Simon Tipping
You need a first class honours degree, you must have industrial work experience, you need to be a science genius, you spend all your time in a laboratory and the work is irrelevant if you want to be a pharmacist. Does any of this sound familiar?
Unfortunately, these are just a number of misconceptions that still persist regarding industry-based preregistration positions. But, having been through the process myself, I can wholeheartedly say the reality could not be further from the truth.
Science behind pharmacy
When I began my undergraduate degree, I was fairly certain I would become a community pharmacist. I had imagined building a vast chain of community pharmacies. However, it soon became clear to me that my interest lay in the science behind pharmacy. So, with empire plans laid to rest and a new found affection for pharmaceutics, I sought out ways to take this interest further.
During the second year of my degree, I successfully applied for a biomedical vacation scholarship from the Wellcome Trust. This allowed me to carry out a summer research project within my department based on gel formulation and characterisation, giving me my first real taste of scientific research. A number of bodies provide funding for such projects so it is worth enquiring within your school to see what is available.
The following year I applied for a number of summer research internships, which are offered by many pharmaceutical companies throughout the UK. The Industrial Pharmacists Group publishes a list of companies offering such placements on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website, including details on how to apply.
Through this, I was lucky enough to obtain a 10-week internship at AstraZeneca Research and Development in Charnwood, Leicestershire. This centred on trying to scale up a wet granulation process from the laboratory to pilot scale and provided excellent hands-on experience of what industrial pharmacy involves.
Following my internship, I began applying for industrial preregistration positions and was fortunate to be offered a split-position by
Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development in Moreton, Wirral, and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals, Merseyside.
The preregistration experience
Understandably, in order to register as a pharmacist, it is necessary to spend at least six months of your preregistration year in a patient-focused setting. In my case, this was Whiston Hospital, where I spent the first half of my year. As expected, with only six months to develop all the clinical standards needed before registration, this was an intense but manageable experience.
The pharmacy department within the hospital has a well established training programme for its team of three preregistration trainees (two full-time and one industrial-split). I received a lot of support throughout my six-month stay, which helped me to complete this part of the training year successfully.
Furthermore, the hospitals in the Merseyside area co-ordinate a number of study days, which provide extra tuition on relevant clinical issues and also allow you to meet and socialise with your fellow trainees.
Following this, I began the industrial component of my training at Bristol Myers-Squibb. During the first few weeks, most of my time was spent undergoing a programme of orientation and becoming familiar with the general regulations and practices of working within the research and development environment.
In addition, a great deal of emphasis was placed on learning about the values of the company and becoming an integrated member of the research group. To this end, a number of informal interviews were arranged with members of the various project teams within the company, allowing me to learn more about what research was currently being carried out on-site. Also, it provided the opportunity to get to know my new colleagues and get advice on working in the pharmaceutical industry.
After the orientation, I was assigned to my first project, which was to evaluate a commercial software program designed to model dissolution processes and, thereby, facilitate solid dosage form development. This was different from any research work I had done in the past and offered me the chance to carry out experiments in silico for the first time.
After completing this project, I began a more traditional laboratory-based project, looking at ways to simulate powder segregation processes on a laboratory scale, in order to predict their behaviour during handling. This allowed me to learn more about current formulation methods, such as roller compaction and direct compression, of which I had little prior experience.
Research equipment
Since my research was aimed at solving actual problems facing the group, the results had an obvious impact for the company and were given due attention.
Although I was encouraged to manage my own work and use my initiative where appropriate, my colleagues were always on hand to offer advice when needed. Regular weekly meetings with my supervisor helped me devise a work plan for the week ahead, allowing me to manage my time effectively and staying focused on my overall objectives.
During these meetings, I was also offered advice on how to improve my research technique and develop good work habits for the future. In order to broaden my knowledge base outside my own project, a series of technical chats were arranged with key members of staff to learn more about topics such as in vivo testing, the US Food and Drug Administration approval process and Quality by Design.
Furthermore, I was encouraged to shadow my colleagues to learn more about techniques and processes I was unfamiliar with.
Another important aspect of my placement was being made aware of the many diverse roles open to pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry sector. During my placement, I spent time in various departments, such as regulatory affairs, pharmaceutical analysis, medicines information, manufacturing, marketing and sales.
Due to the varied nature of the undergraduate degree, a pharmacist is capable of working in any of these sectors, be it laboratory- or office-based.
Meeting the standards for registration
Many prospective preregistration trainees may be worried that an industry placement will make it difficult to meet all the performance standards necessary for registration with the Society. However, with careful planning, it is more than possible to do so.
Working with my tutors, I divided the standards into those I was required to obtain in hospital and those that were possible to obtain in the industry. I also undertook a two-week cross-sector experience in a community pharmacy, allowing me to become familiar with over-the-counter sales and providing emergency supplies, etc.
Also, my tutors were always available for help and advice, or to simply have a chat with me about how I was getting on.
Getting into industry
There is no getting around the fact that industry preregistration placements are limited. For the approximate 2,500 pharmacy graduates each year there are currently only 16 placements for which there are many applicants. However, that should not put you off applying and a little preparation can increase your chances.
An enthusiasm for science is a must and, while you are not expected to know everything, the ability to think logically and reason your way through problems is required. Although previous work experience is not necessary, it can help you decide whether research is right for you.
Experiments are satisfying when everything works out, but there will be times when things do not go to plan and this can test your patience.
Equally important are the “soft skills”, such as an ability to work effectively within a team and communicate well with others.
Nevertheless, even if you are not successful in obtaining a preregistration position in the industry, it is important to remember it is not a prerequisite for future employment and it should always be kept in mind as an option for the future.
Simon Tipping is currently undertaking a PhD in hot-melt extrusion at Queen’s University Belfast. During his preregistration year, he spent six months at Bristol-Myers Squibb
