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Higherin
AstraZeneca

Intern Review

at AstraZeneca

Internship (1 Month+)

Science, Medicine

Cambridge

Review Submitted: November 2021

Overall Rating

4.9 /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!

5/5 - Overview of Role
5/5 - Skills Development
5/5 - Support and Guidance
4.8/5 - 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.
At the beginning, it was mostly independent reading and notetaking to get myself familiar with the clinical knowledge. My supervisors also connected me with other professionals within the company who helped to provide guidance and feedback. Daily tasks included quick update to supervisors, discussing next steps, asking questions, doing research, using TriNetX / Excel / PowerPoint, and problem-solving. A large part required a proactive approach to make sure that I was meeting the objectives accurately and efficiently.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
I was given full responsibility and autonomy for the two tasks that I was assigned, which were meaningful in that they provided preliminary results and inititative for ongoing endothelin receptor antagonists drug development. While I continuously sought confirmation and approval for the things that I was unsure of, the suggestions that I made were always taken into account. I was also fortunate enough to be given co-authorship for the abstracts submitted to an international conference.
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 had the chance to apply my independent research, scientific writing, and mathematics/statistics skills in a professional setting, which greatly benefits me as I hope to become a research scientist. I also gained more confidence in my communication skills, through numerous online meetings and two oral presentations. I was able to expand my interpersonal skills through working collaboratively with physicians and epidemiologists in the company.
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?
My supervisors were highly supportive and thorough with explanations so that I could gain a deeper understanding of each tasks, allowing me to acheive results to the best of my ability. There were many contacts available that I could reach out for guidance on specialist knowledge, and they always gave swift responses. Most of all, the atmosphere was inclusive and everyone was totally understanding and patience around the extra requirements for my hearing disability.
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?
Me and another intern were invited to join the wider project update meeting with about 100 employees and a few key speakers, which covered the recent advances and emerging problems in CVRM medicine/diseases. The general atmosphere was highly motivational, ambitious and inclusive. Even as a remote intern, I felt a sense of belonging and pride working at AZ. My line managers were friendly and approachable, and I did not feel pressurised at all.
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?
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?
I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and would recommend it to anyone in Life Science disciplines. I could feel a strong social responsibility and significance with the work that I was doing, and I would definitely consider a career at AZ.
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
Look out for their advertisement on Student Ladder or Bright Network. Do some research about the company before your interview, prepare yourself in mock interviews, and don't be nervous! Next, reach out to your supervisor about the assignment and try to familiarise yourself with the topic before the internship commences. I had no prior experience in pharmacology/ pharmacy but I think they are welcoming to anyone who has a desire to learn!
In This Review
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