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We offer exciting 12-month placement opportunities to students that are looking to work with us to deliver on our mission to save and improve lives. A placement with us will give you the opportunity to collaborate alongside subject matter experts, bring your own ideas and share real responsibility whilst delivering on meaningful projects alongside a passionate, diverse and inclusive workforce.
We are establishing a new state-of-the-art life early science & innovation sciences research facility in London. With a mission of turning breakthrough science into meaningful and impactful medicines, the research focus is in cellular ageing and mechanisms of homeostasis and resilience, the basis of some of the most challenging diseases facing our ageing population.
Who we are…?
We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology, vaccines and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With over 70,000 employees operating in more than 140 countries, we offer state of the art laboratories, plants and offices that are designed to inspire our employees as we learn, develop and grow in our careers. We are proud of over 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the world’s biggest investors in Research & Development.
We are officially certified by the Top Employer Institute and been awarded the exclusive Top Employer United Kingdom Certification for the third year running.
Job Description:
We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we follow the science, we can deliver great medicines. We believe that a research-driven enterprise, dedicated to world-class science, can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.
This is an opportunity to join our computational chemistry team as a placement student, working with the medicinal chemists and pharmacologists located in the Francis Crick Research Institute in London, and help build a strong foundation for success in your future scientific career.
The London-based facility combines our leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class research and development expertise with the best of the regions’ talent, and has a mission of turning breakthrough science into meaningful and impactful medicines.
We are looking for enthusiastic students who are interested in a career in computational chemistry and a desire to apply computational techniques to support the discovery of future drugs.
Duties
You will be required to apply computational techniques to solve chemistry problems. This will involve application of expert tools as well as some coding (primarily in python). Ability to work independently is essential, and training and mentoring will be provided by senior computational chemists.
Communication and collaboration are key requirements, and curiosity about new techniques, approaches, and scientific discovery. Maintaining our high standards, ethics and safety are crucial.
During the placement you will contribute to defined computational chemistry projects, supporting drug discovery and novel research, as well as experience the research environment of a large global pharmaceutical company.
Technical Specifications
- You will be looking to complete a 12-month placement in your third or penultimate year of study, returning to your course at the end of the placement
- Studying a Chemistry related discipline (or equivalent qualification)
- Strong preference or interest in computational chemistry techniques
- Passion for scientific discovery
- Experience in coding (python in particular) is desirable but not essential
Qualities we look for
- Operates with a high level of integrity, transparency and accountability
- Comprehends and aligns with our organization’s core values
- Aligns and fosters a culture of diversity and inclusivity
- Demonstrates initiative, proactivity and academic curiosity
- Encourages and boosts their colleagues through teamwork
- Demonstrates clear and effective communication
- Demonstrates a desire to learn and improve their performance through feedback
Start Date
Summer 2021
How to apply:
Please complete the online application form and attach a CV and cover letter (please submit the CV and cover letter as 1 document wherever possible).
In your cover letter we would encourage you to answer the following questions; Why are you applying to our organisation and why are you applying for this role? Additionally, you may include any additional information you feel further supports your application.
Maximum word count for your cover letter: 300 – 400 words. Please do not exceed this.
Deadline for applications:
We assess applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
This role will close for applications at 11:59pm, Friday 25 June 2021.
Other important information:
Our presence in the UK goes back a long way. For over 80 years, we’ve been researching, developing and supplying new medicines and vaccines that prevent and treat diseases that occur at every stage of life.
Today we're one of the top five biopharmaceutical companies in the UK and employ over 2,000 people across five sites in Hertfordshire, Northumberland, Buckinghamshire, Edinburgh and London.
How is our organisation in the UK adjusting our hiring process with COVID-19?
Our key priorities during the current COVID-19 outbreak are both maintaining supply of critical medicines to our patients and ensuring the health and safety of our employees and candidates. In support of Government measures to limit the spread of infection, we have therefore developed a new flexible, virtual route for candidates applying and interviewing for our open roles.
Equal Opportunities
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
What we look for …
In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organization. Together we will continue Inventing For Life, Impacting Lives while Inspiring Your Career Growth.
