At LifeArc, we want to hear from people who are as passionate as we are about making life science life changing to improve patients’ lives.
A bit about the role
We offer Industrial Placements to students who are interested in early Therapeutic Discovery. This is an opportunity to get involved in exciting project work at our Centre for Translational Science based in our state-of-the-art laboratories in Stevenage.
Join us and you’ll support our teams working across a number of areas in the drug development process. You will work closely with our expert team members to gain valuable experience in areas such as:
- Molecular biology
- Microbiology
- High content imaging and flow cytometry
- Protein expression and purification
- Biophysical characterisation
- Assay design, optimisation and automation
- Pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies
- Target validation studies (gene editing, pharmacology, bioinformatics)
- Cellular models of disease supporting small molecule and/or antibody programs (including primary models)
- Antibody discovery
- Antibody engineering
- Antibody screening and optimisation
During your placement, we’ll expect you to deliver regular presentations of experimental results and conclusions in group settings and/or during project meetings, while maintaining high-quality written electronic lab notebook records of your research.
In return, you will have the opportunity to use the work you do here to assist with your degree submission and gain research experience. Towards the end of your placement, you will take part in our annual Industrial Placement Student Review Day where all students get the opportunity to present their projects to the Science organisation.
About you
Education & experience required
Typically, you will currently be in your 2nd, 3rd or 4th year and studying for your first bachelor’s degree. Please note that MSc students are not eligible for this placement position (including integrated MSc degrees)
You must be available to commence a 12-month placement from September 2025 as part of your degree course. You should be studying one of the following disciplines:
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Natural Sciences
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
Skills and Strengths we are looking for during the assessment process
- Relevant degree subject (see above) and on track to achieve at least a 2:1 classification
- Collaboration
- Drive and determination
- Analytical mindset
- Accountability
- Adaptability
- Desire to learn
- Effective communication skills
About us
At LifeArc, our ambition is to make life science life changing. We do this by advancing scientific discoveries beyond the lab, faster, so that they can shape the next generation of diagnostics, treatments, and cures.
Working at the cutting edge of translational science and as the early-stage translation specialists, we progress scientific discoveries on their journey to becoming a medicine, diagnostic or intervention that can improve patients’ lives. Our work begins by seeking out innovative science, then helping to develop this to a point where there is a clinical and commercial pathway for others to invest the time and money to take it further forward.
We want to hear from people who are as passionate as we are about making life science life changing to improve patients’ lives.
What we can offer you
Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.
Join us, and you’ll have the scope to be creative and take measured risks. You’ll be rewarded for your curiosity, for working as one team, and for learning fast. And you’ll have everything you need to be your best every day.
We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it.
Application process
The online application form will open on Thursday 5 September 2024. As part of the online application process, you will need to attach your CV. Please try to keep your CV on 2 pages. Where possible, please also include your end of year module grades in the education section of your CV.
Application deadline: Monday 30 September 2024. We recommend you apply as soon as possible. We will close this vacancy when we have enough applications, so please apply as soon as you can so your application can be considered.
If your online application form is successful, you will be invited to complete a short strength-based video interview, known as Snapshot. Full instructions and guidance on how to approach and prepare for a strengths-based assessment will be provided before you complete the Snapshot.
We are also proud to be using Rare Recruitment's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) which allows us to consider your achievements in the context in which they were gained. We understand that not every candidates’ achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, from every background.
Your placement needs to be part of an undergraduate degree and approved by your university. For this placement, you must be available to start in September 2025.
Please be aware that some of our placements require students to work with human biological samples (HBS). Those students who maybe at an increased risk of occupational exposure of Hepatitis B due to this work will be offered the relevant course of vaccinations and titre checks in order to protect them in the work environment. This is entirely voluntary and offered to all employees, where required.
Quotes from previous placement students
“As a student I feel as though my placement year has opened many doors for me and I have gained much invaluable experience that will help me progress in my career once I have graduated from university”
“I definitely believe that this year has been incredibly helpful in helping me to decide which direction I wish to take my career in. Through working fulltime in a lab all year, I have gained a multitude of transferable skills that can be applied to my future career”
“I was very happy with how I was managed daily as my supervisor made sure that she always knew what I had planned for the week ahead and we had regular meetings to discuss my experimental results and personal progress”
“I have enjoyed meeting so many different people – all of which come from different backgrounds. It has been invaluable to learn from everybody’s experience. I can’t think what I have enjoyed least!!”
“I have had a brilliant year at LifeArc – the experience has been invaluable and is no doubt something that I will look back at with fondness”
Additional information
This does not form part of the application process – LifeArc’s virtual work experience is available to anyone who is interested to gain a behind-the-scenes look at the work of a biology research team.
The LifeArc virtual work experience programme offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the day-to-day tasks of a LifeArc scientist. This is a great resource that we would encourage you to explore if you are considering applying to the LifeArc Industrial Placement programme – this is not mandatory, however it is great to provide a safe space for students to gain skills that could help with onward studies.
Through the online programme, you’ll learn how to optimise experimental conditions, analyse data to determine optimal conditions, synthesise evidence and present your results.
