In Vitro In Vivo Translation Industrial Placement Stevenage 2024

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.

Our approach to R&D focuses on science related to the prevention and treatment of disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on science of the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies to impact health at scale. Our pipeline currently comprises of more than 60 vaccines and medicines across four core therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious diseases, immunology / respiratory and HIV. Find out more: Our approach to R&D

About the roles

The In Vitro / In Vivo Translation (IVIVT) group supports the Research Units within the Research, Oncology, and Global Health organisations. The group provides expertise in nonclinical models, bioimaging, DMPK, bioanalysis, biomarkers, immunogenicity, safety, and drug disposition in support of nonclinical and clinical studies spanning target identification through post-approval of medicines.

Please read below about the 5 different positions we are recruiting for across our In Vitro In Vivo Translation Industrial Placements. Please note, these are distinct placements and so when you apply you will be able to select 3 preferences of where you would like to be placed if successful. We will accommodate your preference where possible.

Role 1 – IVIVT - Immunoassay Bioanalysis & Soluble Biomarkers

Immunoassay Bioanalysis & Soluble Biomarkers is a worldwide group within the In vivo/In vitro Translation (IVIVT) division, delivering high-quality data to support preclinical and clinical studies for both NCEs and biopharmaceuticals. Our group develops robust and precise analytical assays to measure drugs and soluble proteins in a variety of sample types e.g., serum, plasma, whole blood and tissue.

We have two positions for Industrial Placement students starting in 2023, offering an exciting opportunity for you to gain laboratory experience in a key area of drug development. We offer extensive training and the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technologies, including numerous immunoassay platforms such as Gyrolab, MSD, ELISA and HD-X. Our group already uses a variety of automation, and we are in the process of further expanding our automated sample handling capabilities.

During your placement you will:

• Work across multiple disease areas, such as oncology, respiratory and immuno-inflammation
• Develop and validate methods for the measurement/characterization of drug and soluble proteins in biological samples (pre-clinical or clinical)
• Perform routine analysis of drugs (bioanalysis/pharmacokinetics) and soluble proteins (biomarkers/pharmacodynamics) in biological matrices to applicable standards using defined analytical methods
• Use and maintain multiple instrument platforms
• Process and evaluate data using appropriate software
• Author reports summarising data generated during routine analysis
• Ensure that work is conducted in compliance with the relevant GCP regulations

Role 2 - Cellular Biomarkers Group

• The Cellular Biomarkers Group works closely with clinical project teams to define and deliver high parameter flow cytometry assays to support translation of GSK’s rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical and small molecule portfolio into successful early/late phase clinical studies.
• Working as part of a dedicated flow cytometry team, your role will be to assist in the design, development and validation of new flow cytometry panels for immunophenotyping, cytokine production, rare cell identification, target engagement and/or receptor occupancy. This placement provides the opportunity to work with both conventional and spectral flow cytometers as well as working across multiple disease areas spanning the entire GSK portfolio.
• Our aim is to develop students to be highly independent in planning, executing and interpreting scientific data as well as presenting results and collaborating with other scientists. Working within the Cellular Biomarkers Group also provides ample access to scientific presentations and seminars as part of the vibrant Stevenage GSK science hub.

Role 3 - Cell Imaging & Dynamics Biologist

• Your role will contribute to this advancement, with a particular focus on the application of advanced mass spectrometry.
• You will learn to use cutting edge technology to study the uptake of compounds into cells and determine the effect such perturbations have on the underlying biology.
• This placement will give you training on the use of mass spectrometry to identify endogenous and exogenous molecules from individual cells, sampling from live cells and both optical and mass spectrometry imaging at cellular and sub cellular resolutions.
• Multiomics analysis (mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and transcriptomics) at the single cell level either in cell in culture or tissues

Role 4 – Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) group

You will join a pioneering discovery drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) group, influential in steering discovery projects towards the selection of the best potential future medicines for development. The placement will integrate you within the group where chemistry, biology and pharmacology disciplines are utilised to characterise the DMPK profile for new compounds with decision making data and interpretation to direct project progression.

• You will work closely with your supervisor to plan and carry out experimental work to support in vitro and in vivo studies designed and carried by the department.
• The excellent hands on training provided during the placement will enable you to perform in vitro assays and conduct quantitative bioanalysis to a high level of independence using state of the art instruments.
• You will gain valuable experience, personally running automated platforms (Tecan and Hamilton robotics) to perform in vitro assays, prepare analytical calibration standards and extract biological samples.
• Using liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) systems, you will develop new bioanalytical methods and process qualitative and quantitative results using bespoke software.
• Understanding, interpreting and reporting results will also be a key aspect of the placement role.
• During the placement, in addition to study support work, you will conduct an individual piece of project work to build on scientific understanding or capabilities for the department.
• The data you generate will be used to guide the design of future compounds, define the pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship and help to ensure that compounds are optimal for development into medicines.

Role 5- Genetic Toxicology

There is overwhelming evidence that inherited mutational changes in humans are responsible for genetically determined diseases and congenital (heritable) malformations. Also, the accumulation of somatic cell mutations is known to be implicated in cancer, and to some extent in other multi-factorial diseases. As novel drugs may represent a potential source of damage to DNA, appropriate testing is required to minimise the risk of genotoxicity for both ethical and legislative reasons. The discipline of genetic toxicology as applied to drug development exists to achieve this aim.

Students undertaking a placement in genetic toxicology will perform investigative studies associated with the work of the dept, in the form of a research project. This will consist of literature reviews and establishment of expertise in one or more of the following technologies: flow cytometry, bacterial and mammalian cell/tissue culture, microscopy and image analysis. Following appropriate training, students will be expected to conduct independent research, collate/analyse experimental data, write summaries/reports and a dissertation at the end of year. They will also be expected to present the results of their work at the annual students review and external meetings, if appropriate.

In addition, working alongside highly experienced genetic toxicologists, students will develop knowledge of the drug development process, the role of safety assessment and genetic toxicology; be involved in general laboratory management duties throughout the year to gain valuable experience in the daily workings of an industrial genetic toxicology lab to directly support the screening of potential new medicines; develop scientific, IT and other core skills.

What do we offer you?

• Salary of £21,400, plus a bonus
• Access to GSK resources, including employee assistance programmes, private healthcare and well-being programs.
• On-the-job experience, training and development, delivered through a mixture of coaching and mentoring
• A GSK placement which gives you the opportunity to take on a real role with genuine impact
• 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
• 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