Bioinformatics Scientist Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical
Cambridge
Review Submitted: January 2025
Overall Rating
4.5 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
My role is working on the development and continued maintenance of bioinformatics tools used to handle and process large data sets that come from wet lab investigations and experimentations. The purpose of the tools is to be able to make meaningful interpretations of the raw data reliably and with consistency.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
My programme is very engaging, difficult in a way that keeps me learning. It has been very enjoyable settling into the company and learning about how the company operates. It has been great to meet so many people and I have been given a wide support network that is very encouraging
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
In the 4 months I have been hear I have learnt many new skills specific to my role. this includes new programming languages like python, java, and javascript, as well as the use of version control systems, network fundamentals and many others. I have also been able to maintain my existing IT skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The company side of the program feels very organised from an induction point of view. The job role itself focusses on a more ad hoc training style that makes sense for the kind of role it is. This still comes with a good structure when planning with my manager and team. The University side has felt less so, with a few admin issues at the start of the course
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The support I get from my employer is more than I could have expected. The systems in place for support are very clearly communicated and includes support for general work queries, travel support, IT, and finance. The support in the role is also great with my manager being very adaptable to where I think I need to focus my learning and how it fits into a project.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The support from the training provider feels less clearly communicated. I had a few issues with enrolment communications as a part time student, and the course structure itself seems fitted very specifically to a learning style that doesn't fit everyone
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The content that is taught in the course is definitely a useful broad set of skills for working in bioinformatics. However the depth of the content for any given module feels fairly shallow as they are trying to cover 8 different topics worth of content in less than 6 months which leaves me with felling like I know "of" the topics and not understand them
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There is a wide range of things to be involved with at work, including apprentice specific events for socialising and networking. There are many opportunities to meet people from other teams including in work and after work
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a supportive place that provides a very good view of the world of industry from a pharmaceutical perspective. The work atmosphere very much encourages personal development and seeks to maintain peoples happiness while at work
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Showing you are enthusiastic about the role, field of work, and the company is a good way to indicate that you would fit in well at AZ and would enjoy working here
