Junior Technician Review

I work on pharmaceutical projects in early drug discovery. My daily tasks include cell culture, lab upkeep and running assays for client projects.

I have learnt many new skills as I have rotated around the analytical, pharmaceutical and biology departments. I have also developed my soft skills considerably.

I enjoy learning new things and there are lots of opportunities for development.

The studying is very structured as we are given a study day a week and the university has the content presented week by week. We are given a mentor who supports us with work but it is up to the individual the structure they want.

I receive a lot of opportunities to develop my scientific and soft skills, workshops are run for the apprentices on a variety of skills. I also know that if I ask for development in an area my employer will help me.

The lecturers can be reached for questions but some do not answer or take a while, and exam and coursework marks take a while to return. But the advisor for my area is very good.

It gives me the theory knowledge to apply to my work i.e. cell culture techniques, pharmacology. Some is not relevant, especially in the first year.

The departments often organise socials and sometimes, more in the summer, management organise team building activities or food vans to come to site.

Yes

They are very supportive, the people are nice and the work is interesting

Learn a lot about the company and think about experiments you have completed in school and what you like about them.