Drug Discovery Apprentice II Review

Each year we change rotation at Charles River so the role differs each year. Currently I am working with UPLC's, and this involves trouble shooting, planning at solvents and how many plates can be run in a certain amount of time. This involves a lot of communication with team members as you work closely together to help repair the instruments when they break.

In my first year I developed a lot of new skills in relation to my job role but I have felt that my second year was more developing these skills. I'm pushed a lot to work on skills such as presenting and scientific language while also being encouraged to learn more about what I do. Charles River offers courses to help increase knowledge and gain skills in different areas as well as a mentorship program.

I really enjoyed the program my first year and I felt I learned a lot and was encouraged to do as much a s I could. My second year my rotation is similar to my first so I feel like I'm not learning as much. I do still enjoy the program and I like the environment and people I work with but I definitely enjoyed it more in previous years.

The overall program is structured nicely as we change rotations each year to learn something new. However, I felt when I changed rotation it was very unorganized. I was told what department I was going into but my actual job role in that department was changed multiple times and I started my new rotation not knowing what I was doing, and was initially trained on the wrong thing.

There is a survey that goes out twice a year from corporate so they know what areas need to be worked on and to check that people are feeling supported. As well as bi-weekly 1:1s with managers and all apprentices are given a mentor as well. I'm pushed to learn more and supported if I want to go onto a course to further my understanding of a topic.

I have quarterly meetings with my university advisor in which we go through the requirements the university has set for me and she helps me stay on track and improve my write ups to get the highest possible mark in my End Point Assessment. I also am able to contact the lecturers when I have questions regarding the university work.

I feel like it has increased my base knowledge in chemistry but a lot of what I am doing in my job role is more specific so it hasn't been covered. I have found it help when learning new stuff as I am understanding things quicker than when I first started, but there isn't a direct link between my university work and my job role.

Charles River offers multiple courses throughout the year, which allow networking across sites and departments as well as in person courses twice a year to get all the apprentices together. There also are game nights, sport events and department pub lunches/ breakfasts that happen every so often.

Yes

The people are always willing to help and I have learnt a lot of things while working here as well as being encouraged to develop softer skills. It's a very supportive environment to work in and it allows a lot of independent working, which helps me understand what I am doing more.

Research the company and the departments working at the location you are applying for so you know a basic for each rotation you could get and ask loads of questions as everyone loves to help and people want you to ask questions as they want to talk about what they are doing as well.