Chemistry BSc student chosen as one of 20 high calibre chemists from across Europe for training week at GlaxoSmithKline.
Date: 23 September 2016
Lewis Anderson, a third year Chemistry BSc student, was recently selected to attend the highly successful GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Residential Chemistry Training Experience, a week-long training course for high calibre chemistry students.
The programme, which is limited to 20 places each year for students across the UK and Europe, is designed to encourage the best chemistry students to pursue careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
Lewis gained first-hand experience of working in a research and development laboratory and took part in a number of workshops designed to equip participants for employment. The week concluded with a formal reception, where Lewis had the chance to meet with high profile guests from the world of chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry.
Lewis said: “I was given the opportunity to work with a supervisor in a GSK laboratory, assisting with genuine research and compound synthesis. This gave me first-hand experience of what it’s like to conduct such experimentations and fantastic exposure to analytical methods to determine and separate such compounds. This, along with the employment workshops, has helped me to understand the high standards expected within the pharmaceutical industry and what I need to reach that level.
“When I started on the Sciences Extended Degree at London Met I didn’t realise opportunities such as this were available. It’s been an invaluable experience which has enabled me to evaluate the next steps required for my career development. ”
Boosting the employment outcomes of graduates is at the heart of London Met’s five star Student Promise. All students who joined from 2015 are encouraged to take part in work-based learning opportunities during their studies.
Dr Daniel Sykes, Course Leader for Chemistry, said: "We actively encourage all of our students on the Chemistry BSc degree to seek out any extracurricular activities they can perform to really enhance their employability upon graduation. With the help of our colleagues in the careers team we provide CV and interview preparation and have really made an effort to embed these skills through the degree.
“To gain a place on the Residential Chemistry Training Experience with GSK was a great achievement for Lewis and it has really put London Met on the map as producing quality Chemistry graduates."
Image: GlaxoSmithKline courtesy of Ian Wilson via Flickr
