Summer Research Student Review

I have just finished my summer placement working at GlaxoSmithKline. Here, I have been researching chemicals for drug discovery. This has been very useful for me personally at an academic level but also in terms of my employment prospects. Typically, I would start the day off in the lab to get a few results from previous days or set up new processes. I would then write up my findings. I would spend time discussing with my colleagues these results.

I was given responsibility to conduct experiments, independently write up my findings, and to make judgements based on those findings. These were in the context of working as part of a wider team, but my input was valued and therefore I did have a lot of responsibility. I was trusted to work safely with equipment. I was also given the responsibility to train others placement students in processes that I had become confident in myself.

I have learnt a lot of skills which will set me up very well for a career in science and research. I have learnt to interpret the result of experiments in a commercial environment. This specifically means I have learn to be able to view the results of an experiment from a profit maximising point of view. This is somewhat controversial but it is necessary for pharmaceutical companies to exist. I have learnt how to code as well.

I received a lot of support and guidance, particularly towards the beginning. This was necessary for health and safety reasons. I was given a lot of training on interpreting the results of experiments from a commercial point of view. This was useful because I am not particularly business minded, so the concept of revenues, costs and profits was still alien to me before the internship. I also learnt how to communicate my findings effectively to a wider audience.

The atmosphere is great. There are regular socials. There is a mixture of youth and experience among workers at GSK. This makes for a nice atmosphere because it provides a balance. I got the impression that a lot of people at GSK are ambitious but rightly so because it is a competitive company requiring a high barrier to entry. I also found that most people were willing to help me when required, with no qualms.

I really enjoyed my placement at GSK. It was a chance to put the skills I had learnt throughout the course of my Chemistry degree into practice. There was a lot of learning on the job, and this made for a great experience. I got on very well with my colleagues, when necessary because they were always willing to help me. Moreover, I enjoyed the regular social events that the company organised for us interns.

Yes