Business Title (UIPS) - BioPharmaceutical and Oncology Research & Development Review
at AstraZeneca
Placement (10 Months+)
Research
Cambridge
Review Submitted: June 2024
Overall Rating
3.9 /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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
4.5/5
-
Skills Development
3/5
-
Support and Guidance
4.3/5
-
Company Culture
3.5/5
-
Overall Experience
4/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
My role as a researcher involves spending at least half my time in the lab completing experiments like cell culture and assays. The rest of my time will be at my desk analysing data, planning experiments and writing them up: or in meetings with my team and department.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
My supervisor took quite a hands off approach once I had been trained in the techniques I would need to carry out. This meant that it was then up to me to design plan and carry out the experiments needed for my project. It felt a bit daunting at first but it's made me very self sufficient in the lab and really improved my problem solving skills.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
3/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
I have massively expanded my lab based skills and analytical skills. I have learnt numerous new techniques and procedures that I wouldn't have been exposed to at university. My time management skill have also really improved as well as interpersonal skills like communication and teamwork. My confidence has also really grown not only in the lab but also in networking with colleagues and others in the pharmaceutical industry.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
4/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
4/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
At the beginning I was supervised the majority of the time I was in the lab, but that quickly transitioned into me being independent. For quite a bit of my placement I wasn't given huge amounts of guidance and it was up to me to seek out work which wasn't ideal. The placement coordinator was helpful in making sure I was given more support and supervision,
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
3/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
3/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The company culture is very friendly and it does feel like there is a community of people. The site puts on events with free food to encourage people to chat and socialise. Overall I'd say its a very nice company to work within the staff are treated well.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
4/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
4/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
4/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
I didn't enjoy the first 6 months of my placement to a huge extent as I wasn't that supported or given very much work to do. I also don't particularly like the lab work aspect of the role as I find it quite stressful. Since I've been supported more and I've become more confident in the lab I have enjoyed by placement more.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
3/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
4/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at AstraZeneca
4/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a very welcoming company and the placement scheme is very well set up with lots of other students on the scheme. I would recommend knowing that you enjoy doing lab work before starting the programme as this is what the majority of your time will be spent doing.
