12 Month University Industrial Placement Student (UIPS): Synthetic - Organic Chemistry

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical company in the UK is offering a 12 Month Industrial Placement for students in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. This role offers a supportive team environment focusing on developing drug candidates. The ideal candidate will be pursuing an Undergraduate Chemistry Degree and will gain hands-on experience in areas such as organic synthesis and communication skills. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Benefits

Flexible benefits

Bonus opportunity

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Currently undertaking an Undergraduate Chemistry Degree with the opportunity to spend 1 year in industry starting in September 2026.
• Highlight any scholarships, publications, lab experience, or extracurricular activity demonstrating leadership and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of new drug candidates.
• Learn about organic synthesis and presentation of work.
• Work closely with medicinal chemists and process development chemists.

Skills

Teamwork

Leadership

Communication

Education

Undergraduate Chemistry Degree

Job description

Overview

12 Month University Industrial Placement Student (UIPS): Synthetic – Organic Chemistry

Cambridge & Macclesfield, UK

£26,000 Base Salary, Bonus & Flexible Benefits

Do you want to be part of a team of supportive, collaborative and likeminded peers to develop your expertise? Then Astra Zeneca might be the one for you!

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we‘re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society.

About the UIPS Programme

Join a Truly Inclusive and Supportive International Team.

As an AstraZeneca placement student, there is a huge network of support available to you. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor, a supportive early talent peer network, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups you can join.

We help and empower each other, and our supervisors are committed to providing you with all the guidance and support you need to build your skills, confidence and capabilities.

Whatever your background and experience, you\'ll be welcomed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions and share knowledge. You will be a valued part of an international team of truly supportive, collaborative and inclusive individuals.

Are you ready to explore this exciting next step in your career? Apply today!

Opportunity

We are looking to recruit for 12 Month Industrial Placements in Synthetic Organic Chemistry across sites in Cambridge and Macclesfield in the UK. At each location the placement will be focused on synthetic organic chemistry working as part of a team to deliver new potential drug candidates to help patients.

The placements will provide you with the opportunity to learn about organic synthesis, purification, reaction monitoring, automation techniques, bio-catalysis, crystallisation and physical organic chemistry. You will also have the opportunity to present your work to other chemists and wider teams that will enhance your communication skills which will all help you to develop a range of transferable skills as well as promoting and extending your proficiency as a chemist.

Roles based in Cambridge will work with medicinal chemists to develop novel multi-step synthetic routes to a range of new compounds to enable testing of these compounds as potential drug candidates.

Roles based in Macclesfield will work with process development chemists to develop safe, sustainable and economical synthetic routes that are capable of manufacturing kilogram quantities of potential drug candidates.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Currently undertaking an Undergraduate Chemistry Degree with the opportunity to spend 1 year in industry starting in September 2026
• Where possible, please list your course modules including any results obtained within your application.
• To support your application, please highlight any scholarships, publications, lab experience or extracurricular activity demonstrating leadership and teamwork you may have within a cover letter

Timeline

Applications Open: 1st September 2025

Applications Close: Midnight 28th September 2025

Virtual Assessment Day: 4th and 5th November 2025

Start Date: 7th September 2026

This position is a 12-month fixed term contract.

Where to find out more

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Inclusion & Diversity: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/inclusion-diversity

Career Site: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/

AstraZeneca is proud to be ranked as a Top 100 ‘Best Student Employer’ in the UK by RateMyPlacement. Browse our reviews here (link)

Date posted and contact

Date Posted

01-Sept-2025

Closing Date

28-Sept-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.