of times when previous placement students have gone on to be on the graduate scheme so it can happen for some people. If people are interested they can choose to pursue that.

My office had several other placement students, so we all got to know each other well and become friends. There are also plenty of other placement students based at different sites that I got to know. AZinspire was a group for young professionals in the company, including placement students, apprentices, grad schemes, phD students and scientists, and offered plenty of opportunity to network and meet other young people in the company. There were numerous events organised by AZinspire, as well as the company where colleagues could socialise.

Cambridge is not a cheap area by any means, and is comparative to London in property rental prices. Most students and young people at the company and in general live in house shares with their friends and colleagues which helps balance the budget. Working 9 to 5 on most days, means that I would want to relax during weekdays, leaving only weekends to socialise and go out. You won't go out as much as at university, but students will always find a way to do things on the cheap!

Cambridge is not renowned for crazy nightlife, there are several pubs, and some clubs, but nothing life changing. And with working a full time job, going out all the time is not really a priority either way. I would recommend Cambridge more for its scenery, and being a hub for scientific research than being a party capital. There are trains to London that you can take if going out is something you want to do for a special occasion.

There were plenty of volunteering activities organised through the company, and an on site gym for people interested in sport. You could also be part of the AZinspire committee involved in organising events. There are also public/ student open activities organised by Cambridge University and in Cambridge in general if people want to be involved in sports clubs or other clubs. There are plenty of opportunities if you look for them, and they are not necessarily expensive.