R&D Material Engineering Placement Student Review

I was a research scientist who focused on the development of more sustainable compounds for formulations. On a day-to-day basis, I would analyse compounds and work on the method development for testing compounds.

This placement has provided me with a variety of new skills, including enhanced communication, organisation, and conflict resolution skills. In addition to this, my problem solving and time management skills have improved due to balancing both university and company work. With regards to my project, I developed a variety of practical skills including analytical, method development, and other technical skills. The skills I gained from the lab were particularly beneficial and have prepared me well for research jobs within the chemical industry. Furthermore, the soft skills I have developed are very useful and can be translated into other industries and careers.

During my placement, I was given quite a few different responsibilities throughout, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was given the opportunity to showcase my ability to manage multiple projects/tasks and given the freedom to explore my project in depth. I thoroughly enjoyed taking ownership of my work and seeing how my input has an impact on the trajectory of the project. I became more confident in the work and results I produced and was grateful that my team valued my opinions and thoughts. Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to chair my own meetings and share ideas which I had previously never had the opportunity to do so.

Throughout my time, I was given sufficient guidance and support in my project which I greatly appreciated. Upon joining the team, my project manager created a very supportive environment and their approach was particularly helpful given I was a new starter. As my project progressed, I was given more responsibilities and this helped me to develop my decision-making skills. Guidance and support was always available in relation to my project however, when dealing with conflicts within the office I felt quite isolated and had to navigate issues alone. I did not feel supported by my line manager with regards to bullying I faced in the office from management, and felt as though my wellbeing was negatively impacted by this.

I enjoyed some aspect of the company culture including the welcoming environment created by my team and colleagues. However, I did experience some bullying from people in management roles and felt incredibly isolated at times. I was not supported by my line manager nor did I feel as though I could approach them about the issues I was facing. This impacted my wellbeing negatively and created an environment in which I did not feel supported. As a result, this has negatively impacted my opinion on returning to Unilever in future.

To some extent, I did enjoy my placement. I particularly enjoyed my project and the direction in which I helped steer its development. My project managers were fantastic and incredibly supportive. Their guidance and support were invaluable and without them I would have struggled. The practical skills I learnt and the people I met in my team were great and the industry experience I gained were greatly beneficial. Despite this, I feel that the bullying from management and the lack of support from my line manager significantly reduced my enjoyment and impacted my physical and mental wellbeing poorly.

No

I would recommend that they plan their weeks and ensure they manage their time efficiently to ensure they balance both project and university work. With regards to university work, ensuring that they plan ample time in the week, outside of their project, is crucial to this balance. Furthermore, I would recommend making the most of the people whom you work with and networking with people in the company whose work you are interested in. This is particularly beneficial if you are interested in this field or the specific work they are involved in. I found it very interesting to learn about other people's career paths and academic backgrounds, as I was unsure where I wanted my career to go.