Technician Scientist Apprentice Review

My day to day role is in the oncology department, specifically in Vivo. I work with animals, developing potential cancer therapies. I also formulate the compounds, as well as culturing cancerous cell lines. Amongst this, I also design projects with Senior Scientists, helping my development into a fully capable in Vivo research scientist.

In my role, I’ve added a government granted license, allowing me to perform regulated procedures on protected animals. This involved training in animal welfare. I have also become a first aider, which was offered to me and funded by AstraZeneca. I have also enhanced my chemistry skills by formulating compounds, and my biological knowledge of pathways within tissues and cells.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme. I work for a fantastic company which puts my development as a person and a scientist before their gain. Also doing my foundation degree alongside my job, gives me the background knowledge into what I’m actually doing for a job. I highly recommend this programme.

My programme is well structured due to the fantastic apprenticeship and early careers team at AstraZeneca. There are people dedicated to helping apprentices, with anything they need about the programme. I also have an amazing apprenticeship advisor from the university, that organised meetings with me and my manager regularly, offering help as well as guidance.

So much. My employer gives me everything outlined in my programme, and so much more. I’m given a manager, mentor, buddy and a wider support network. They also constantly look for new opportunities, to add to my growing skills list. I couldn’t ask for anything more from them.

To start with, I didn’t receive much support due to staff shortages (a lot to do with COVID). But after some reorganisation at the university, I’ve now got a lot of support from a dedicated advisor, who is always fully aware of what I’m doing both in my job and my foundation degree.

The course I’m taking is very good. It is a biology based degree, but with the view of how it works in the real world. All of my coursework is centred to my job role, and gives me both the generic knowledge of that subject, but stretches me to related it to my job.

I am part of the social team in my building at work, as well as a company based team that covers the country. I go to networking events (often virtual at the moment) as well as social events. We also ran a socially distanced sports day in the summer which was fun!

Yes

AstraZeneca always put their employees first. My managers constantly ask us if we’re happy, and if there’s something we feel could be improved, they strive to find solutions. Also I get a lot of benefits as an employee, which included private health care which let me get a long term condition fixed. Couldn’t think of a better company to work for!

Read the website! We have certain targets and thoughts that we really consider before making any decision. The biggest is ‘always putting the patient first’. If you find these and really buy into it, it makes you a perfect candidate. Also being a team player is key, always looking to help others.