The TMRP DTP promotes student engagement iwith internships to boost their future career opportunities and amplify the influence of their research. Internships enable students to broaden their understanding of the wider significance of their research and acquire valuable professional skills transferable to the workplace.
Below you will find some examples of previous internships funded by the MRC HTMR Network’
Gemma Clayton – Novartis
In 2017 Gemma Clayton, University of Bristol, completed a 12 week internship with Novartis, Switzerland. This internship was fully funded by Novartis. Here is an account from Gemma about her experience which contributed to her PhD thesis and produced a first authored publication.
“I had the opportunity to do an internship at Novartis, in Basel for 3 months from July – September last year (2017). This involved working on a methodological project which was closely related to my PhD (about making more use of existing data to inform a new trial).I was anxious about going to do something new and living in a new country; but equally did not want to pass up the opportunity to work within a pharmaceutical company and obviously live in Switzerland. And it was the best experience in my career so far!
I got to work closely with clinical colleagues which meant being able to convey statistical knowledge in a way which was understood. Apart from learning new skills (I learnt to program in R which is something I couldn’t do before I went), I also got the chance to explore Switzerland which was incredible. My work life balance at Novartis was definitely better than it is now and was very much a welcome break from my PhD!”
Daniel Hill McManus – Pfizer
In 2018 Daniel Hill McManus, Bangor University, completed a 12 week Internship with Pfizer. The MRC HTMR Network funded stipend payments during the internship as well as travel and accommodation costs. The internship not only contributed to Daniel’s thesis but has also led to a publication.
“During the final year of my MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research studentship I spent three months within Pfizer’s Global Pharmacometrics group at their site in Sandwich, Kent. During this time, I had the opportunity to conduct some analyses of data from a clinical trial of an active developmental compound. Supported by both the MRC and Pfizer, I also spent a week visiting some Pfizer R&D sites on the east coast of the US. The greatest benefit to me from this experience were the insights it provided regarding the workings of the pharmaceutical industry and the way in which drug development projects are managed. This was especially valuable in the construction of my thesis and journal publications, since the methodology that was the focus of my research is applicable within drug development. The collaboration with Pfizer’s Pharmacometrics group has continued beyond my PhD studentship and we have recently submitted a further manuscript for publication.”
Nicola Farrar – QUEST Centre
In 2019 Nicola Farrar, University of Bristol, was awarded travel funding to support study visits to the Qualitative Research in Trials Centre (QUEST) in Galway, Ireland. Nicola is due to make a further visit to QUEST during 2020. Here is a brief account from Nicola of what has been achieved to date.
“During Spring 2019 I was able to spend some time at NUI Galway thanks to a MRC HTMR Network Internship I was awarded to undertake a qualitative evidence synthesis in collaboration with the QUEST team. Whilst in Galway I received a great deal of feedback and support for the development of my synthesis, in particular help with the search strategy and sampling techniques. It was so valuable to spend time with a group with so much experience undertaking evidence syntheses, and to build the connections for when I returned home. Since my visit, I’ve continued to work on my evidence synthesis alongside my primary PhD data collection, and am currently in the process of submitting the protocol paper for publication. The synthesis will form a key part of my thesis, and brings a new angle to my research.”
Danielle Johnson – University of Manitoba
In 2019, Danielle Johnson was awarded funding from the UKRI UK-Canada Globalink Doctoral Exchange Scheme to undertake a project addressing the question: ‘Is there sufficient evidence to support the inclusion of genetic variants in antipsychotic pharmacogenetic tests?’ Danielle will visit the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 2021.
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