Viatris
Undergraduate Industrial Placement Materials Scientist (12 Months Fixed-Term)
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Undergraduate Industrial Placement Materials Scientist (12 Months Fixed-Term)
Undergraduate Industrial Placement Materials Scientist
(Respiratory Group – Viatris, Sandwich, UK)
About Viatris
Viatris is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge generics and brands, empowering people worldwide to live healthier through accessible, high-quality medicines. Serving 1 billion patients annually, we seek to make a meaningful impact—from infant care to chronic disease management. As a top 20 global pharmaceutical company, we combine innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven work, fostering a culture of resilience and growth.
This placement supports ongoing hiring needs and ongoing opportunities within (complete job description follows).
The Role & What You Will Be Doing
The Undergraduate Industrial Placement Materials Scientist will collaborate within the Global Respiratory Group to develop respiratory medicines (e.g., DPIs, MDIs, nebulised products), directly advancing Viatris’s mission to improve patient lives. This 12-month placement offers hands-on experience in a top pharmaceutical lab, applying and expanding undergraduate coursework while mastering skills critical to the industry—communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Key Responsibilities
During your tenure, you will:
- Carry out analytical activities to support new respiratory products for clinical studies and commercialisation.
- Execute experiments to refine analytical methods, formulations, and manufacturing processes.
- Perform analyses related to:
- Clinical supplies
- Stability testing
- Process scale-up
- Process and interpret laboratory data, flagging suspicious results and proposing investigations with your supervisor.
- Maintain laboratory documentation per good documentation practices.
- Maintain and troubleshoot instrumentation (e.g., particle sizing, FT-IR, SEM).
- Contribute to project timelines by assisting with additional tasks:
- Laboratory housekeeping
- Sample ordering
- Shipping logistics
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This role empowers you to make a tangible impact in medication development while gaining real-world scientific and professional growth.
About Your Skills & Experience
We’re seeking a motivated candidate with:
Core Requirements
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree in ** Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences** (2+ years completed; graduation not permitted before the placement begins).
- Foundational knowledge of analytical chemistry (prerequisite for technical work).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a structured team environment.
- Self-disciplined with:
- Organisational skills to manage workloads independently.
- Commitment to high-quality results with precision and timeliness.
- Enthusiasm for laboratory research and keen attention to process standards.
Desirable Qualities
- Experience with:
- Instrumental analysis (e.g., particle sizing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy [SEM], thermal analysis).
- Respiratory formulation development (e.g., inhalable product research).
- Physical characterisation techniques (e.g., particle size distribution, surface area analysis, amorphous content determination).
- Familiarity with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
- Strong laboratory safety proficiency and understanding of COSHH policies.
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Benefits at Viatris
We prioritise work-life balance, career growth, and holistic well-being, offering:
- A competitive salary + favourable perk package.
- Top Employer Award certification, recognising excellence in:
- Employee policies and work culture.
- Health & Wellness initiatives:
- Paid medical insurance and Employee Assistance Programme.
- 100% covered life insurance.
- Matching pension scheme (up to 11% employer contribution).
- 2 paid volunteer days annually to support causes you care about.
- Collaborative workspaces designed for innovation and empowerment.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Viatris celebates differences as a backbone of our mission to redesign modern healthcare. Our belief is that diverse perspectives lead to better patient outcomes and stronger innovations.
For more insight into our values, visit Viatris Diversity & Inclusion.
Sustainability Commitment
Responsible business practices are ingrained in our culture. From green manufacturing to community impact programmes, we strive to deliver affordable medicines sustainably.
More details at our Corporate Responsibility page.
This isn’t just a job: it’s an opportunity to builds a career that matters.
Viatris is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If your experience doesn’t fully align with all listed criteria, we encourage your application—that you may be the perfect fit for any of our profiles.
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