Microbiology Industrial Placement 2022

A microbiology placement in one of our manufacturing sites will give you hands on practical application of microbial techniques. You’ll be contributing to ensuring our pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products are manufactured to stringent quality and safety standards.     

You’ll gain experience in areas such as: 

• The use and interpretation of data from one or more of the following microbiological techniques / tests: aseptic techniques, identification of microbial isolates, environmental monitoring, endotoxin testing, water monitoring, bioburden monitoring, organism identification, sterility testing 
• Validation of microbial testing methods for tablet or inhaled pharmaceutical products 
• Technical report writing skills 
• Leading laboratory investigations 
• Adopting good laboratory practice 
• Key laboratory techniques such as preparing samples and standard solutions 
• Calibration and maintenance of equipment 

Whichever role you go into you will be applying the skills you already have and developing new skills such as; team working, problem solving and building relationships. You will work with and learn from an experienced team of analysts and technicians. They will coach and mentor you during your year to help you achieve your potential. 

You’ll need:  

• A passion for microbiology and lab work in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment 
• Attention to detail 
• Strong analytical skills 
• Drive to get things done 
• To be a team player 
• Continuous Improvement mindset 
• Excel / Data skills 
• Ability to demonstrate qualities aligned with GSK Values and Expectations.

Locations & Roles

Barnard Castle 

The Barnard Castle site is located in the North East of England is sited within the County Durham countryside. Barnard Castle is a key secondary site for GSK with a large number of New Products coming through development at site. We manufacture and supply a huge range of different pharmaceutical products from Sterile Products (Syringes and Vials) to Liquid Inhalations and Dermatologicals.    

An opportunity exists to work alongside the microbiological quality control laboratory and microbiological technical functions that support the manufacture and filling of a range of pharmaceutical products. The successful candidate will integrate into the microbiology team and be expected to deliver a business or compliance improvement project. In addition to this, opportunities will arise to support day to day operations, working in a safe and compliant manner. Exposure to this high volume and fast paced environment will build a great understanding of pharmaceutical microbiology and compliance activities. 

Ware  

Ware is the largest GSK site in the UK with a thriving early talent community.  The Ware site supplies oral solid dose (HIV and oncology products) and respiratory devices to over 140 countries, as well as to patients participating in clinical trials 

This opportunity would enable the successful candidate to closely work across multiple streams and interact with exciting new products as well as supply of staple established pharmaceutical products which are key to patients. The successful candidate would be expected to play a key part in the day to day operations of the site, both within the laboratory as well as in production areas, and in improvement projects while learning about non-sterile manufacture and GMP regulations in a fast-paced environment. 

Worthing 

GSK Worthing celebrates 60 years of history in pharmaceutical manufacturing in 2021.   One of our key products is Augmentin in tablet form and we manufacture approx. 42 million packs per year. Worthing site is situated on the South Coast about 30 minutes from Brighton and 1 hour by train from London, offering a good degree of extracurricular activities outside of work.   

Opportunities exist for microbiologists in our Bio Process Science team - a Biotechnology group of 30 scientists and engineers. 

Microbiologist roles in BPS will specialise in strain development & genetic engineering, fermentation cell culture, cell line development and high throughput mutant screening. Successful candidates will be welcomed into the department as a whole and given the opportunity to see other aspects of biotechnology scale-up and development such as downstream processing and analytical testing, should they wish.  

Maidenhead  

GSK Maidenhead is a Consumer site. Maidenhead supply toothpaste, mouthwash and creams to over 20 countries, with our factory running 24/7.  

This opportunity will allow you to work on a manufacturing site with a less restrictive regulatory framework, considering these requirements in combination with risks to product to make decisions critical to good product quality. You will put into practice basic microbiological techniques as applied in industry, from environmental sampling of airs, waters and swabs to gram staining and identity requirements to complete product risk assessments. You will join a rapidly paced team in a fast moving consumer goods company and understanding the importance of good communication, organisation and prioritisation to ensure work is completed to deadline and right first time. 

Degree Requirements

Must be studying an undergraduate degree in a Microbiology or combined microbiology undergraduate degree. (Biomedical sciences and Biological science courses are accepted only if intensive microbiology module included.) 

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 will be expected to provide evidence from your university to show you will be an undergraduate student for the duration of the placement year. 

Worthing is a Penicillin Manufacturing site in the UK - please consider this if you are applying to a role here and are allergic to penicillin  

Benefits

• A salary of £21,000, plus a bonus  
• Access to GSK resources such as employee assistance programmes, private healthcare, and training and development.