Ffion's internship: Pfizer

Ffion is currently in her final year of BSc Health and Medical Sciences. During the summer after her second year she took part in an internship at Pfizer, in the vaccines team. Here, she tells us more about the experience.

Tell us about your internship and what attracted you to it

My internship involved a 6-week placement at Pfizer, within the vaccines team in the medical affairs department.

I've always been interested in the pharmaceutical industry and wanted to gain experience in a leading organisation. At home, I’ve worked in a pharmacy, and I’ve taken an elective module in pharmacology at Warwick; these were both experiences I really enjoyed.

When I learned that Pfizer offered summer placements, I knew it was an opportunity I wanted to pursue.

How did you secure this internship?

The candidate assessment consisted of a written application and an interview with two members of my future team.

Before applying, I carried out additional research into Pfizer and their core values, medicines, and vaccines. Additionally, I completed an online course in drug discovery, development, and commercialisation, and Pfizer’s 'Molecule to Market' online work experience.

In my application, I made sure to write about my non-academic work experience alongside my academic interests and achievements. This helped to demonstrate my leadership, organisational, and communication skills, allowing me to stand out as a candidate.

What was the first thing you did as part of the internship?

On my first day, I met my supervisor and other core members of my team, familiarised myself with the Pfizer office, and learned the digital operating systems used by the company. In my first week, I developed the scientific foundation needed for the position and attended multiple team and cross-functional meetings, which gave me a solid basis to build upon for the rest of the placement.

What have you learned as part of the internship?

I learned a lot about the pharmaceutical industry and how it functions. I was involved in three key projects while working at Pfizer; these helped me greatly strengthen my organisational and communication skills alongside my pharmaceutical knowledge. One project I led required me to engage with stakeholders across business units, including with commercial, health and value, and policy colleagues, allowing me to deepen my understanding of Pfizer’s cross-functional operations.

Moreover, the internship deepened my understanding of vaccines, including the various safety, logistical, and approval procedures in place before their widespread implementation.

Overall, I feel my internship has given me valuable experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has strengthened my portfolio of skills and experience for future job applications.

How did your course help you with your internship?

I feel both the assessments and HMS course content prepared me very well. I was able to effectively understand the science, data, and procedures used throughout the placement, which made the transition to working at Pfizer smoother than I anticipated.

What did you enjoyed most?

I really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and working in a completely new environment. The medical team were extremely friendly and encouraged me to ask questions to learn about their roles at Pfizer, career paths, and professional interests. I also liked that the projects I undertook contributed to the work of the wider team and helped to support my colleagues in their research and operations,

How do you think the experience helped you?

I gained valuable insight into the industry and was also able to lead my own projects to assist my team. I’ll be able to apply everything I’ve learned both in my academic work this year and any graduate roles I pursue in the future.

Has this changed the way you think about future options?

Not particularly, but it has confirmed that the pharmaceutical industry is an area I’m targeting for my graduate applications. The experience has also increased my interest in public health and health policy through talking to colleagues with backgrounds in those fields.

Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about summer placements?

Make sure you're doing more than just your degree! While my grades and HMS knowledge were important, my additional academic and non-academic pursuits were key to securing this position. My non-academic work experiences were especially important in giving me lots to discuss at interview and helping me adapt to the corporate working environment.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I’m hoping to get onto a graduate scheme with GSK, AstraZeneca, or another pharmaceutical organisation (unfortunately, Pfizer doesn’t offer them for students who haven’t done a placement year). I’m also considering other graduate schemes within consultancy and the broader health sector, as well as master’s qualifications in pharmacology, public health and health policy.

Internship support at Warwick

There are various support schemes available for those looking for biomedical internships, both internally and externally: