Early applications are encouraged as candidates will be reviewed regularly and the advert may close at any point.
Are you looking to gain valuable real world work experience and help positively impact the lives of others?
A GSK internship offers you the opportunity to kickstart your career – to take on a real role with genuine impact. You’ll take on challenging tasks within live projects or assignments. You’ll also get to learn from others in your team and other parts of GSK whilst developing your skills and gaining valuable experience for wherever the future takes you.
Typical skills you can expect to learn on this placement will include:
- Teamworking through working with multidisciplinary teams
- Communication (written & verbal)
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Networking
- Technical skills (detailed within each role description)
Once you accept your offer you will be invited to join LinkedIn groups and pre-joining webinars, to enable you to connect and network with new students. You will join IPUnite, GSK’s community of over 250 students across all UK sites and business areas, run by the Industrial Placement students committee and will receive access to GSK resources, including employee assistance programmes, private healthcare, and well-being programs.
Education required
To apply for this placement, you must be:
- Currently studying an Undergraduate Degree in one of the following disciplines: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Natural Sciences, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Science and for Role 3 an A Level in either Mathematics or Physics.
- Please read the degree requirements for each role carefully before applying.
Other requirements
- You will have completed a minimum of 2 years of your undergraduate degree but will not have graduated at the start of your placement. You must be enrolled at a UK (United Kingdom) or ROI (Republic of Ireland) University for the duration of your placement.
- If you have already graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and are currently studying a postgraduate Masters, you are not eligible for this programme.
Language requirement
- Written and spoken fluency in English
Expected start date
- September 2025
Duration
- 1 year (approximately)
Salary
- A salary of £24,700 plus a bonus.
The roles (4 available)
This advert contains multiple roles. Please read each role carefully before proceeding as you will be asked to provide a preference later in the application process.
Role 1: Analytical Development – High Throughput Automation
Degree requirements: Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Pharmaceutical Science
Overview of the department
Analytical Platforms and Platform Modernisation (APPM) sits in the Analytical Development department of Pharma R&D. In our department, we focus on providing technologies for the business to facilitate and support the development of new medicines. Among these technologies, the team aims at implementing automated workflows to optimise the use of resources, accelerate drug development, and generate high quality, standardised data.
Key placement activities
- Operating advanced automated equipment (e.g., liquid and solid handlers, multifunctional platforms, analytical instruments)
- Employing, optimising, and developing automated workflows to expedite drug development processes.
- Planning, designing, and executing experiments, as well as data collection and analysis to derive meaningful insights.
- Comprehensive training in essential analytical techniques and processes and extracting valuable information from large datasets.
Role 2: Process Chemist
Degree requirements
- Chemistry
Overview of the department
Process chemistry generates new synthetic routes and process understanding that underpins the successful scale-up and commercial industrialisation of GSK’s future manufacturing processes. Together with engineers and material scientists, the department also works in technology areas to develop and implement new ways of working such as exploring novel AI applications within process chemistry, evaluating new approaches to commercial oligonucleotide synthesis, or working with high throughput automated chemistry.
Key placement activities
- Design and perform experiments in a laboratory setting to meet project timelines and objectives.
- Think creatively to generate original ideas for new synthetic routes and simplifying process problems.
- Ensure that experimental work is communicated effectively at internal R&D meetings.
- Develop skills in practical organic chemistry, chemical analysis, planning experimental work, implementing safety procedures, data analysis, and presentation of scientific findings.
Role 3: Structural and Biophysical Sciences
Degree requirements
- Natural Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry or Physics and an A Level or equivalent in Mathematics or Physics.
Overview of the department
Structural & Biophysical Sciences (SBS) focuses on early-stage small molecule and antibody drug discovery using state-of-the-art technologies, such as X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and surface plasmon resonance as part of therapeutic program teams at GSK. SBS is a team of about a 20 people, ranging from experienced researchers with decades of drug discovery expertise, to early career scientists yet to complete their PhD/BSc studies.
Key placement activities
- IPs joining the SBS team will focus on one of several cutting-edge techniques carried out within the department during their time with us, such as:
- Biophysical Assay Support (E.G. Surface Plasmon Resonance)
- Structural Biology Support (E.G. crystallisation & X-Ray crystallography)
- Mass Spectrometry (E.G. Mass Photometry, Native MS)
- Electron Microscopy (E.G. sample preparation)
You will become a skilled laboratory scientist and will work as a member of a close-knit team, embedded in wider medicinal development program support. However, you will also be expected to work on your own projects delivering results and presentations. Finally, you will have lots of opportunities to engage in many department and site events throughout your stay with us.
Role 4: Materials Science
Degree requirements
- Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and related
Overview of the department
Sitting within Drug Substance Development, Materials Science at GSK is a global group which looks to support API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) development from late discovery and through manufacture through selection of the optimum crystalline form for the API that meets the requirements of the patient and formulation. The department also develops analytical methods to characterise the physical properties of the API and formulation and designs manufacturing processes which optimise the API properties for processing and performance.
Key placement activities
- Crystallisations, Salt/polymorph screening and selection, Crystallography and size reduction process development
- Physical and chemical characterisation methods including XRPD, DSC, TGA, Raman, NMR, HPLC, SEM and Light Microscopy
- Design and execute laboratory experiments to produce API with appropriate properties for drug product processing
- Develop knowledge and compliance with local safety and quality requirements
- Perform data management and data interpretation, record results effectively and communicate results in technical reports
- Gain in depth knowledge in pharmaceutical Materials Sciences process & development
Application process
These placement opportunities have the following recruitment stages you must successfully pass to be offered a placement year with GSK for 2024:
- Eligibility Form
- World of GSK Online Assessment
- Written Assessment
- Virtual Assessment Centre or Virtual Interview
You’ll find hints, tips and guidance on our recruitment process on our website here.
You can learn more about GSK and our careers here.
Apply now!