Placement student Review

I loved my placement. I learnt so much throughout the year and was made to feel welcome by everyone I worked with. I would recommend it to anyone!

I always felt valued by my colleagues. I felt they respected the work I was doing, showed an interest and trusted the data I produced.

I was given plenty of support by my supervisor. She was always there when I had any questions and I never felt inferior even when I felt I was asking stupid questions.

There was a good balance for most of my placement but there was a short period when my project changed so work was slow and I was often bored.

I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility but ultimately the decisions lay with my supervisor and I ran most things past her first.

As my placement was lab-based and I would like a career in a lab, the skills I developed will serve me throughout life. I have also developed presentation, literature research and writing skills.

There was a balance in my office. We had a good laugh at times but there were also people who did not see eye-to-eye so there could also be tension between people.

It was perfectly organised. GSK take on so many placement students every year that they have plenty of practice.

We had a lot of training at the start of the placement to equip us for the year ahead. After this there was not much in terms of training courses but students were encourged to attend lectures and conferences to broaden our knowledge. I also did two department presentations and was given feedback on how I progressed throughout the year.

I have applied for some graduate schemes with GSK but they don't do a lab-based scheme. I am unlikely to get a lab based job at GSK unless I do a PhD.

Yes there was. I lived at home rather than in Stevenage with the other students but I was still invited to many social events. There were informal socials within my department but also ones organised by GSK and the placement student society at GSK.

I lived at home so this wasn't really applicable. My limited experience of Stevenage was that it was reasonably priced given it's close proximity to London.

There was only one club in Stevenage and it wasn't great! But we had plenty of house parties and Stevenage is close to London so there was plenty to do there.

There were a couple of sports teams but I wouldn't say there were endless opportunities. We had a community day where our department re-did a school garden - that was great fun.