Undergraduate Industrial Placement Student R&D Review

About 80% of the week will be spent in the lab, with the rest dedicated to data analysis and admin. My project focuses on cell biology and microscopy, so week tends to involve tissue culture, immunostaining, imaging, and analysis. In between, there are a couple of meetings, talks relating to key research in other functions, and some networking events. It was never an overwhelming amount of work, with no expectation to put in extra hours or stay later, and my supervisor would be there to help if I needed it.

My lab skills have greatly improved over the past year in techniques such as tissue culture, widefield microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, western blotting, and transient/stable transfections. I would spend 20-30 hours a week hands-on in the lab, compared to 2-4 at university, so had plenty of opportunity for practice and gaining confidence in these skills. I have also gained experience in presenting to large groups either via a spoken presentation or posters, networking with other individuals, and learning how to handle myself in both a friendly yet professional way. I feel much more prepared to enter a working environment in the future.

My supervisor initially spent a lot of time with me in the first month or two of my placement to help develop my laboratory skills, whilst guiding me on how to plan experiments and manage time effectively. However, after some training, I was lucky to gain a lot of independence in my day-to-day role. I would plan my own time, run my own experiments, and was trusted with producing high-quality data to support company interests.

I never felt like I was unable to receive the help that I needed at any of points that I faced difficulty. Work was definitely more guided at the beginning of the placement, and then I was given some space to work on developing skills independently as time progressed. There are many people aside from your supervisor that can be turned to for help within your department, and the collaborative working environment at AstraZeneca helps encourage you to reach out to people outside of this group as well. However, I think that it was just as supporting to know that I could be trusted with my work without constant guidance as it allowed me to become confident in myself.

AstraZeneca has the most positive working environment that I have experienced so far in any of my previous roles. The company takes its collaborative working environment very seriously, with no individual being considered "out of reach" despite their position or importance at the company. The Discovery Centre has been an amazing place to work since it became functional in September of 2023, with all scientists in Cambridge now working together under the same roof. The work/life balance is good too, with no expectation to overwork yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement. The exposure to an industrial setting has solidified for me that this is the type of environment that I would like to see myself working in in the future. I have felt like I have made a difference to my team and to the company with the work that I have been completing this past year, and I will be leaving the placement with a sense of pride and gratitude for the opportunity I have been given.

Yes

Show your enthusiasm towards science and research, and why you would fit in with the AstraZeneca values. Also, don't worry too much about the technical interview if you get through the initial application. It is very application-based rather than the "what you know", so no preparation is necessarily needed other than your previous knowledge on the subject area.