Scientist (Undergraduate Industrial Placement Student) Review
at AstraZeneca
Placement (10 Months+)
Science, Research, Pharmaceutical
Cambridge
Review Submitted: July 2023
Overall Rating
3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
3.5/5
-
Skills Development
4/5
-
Support and Guidance
2.3/5
-
Company Culture
2/5
-
Overall Experience
3/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
I would analyse animal samples from preclinical drug trials using various ligand-binding platforms (depending on the drug) to determine the concentration of drug in the animal sample, in aims of creating a PK profile.
I will sometimes be tabulating data in the office, or planning experiments. I often need to order reagents and make up buffers, as well as record all aspects of the analyses I complete.
I will sometimes be tabulating data in the office, or planning experiments. I often need to order reagents and make up buffers, as well as record all aspects of the analyses I complete.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
Yes I was made bioanalysis lead for a specific project which had multiple studies and was trialling new drug modalities, so I was responsible for delivering data and developing assays that would robustly provide data.
Also, I was a 'superuser' of a specific instrument which meant I was responsible for training other colleagues (some with PhDs) and creating SOPs and best-practice documents.
Also, I was a 'superuser' of a specific instrument which meant I was responsible for training other colleagues (some with PhDs) and creating SOPs and best-practice documents.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
4/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
As far as wet lab skills, the only skill I have really developed is pipetting. I haven't particularly learned any new wet lab skills other than this.
As far as soft skills go, I have developed my ability to troubleshoot and my patience.
As far as soft skills go, I have developed my ability to troubleshoot and my patience.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
2/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
4/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
3/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
In terms of technical support, there was plenty of this with everyone in the team being eager to support you and answer any questions you have.
As far as pastoral support, there is very little. Especially if, like me, you're too insecure to talk to anyone in your team or your line manager about any of your concerns/issues.
As far as pastoral support, there is very little. Especially if, like me, you're too insecure to talk to anyone in your team or your line manager about any of your concerns/issues.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
4/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
4/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
You are a 'contracted worker' for AZ and as such do not have access to a lot of the company features.
There is a STRONG emphasis on entrepreneurial aspects and money.
Psychological safety and inter-team collaboration are also quite poor at this company.
Other than the restriction imposed on contractors, the company does seem to value its employees and, at least in my team, there is a lot of trust and little micro-management.
There is a STRONG emphasis on entrepreneurial aspects and money.
Psychological safety and inter-team collaboration are also quite poor at this company.
Other than the restriction imposed on contractors, the company does seem to value its employees and, at least in my team, there is a lot of trust and little micro-management.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
3/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
2/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
2/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
2/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
If I had been in a better place, mentally, I probably would've enjoyed the year much more.
Overall, I won't look back on this year too fondly, but I maintain that having done this placement has been a net-positive (primarily due to the notoriety of AZ and being able to list this on a CV).
In terms of professional development, this placement has nothing to do with my degree which limited enjoyment.
Overall, I won't look back on this year too fondly, but I maintain that having done this placement has been a net-positive (primarily due to the notoriety of AZ and being able to list this on a CV).
In terms of professional development, this placement has nothing to do with my degree which limited enjoyment.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
1/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
3/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at AstraZeneca
3/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca
Make sure you're aware of the company values before your interview and milk them for all you can.
In the assessment centre group exercise, they don't care what you say, they just want to see you contributing and facilitating respectful exchange of ideas, the ideas themselves can be nonsense.
Make sure you socialise; with a 9-5 it's easy to just go to work then go home alone - don't do this!
In the assessment centre group exercise, they don't care what you say, they just want to see you contributing and facilitating respectful exchange of ideas, the ideas themselves can be nonsense.
Make sure you socialise; with a 9-5 it's easy to just go to work then go home alone - don't do this!
