Biological sciences placement student Review

This year at GSK had been a lot of hard work in many respects but it has also been a blast! I was exposed to a huge number to different tools and techniques that up until this point, I had only learned about in theory. Also, socially, there were 9 other students in my department and we all got on very well which was a bonus.

I was based within the reagent generation side of GSK which allowed me to deliver protein that I expressed and purified myself. My supervisor and I would discuss the reasons why an experiment didnt work and I always felt like my thoughts were taken into account. As the year progressed, I difinitely felt as though my colleagues would trust my work. However, despite being given many responsibilities, there were times when I was very aware my collegues thought of me as a student and not a full-time employee.

Due to the nature of my project, I was given two supervisors. This had its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, I could feed off the expertise from two people rather than one. However, all too often I was fed conflicting information. Different styles and techniques in the lab with both sure that their own method was the best. Both were always willing to give up their time and were very supportive. However, neither ever having a full grasp of what I had been doing had it's drawbacks and might have given me a more diluted level of support in the long-term. Saying this, I did seem to be unique in my position. The majority of the other students had just the one supervisor.

For the most part, I was treated as a full-time employee. This allowed me to get a real taste of how hard full-time work can be. Of course, some times can be busier than others but I always felt able to talk to my immediate supervisor about dialing down the work load if it became too much.

I think this ties in with most of what I said about feeling valued. Of course you are a student and are not given the same responsibility as a full-time employee. However over the course of the year, you tend to become a lot more comfortable in your own ability and that tends to reflect in the level of resposibility you recieve.

Skills-wise, I couldnt reccomend doing a placement with GSK more. So many of the techniques that you learn about in theory at university are a part of your every day at GSK. I have no doubt that I have become a stronger scientist and far more employable by undertaking this year.

All the offices were different but I was put with a great bunch of full-time employees.

The placement was very well organized.

In some ways the company gives you even more opportunities to branch out and try different areas of science than the full-time employees, Although they were trying to reduce spending while I was there, I never felt it prevented me from being allowed to try new things.

As much as I love my placement with GSK, toward the end of my year there was a company-wide re-shuffle which resulted in substantial job losses. I find it hard to belive that there would be a space for me in the organisation as it stands, Although, if offered a job here, I would find it hard to refuse. I also do not think this is purely a reflection of GSK but of the entire scientific jobs market at the moment. I would say that GSK's product pipeline puts it in a far stronger position than many other pharmaceutical companies out there and given 5 years, I believe that the job prospects would be far higher.

There are roughly 100 students at GSK and I would say that over my year I got to know at least 50 of them. I had the advantage of living with students in a couple of different departments which allowed me to meet a few different groups of students. I would say that I have shared some of the best times of my year with the friends that I have made in the other students.

Very good considering London is so close. I payed ~£310 p/m for my accomodation in a fairly nice house and good area.

Poor if you are looking for clubs, though London is only a 20min train away. There are loads of really nice pubs in the area also, especially in Old Town Stevenage and nearby Hitchin.

If you have a car your oppertunities dramatically increase. Though Stevenage has a surprising nuber of clubs and societies if you know where to look. My flatmate got involved early in Stevenage symphony orchestra and I found a great church close to my house in Old town Stevenage. Travel within Stevenage is easy too due to the extensive cycle paths. I guess in the end, like anywhere, it is what you make of it.