Technician Scientist Review

Development and optimisation of assays, applied to projects covering a variety of therapy areas that AstraZeneca is involved in. This involves use of automation, cell culturing, high-throughput screening etc. After acquiring results, my role involves me reporting back the findings to my immediate or project team

Whilst in my apprenticeship I have come on leaps and bounds with my communication skills, whether this is presenting or conversations with other scientists at AstraZeneca. I would say it certainly develops your attention to detail as you continuously make sure you cover all bases when feeding back data or knowledge. My practical lab experience has developed massively whilst in my apprenticeship, where I'm applying complex concepts to hands on assays via various scientific procedures.

I have loved my time on the programme so far, the opportunities that apprentices at AstraZeneca are great whether that is internally or even externally. There is a great community of apprentices across various areas of the business which allows you to pick up knowledge quickly about the business as well as having people in a similar age group, to share struggles and socialise with!

I would say my programme is very well structured, or as much as it can be as a scientist - even with the various delays that are out of your teams control, I have always kept progressing throughout my programme and with my university study.

There are a variety of people that I can ask for help at AstraZeneca. If its project specific, you have an abundance of professionals in the area that can clear up any gaps you have in theory or other issues surrounding on-the-job work. We also receive massive support to develop ourselves and seek extracurricular opportunities to better our soft skills!

Due to being a part-time student it can be difficult to balance work and a university degree, being off campus too can make it difficult to get the support needed sometimes but most of the time help is only an email away!

The content provided in my Applied Bioscience degree relates well to my work in the lab. Sometimes you get exposed to high-level terminology which you physically will not know coming from level 3 education, however whilst being on the degree , step by step it has given me an understanding of terminology that I need to know, so has been very useful

There are tons of extra-curricular activities that the apprenticeship scheme supplies, whether this is the social society, going to apprentice-based conferences/networking events or volunteering.

Yes

I believe AstraZeneca a lot right for a young person in the business, they supply with various opportunities for growth and exposure to some of the best professionals in each area, which naturally improves your ability and skills. The benefits along side the role obviously make work-life balance better and there is a massive push for initiatives surrounding mental health and wellbeing.

Be yourself!, first and foremost I think it is easy become almost robotic in your application and say what you think the employer will want you to say. By doing this I think you remove your individualism and USP that makes you stand out - I'm not saying don't prepare yourself but try to make sure your personality shines through as at the end of the day, yes it is about your qualifications and what you have done, but most importantly about who you are and how you will fit into the current environment.