Sam graduated from our Chemistry course in 2020. Here Sam tells us about their experience on the industrial placement...
I completed my industrial placement at Cambrex in Edinburgh where I worked within the solid state screening team. My role involved investigating and understanding the physical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to obtain a developable solid form and improve API stability, solubility and ultimately bioavailability.
During my time within the pharmaceutical industry I gained invaluable experience working both independently and as part of a team within a professional environment. I worked on a number of projects over the year which involved a balance between both practical laboratory work and office based data analysis. Through this, I gained experience independently planning my own work to meet project deadlines and presenting to clients through weekly teleconferences and compiling reports.
The placement year is incredibly useful and has allowed me to understand how to apply the skills I have gained so far during my degree in real working situations.
The application process was made very easy with continuous support from the chemistry department staff giving advice with CV and cover letter writing and helping with interview preparation. Having this experience during university allows students to gain an insight into working in industry and to develop connections which will be a huge advantage when it comes to applying to graduate jobs.
