The AstraZeneca Summer Internship Program

10–12-week development experience running through the summer months each year

Internships are meant to be a catalyst in helping students gain hands on learning & exposure to the career they’re pursuing.

Internships benefit students by supporting them to:

• Build their professional network.
• Gain relevant experience for post-graduation opportunities.
• Expose them to AstraZeneca as a possible future employer.

Intern Eligibility Requirements:

• Students must be 18 years or older at time of hire; and not require sponsorship to work in the UK
• Students pursuing undergraduate, masters or doctoral degree.

A salary will be paid.

We are looking to recruit highly motivated individuals to join one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies for a summer internship! These will be 10-week paid placements within Oncology Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, starting beginning of July 2024.

Key Responsibilities

The candidate will join our Analytical, Structural and Chromatography team within the Oncology Chemistry Department, and will be involved in a range of structural and physical chemistry-based research activities. These activities will support our small molecule medicinal chemistry design efforts to discover, synthesise and progress the development of life-changing medicines.

Examples of tasks the individual may conduct during the internship are:

• Purification of organic molecules by reverse-phase or supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)
• Acquisition, processing and interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and/or high-resolution mass spectrometry to solve structural problems
• Investigating advanced screening conditions for resolution of chiral molecules using HPLC and SFC
• Improving quantitative NMR workflows to determine absolute purity of potential drug candidates

The placement will aim to provide candidates an opportunity to gain knowledge of, or experience in:

• Modern, practical analytical and purification skills
• Techniques for structural and conformational analysis of novel molecules
• Introduction to medicinal chemistry concepts and insight into current drug discovery
• Working within a team

Qualifications/ Requirements

• Applicants must currently be undergraduates (in third year or above) or graduates, with their degree being in chemistry or biochemistry
• Candidates should have some basic knowledge of analytical and structural chemistry techniques, such as chromatography, MS Spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and/or computational chemistry
• Candidates should have basic laboratory skills, including manipulation of solutions, preparation of buffers, and experience in handling of chemical substance in general
• Candidates will have familiarity with the MS Windows environment, and Microsoft Office. Other computational skills (programming, Linux, Python etc.) are not essential but can be useful.

If you are interested in applying for this role please apply online, submitting a CV and cover letter (the two documents should be combined in one PDF).

In your cover letter can you please also answer the following questions:

• List 2-3 skills or abilities that you feel are you strengths and would qualify you for this placement.
• Describe in less than 100 words what aspects of your degree/ modules interest you the most and why.
• Describe in less than 100 words why you are interested in this placement at AstraZeneca, and what you hope to gain from it.
• Give any details of scholarships, awards, or prizes you have gained.
• List your awarded/predicted grades from your University degree.
• Include a reference that we can contact for recommendation.

Additional Information

Please be aware that we receive a large number of applications for our Internship placements and therefore we are sometimes unable to respond to you as soon as we would like. However, all applications will be reviewed and you will be notified via email of an outcome.

What are we looking for?

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We’re deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be among inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds.

A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you’ll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore.

Our purpose is bold and so is our approach. Becoming a more agile and innovative company means building a dynamic, inspiring culture where we celebrate entrepreneurial thinking and act with a sense of urgency. We are courageous, taking risks and learning from both success and failure. We are curious, creative, and open to new ideas and ways of working. Above all, we are passionate about science and driven to always put patients first. When you join us, you will be part of a great place to work; in an environment that energizes and empowers each of us to achieve our goal to develop and deliver medicines.

Closing Date for Applications: 19th March 2024.

Virtual interviews will be scheduled between 15th and 26th April.

Date Posted

27-Feb-2024

Closing Date

19-Mar-2024

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.