Organic Synthetic Chemist Review

To initiate, GSK gave us an introductory week at Bristol University. This was a fantastic opportunity to be welcomed to all of the other industrial placement students who I would be with throughout the year as well as a great reminder of laboratory etiquette prior to spending the next year within one. From this, my fears of integration were wiped away when starting work at GSK. Consequently, I was able to more confidently perform the chemistry within my assigned team and approach people who I didn't know before. The building sessions were a fun way of interacting with everyone from the department and made me feel incredibly welcomed.

We were treated as if we were members of staff - which we indeed were - but more on a training level. This was to be expected as we needed the necessary training to become more independent when given objectives. This did not make me feel devalued as I always felt that we were necessary for the progress that was made. Team meetings allowed us to explore our projects with everyone, in which the whole team was available to give constructed feedback. This confirmed for me that I would have an impact on productivity at GSK, solidifying my sense of feeling valued as a fellow employee.

My supervisor always ensured that I was making progress and helped me whenever necessary. They organised fortnightly meetings in which we were able to discuss the ongoings of the past two weeks and develop any ideas related to the synthetic chemistry within the lab. This was a great opportunity as I would assimilate my personal supervisor to a personal tutor in the sense that I learnt plenty of synthetic techniques, both theoretically and practically, from them.

There was never a short supply of things to do on placement. This may seem as though it was overwhelming, however, I simply mean to say that there was always the opportunity to make progress but never once did I feel like I wasn't able to keep up. The work we were doing was continuous. This was fantastic for my development as I always felt I could explore novel pathways to certain synthetic routes whilst never feeling like there was too much on my plate.

This developed throughout the placement. To begin, we were at the initial stage of being introduced to GSK's lab practice and the accompanying projects. My supervisor helped introduce me to the protocol and the synthetic objectives. Throughout the placement, you definitely develop an industrial awareness that helps productivity in the lab. By the new year (4-5 months into the placement) you become independent in the lab, only being assigned molecules to synthesize. When given a molecule, you design your own process (synthetic pathway) and then confirm this with your supervisor. Upon confirmation, the following process was your responsibility to undertake. It was very rewarding to see my own work for GSK be used within a potential new small-molecule inhibitor.

As a third year student coming back to university for my final masters year, I feel a great deal more comfortable performing independently on my project. The formatted approach I have learnt to integrate will help me plan my research and presentations successfully. During undergraduate, the synthetic lab processes are coordinated by the uni, rather than by myself, however, during my masters' project, I will be developing processes more independently with my supervisor. Before, I would feel less confident in my ability to do this, however, undertaking this process daily at GSK has given me great confidence in my ability; in which I believe my masters year will be more of a benefit and success.

Everyone was approachable. There was never a time in which I felt uncomfortable approaching someone for help as everyone was building up one another. The lab is right next to the office - this makes it easier to compartmentalize certain work types but I spent most of my time within the lab. Being that I was surrounded by members of the project team I was in - including my supervisor - as well as members of other projects, I found it a friendly atmosphere for development and a good insight into what else I could be working on in the future within industry.

From the introductory week, Bristol University was a fantastic opportunity to be welcomed back to laboratory etiquette. This process fed straight into the GSK lab integration. This process was developed well for industrial placement students and I felt welcomed to the team. During Coronavirus and UK lockdown, it was difficult to feel as productive as I was within the lab as there was less of an opportunity to undertake work related to the project. But, there was an opportunity to join other projects. Which, in hindsight, was fantastic to get a better understanding of what other teams were doing; also networking with other members of GSK was an eye-opener relative to how other chemists think.

There was a lot of online training in the initial two weeks of which is a protocol for the safety of staff at any corporation - this was incredibly beneficial in the long-term, albeit somewhat tedious in the short. I felt GSK had satisfactorily prepared me for the ensuing year, providing opportunities throughout in which I could develop my presenting skills, teamwork skills, organisational skills, confidence etc. Presenting was especially prevalent during the lockdown - industrial placement students were given the opportunity to develop project posters as well as articles to present to other members of staff at GSK. A great opportunity to develop presenting skills and network with staff.

GSK has a great Ph.D. scheme that is available for postgraduates, which I will be applying for during my master's year. There is the option to apply without a Ph.D. and work as a full-time employee within the teams. Many staff members were well established and successful chemists without the need for Ph.D. studies. GSK have sites all over the country focussing on a multitude of different business sectors. The opportunity to branch into other avenues separate from chemistry is also an inviting pathway.

Being introduced to everyone within the first week at Bristol University, I found it a fantastic way to get involved. We decided to start a football team, every week we would rent out a pitch at the local Stevenage football ground and have a good kick about. This was a brilliant way to compartmentalize work-life and social life. Although, with that being said, the social-life at work was great. We were always able to talk in the lab (work-safety providing) and were never short of opportunities to discuss everyone's life in our daily tea-breaks.

Being a local suburb of London, prices were somewhat inflated relative to the UK average. However, the wage for the placement accounted for this - especially relative to placements in other areas of the UK. The accommodation was easy to find as the local letting agents seem to be aware of the yearly intake of IP students at GSK. However, some houses are quite far from the site itself. There is a free connecting shuttle bus that gets you directly to the site from the train station, but this is only beneficial depending on if you live close to the station. Unless you have a car or a bike, you may find yourself walking up to 20 minutes before getting to the site. Definitely a refreshment for the morning start, however - so it has it's benefits. There is strip called Old Town - this is the best social area full of different cultured pubs and restaurants in Stevenage second to the leisure park next to the station. You can EASILY access London - 20 minute train for at max a tenner.

Nightlife in London is a fun experience, however, in Stevenage it is minimal. The 'spoons is always open and they are inviting to everyone. Furthermore, there is a local bar by the name BABs (Bar and Beyond) which seems to be the 'go-to' for the party animals of the placement students. We had a meal in London to celebrate Christmas as a team in which we joined the other teams and went on a London pub crawl (very fun) and also there is a new year's party for IP students.

In terms of activities outside of work, GSK provided little opportunity to partake in any. Stevenage does have a leisure park, novelty does indeed wear off after the first visit, however. London is the safest bet for activities. With that being said, Cambridge is easy to access - I spent a couple of days there throughout the placement; beautiful city, and a relaxing break from the Stevenage area. Football was also good fun every Wednesday, I would encourage those starting placements to organize sports teams or gym partners!