Molecules to Medicine - Cambridge - Work Experience

Year 12 Work Experience Programme

Molecules to Medicine - Cambridge

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Disease, and Biopharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology. 

Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca has a strong global presence with 6 strategic R&D centres in the US, UK, Sweden and China, and 30 manufacturing sites across 17 countries.  Its innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide.  

Our R&D focuses on delivering life-changing medicines for today’s highest unmet medical needs and investing in transformative technologies to pioneer next generation solutions for tomorrow and the day after.  By partnering across industries and borders, we collaborate and pursue opportunities to access the best science, fostering innovation and co-creating solutions that meet patients’ needs. 

We create great employee experiences that ignite innovation, unite diverse talent and unlock capacity.  We do this by being champions of inclusion and diversity and fostering personal growth and enterprise leadership.

Programme description

This work experience programme will be hosted by a variety of scientific teams located in our Research & Development (R&D) headquarters in Cambridge.  Activities include:

• An introduction to the pharmaceutical industry.

• Application of STEM subjects to drug development. 

• Tours of our world-class laboratories and facilities. 

• Practical demonstrations related to A-Level Chemistry and Biology.

• Career advice from those currently working for AstraZeneca plus a chance to chat with the current cohort of the apprenticeship scheme, industrial placement students, and graduates. 

What knowledge/skills will you gain?

• Understanding of what it takes to deliver a new medicine to the market. 

• Understanding of the process and techniques used in the synthesis, purification and analysis of compounds through practical demonstrations in our chemistry laboratories.

• The opportunity to see how computational modelling informs compound design.

• Difference between Drug Substance & Drug Product. 

• Understanding of in vitro (cancer cell lines) and in vivo (rodents) models for oncology research.

• Exposure to techniques for analysis of biological samples.

• Awareness of roles based on STEM in AstraZeneca, and the different entry points. 

• Application and development of STEM knowledge and skills. 

• Experience the workplace environment whilst making new friends. 
  

What we won’t cover

• Target selection and Discovery Science around how the medicine works. 

• Pharmacy/DMPK/Clinical Trails. 

Programme information

AstraZeneca has an exciting opportunity for 1 x one-week unpaid work experience placement based at our Discovery Centre in Cambridge.  The placement dates are as follows:

• Monday 6th July to Friday 10th July 2026