Research & Development Undergraduate Industrial Placement Studentship Review

I was on a lab-based 12-month placement in early Respiratory and Immunology. I was assigned my own novel project to support the work of my team and department, to develop something that hadn't been reproduced at AstraZeneca before. Day to day most of my time was spent in the lab, with one to one/team/department meetings, data analysis, lab write-ups taking up most of the rest of my time. We are also given time weekly to complete university work and for personal development, like learning new skills e.g. coding.

I have been given lots of responsibility and independence during my placement. Of course, to begin with I was supported, whilst adjusting to this new environment, but as I have grown more confident, I have had the opportunity to take a certain level of control over my project and choose which directions I would like to take it in, whilst supporting the team at the same time. My supervisors have encouraged self-sufficiency and my learning by making mistakes, whilst always being there if I ever have a question, this has been a key part of my progression.

My laboratory skills and experience has come on leaps and bounds during this placement, with the opportunity to practice existing skills such as cell culture and learn new many new skills and techniques, whilst utilising highly advanced equipment.
More importantly, I have had the opportunity to build on transferable skills, such as presentation skills, leadership skills, organisation and communication. The opportunities to present your work are endless and the support that AstraZeneca provide is amazing.
Also, working at such a large, successful and pioneering company has been amazing for increasing my scientific knowledge, gain experience in a professional environment and make meaningful connections.

The support and guidance has been fantastic from my supervisors, mentors, colleagues and the year in industry coordinator. Rarely has a question gone unanswered, nor have I felt like a nuisance. The amount of support I received has been perfect, enabling my growth by not wrapping me in bubble wrap and allowing me to make mistakes, but always being there to help me learn from them and prevent anything from going seriously wrong.

The company culture and general atmosphere has been great within my team, department and all the other placement students. Meeting up with your colleagues and learning from them is highly encouraged to make as many connections as possible and gain different insights into people's jobs and lives. My team have always been very supportive and friendly and we often have team lunches. There are also Fika's (coffee catch-ups) within my department, which is great to meet and interact with people who you might not see as often as your team. Also having so many placement students in one space makes for a great community of similar-minded people to make friends with during your placement year. Lastly, AstraZeneca has a dedicated ERG (employee resource group) for early talent, which host many events with professional and social focusses, to meet even more people at a similar age. Some of these social events are, for example, monthly socials, the summer formal, christmas formal, early talent showcases and many more.

I had an amazing time on my placement year and would recommend it to anybody who is looking for a lab-based placement. The professional development and social opportunities have been amazing and I've always felt well-supported by my supervisors and the company. They are very experienced in hosting cohorts of placement students, so it is a great environment for a year in industry. The opportunities for personal and skill development are near endless. I would recommend doing a placement to everyone interested, the experience is so highly valued by future employers for a reason.

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