Investing in Future Talent: Kerrie's Summer Internship Experience
Alpheus News
People
At Alpheus, we believe that internships provide more than just work experience. They create valuable opportunities for students to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world environment, while also bringing fresh perspectives and additional support to our operational teams.
This summer, we welcomed Kerrie, a second-year Pharmacology student from the University of Strathclyde, to one of our major client sites for a summer internship. With aspirations of pursuing a career in research and undertaking a PhD, Kerrie was keen to gain practical lab experience and a better understanding of industry.
Every placement at Alpheus is designed around both the needs of the site and the interests and skills of the student. The aim is to provide meaningful experience that develops technical ability, builds confidence and gives insight into potential career paths.
For Alpheus, internships offer benefits too. Students bring enthusiasm and curiosity, often helping to support ongoing site improvements, optimisation projects and day-to-day operations.
During her placement, Kerrie has been responsible for a range of routine sampling and laboratory activities, providing hands-on experience in a working laboratory environment.
By supporting the day-to-day laboratory workload, Kerrie has enabled colleagues to focus on other key operational priorities, demonstrating the mutual benefits that internships can bring.
Alongside these routine activities, she has taken ownership of projects designed to develop both her technical and analytical skills.
One project involved microscopy work, preparing and staining samples of activated sludge biology to help establish a baseline of the site's typical ecosystem.
A second project focused on investigating how different polymers interact with solids in anaerobic digestion (AD) digestate. This work will help us predict future operating costs for further process changes.
As part of the placement, Kerrie has also been analysing her findings and documenting the results in a formal report, helping her develop statistical analysis, scientific writing and the ability to communicate complex technical information to different audiences.
Reflecting on her experience, Kerrie said:
"I am thoroughly enjoying my placement at the wastewater treatment site of a major pharmaceutical facility. It has given me insight into another part of the pharmaceutical production process, as well as the opportunity to work in a real lab environment, which Ive discovered is very different from an academic lab!
Due to the close collaboration between Alpheus and the client, I was also fortunate enough to tour the main laboratory at the pharmaceutical production facility, which was a real highlight.
In addition to gaining lab experience, I was delighted to be given a project of my own to get stuck into. It has been great to take ownership of the method development and see it through from planning to conducting the research. Knowing that the work could contribute towards a more efficient and cost-effective approach to sludge dewatering has made the project particularly rewarding.
What has really made the experience, though, is the team on site. Everyone has been incredibly friendly, supportive and willing to help. It's been great to feel part of the team, working together, learning every day and enjoying plenty of good conversation along the way."
For students considering an internship, Kerrie suggests an open mind and actively seeking opportunities:
"Internships can be hard to come by, so my advice is to be open to opportunities that might be slightly different from what you first imagined. Attend careers events, build your LinkedIn network and make connections. The experience you gain can be invaluable in helping you understand what you enjoy and where your future career could take you."
careerAt Alpheus, we are proud to support the next generation of scientists, researchers and industry professionals. We would like to thank Kerrie for her enthusiasm and hard work over the summer and wish her every success in her future studies and career.
