Process Chemistry Internship Review
at AstraZeneca
Internship (1 Month+)
Science, Research
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: August 2024
Overall Rating
5 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Support and Guidance
5/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
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 is to investigate amide forming reactions in water. I work mostly in the lab, screening parameters and conditions of this particular reaction using model substrates. I assess the reaction progression involved, purify and isolate the products in order to characterize them, and also synthesize impurities to profile them.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
A sufficient amount: being in charge of setting up, executing, monitoring, and characterizing my own reactions after training and supervision. At the same time, it was not too overwhelming, and I could seek advice where required as well.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
5/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
I've learnt how to fundamentally optimize a reaction using design of experiment concepts. I've also learnt how to sample for and analyse UPLC-MS chromatograms, in addition to using other equipment like the EasyMax and automated Karl-Fischer titration machines. Lastly, I've gained theoretical and practical knowledge in the synthesis of amide bond formations in water and the relevant factors that affect it.
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?
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
5/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
There was an incredibly wide range of support and guidance provided. In addition to my own direct supervisors teaching and assisting me with my experiments as well as my line manager providing me the welfare support I needed, the team I worked in gave me lots of assistance where required, and the others working in the office or lab were also very open to discussing ideas and teaching me more of their expertise.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
5/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
5/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
Extremely friendly and helpful. You could ask anybody for help in any area and they would be really willing to help you out or direct you toward the relevant parties. It was a joy to work in such a supportive and collaborative environment and I really could not have asked for more. People here appear to enjoy their work very much and that enthusiasm translates to their interactions with each other. A truly enjoyable experience.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
5/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
5/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
5/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
It was incredibly enjoyable and I learnt a lot from it. From the technical skills in the lab, to soft skills such as communication and presentation skills, as well as the big picture of how the pharmaceutical industry is structure and how it is run at all different levels. I gained insights into how chemistry is discussed in addition to upper-level management decision-making. It is really exciting to see how the company comes together to work towards the common goal of drug discovery and development.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at AstraZeneca
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca
Keep an open mind and be receptive to learning new things. AstraZeneca possesses a incredibly collaborative and inclusive culture in a collaborative effort to advance the science it develops. There are so many areas in AstraZeneca that involve working together and open communication, where people build on each others' expertise to push the barriers of cutting-edge science to produce ground-breaking research. The application process also allows one to discover more about oneself and reflect on one's goals and eventual career options, so I believe there is limited drawbacks to applying to AstraZeneca!
