In Vitro In Vivo Translation Industrial Placement Multiple Roles 2023

Are you looking to gain valuable real world work experience and help positively impact the lives of others?

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

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.

Inspired to help us get ahead together? Apply for the In Vitro In Vivo Translation (IVIVT) Industrial Placement roles at GSK today!

The role

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.

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 4 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 - Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics

Degree requirements: Chemistry or Pharmacology related degree. Exemplar courses include: Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biochemistry.

Preference also for Chemistry at A-level or Scottish higher/advanced higher level.

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 quantitive bioanalysis to a high level of independence using state of the art instruments.
• You will gain valuable experience, personally running automated platforms 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 2 - Bioanalysis/Biomarker Scientist (Immunoassay)

Degree requirements: Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Immunology, Pharmacology, Chemistry.

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. The data we generate contributes to key decisions that enable the progression of drug candidates through the development pipeline and into the clinic. We also develop new technologies to enhance our workflows and to support the GSK portfolio.

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. Our team prides itself for a friendly and sociable atmosphere with ample access to scientific presentations and seminars. The nature of our multi-disciplinary projects will also provide you with opportunities to interact with other teams supporting the drug development process within GSK R&D.

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
• Follow safe working practices and be responsible for the health and safety of themselves and other
• Our aim is to develop students to be highly independent in planning and executing experiments and interpreting scientific data, as well as presenting results and collaborating with other scientists. We highly encourage our students to shadow students and scientists in other groups at Stevenage and develop their own professional network during their placement year.

Role 3 - Biomarker Scientist (Cellular Biomarkers)

Degree requirements: Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Science.

The Cellular Biomarkers Group (within Bioanalysis, Immunogenicity & Biomarkers) is a worldwide group within the In vivo/In vitro Translation (IVIVT) division. The 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.

During your placement you will be 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 4 – Cell Imaging & Dynamics Biologist

Degree requirements: Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Science.

The Bioimaging department was formed in 2016 and brings together key areas of in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging to understand drug distribution and the effect of that distribution on intact biological systems.

The focus of the newly formed Ultrastructural and Cellular Bioimaging group is to support all aspects of Research, and the wider GSK, using Bioimaging at cellular & ultrastructural resolutions. As well as using existing modalities we keep aware of developing technologies and analytics through an extensive internal and external network. We work closely with in vivo, clinical and MALDI Bioimaging, making use of resources available across R&D and as such you will learn and develop the skills needed to interact with teams and scientists at all levels. The ability to determine the distribution of unlabelled drug related material and endogenous metabolites at cellular resolutions give us the ability to address key factors for compound efficacy and safety.

You will work as part of the Cell Imaging & Dynamics group within the Ultrastructural and Cellular Bioimaging team based in Stevenage, the GSK UK Science Hub, to provide critical mass spectrometry imaging data to progress the development of new medicines across a range of programmes supporting the numerous therapeutic areas within GSK. The team continues to pioneer leading edge technology through extensive external collaborations and to develop these approaches to deliver enhanced knowledge of compound distribution and its concomitant outcomes on biological processes.

Your role will contribute to this advancement, with a particular focus on the application of advanced mass spectrometry, a highly desired skill set in biological analysis. 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. In addition you will perform cell culture and live cell imaging.

What do we offer you?

• A salary of £21,000, plus a bonus
• Access to GSK resources, including employee assistance programmes, private healthcare and well-being programs and pension plan membership
• On-the-job experience and informal training and development, delivered through a mixture of coaching, mentoring, and training programs
• A GSK placement which gives you the opportunity to take on a real role with genuine impact
• You will join a GSK Industrial Placement community of over 250 students across the UK and business areas
• Access to LinkedIn groups to enable the new Industrial Placement community to network and connect before start date
• For R&D placements you will also be enrolled in several GSK internal courses as part of company policy such as data integrity, use of internal electronic lab book, laboratory safety rules
• Within R&D you will have the opportunity to attend seminars by GSK scientists, which run throughout the year and comprise of a wide range of areas within drug discovery

Please read above about the 4 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.

Let’s do this!