Case studies : Manufacturing scientist: Sital

Sital graduated from De Montfort University in 2007 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Delivery. She currently works as a manufacturing scientist at Quotient Clinical.

I chose a career in the manufacturing industry because I felt there would be variety within the work. I also felt that my degree had given me a good base set of skills that would apply across the different areas of the industry. My degree covered a variety of areas, including microbiology, formulation and analytical sciences. The skills I developed in these subjects are relevant to what I do in my current role, where each manufacturing scientist is responsible for their own studies.

My first manufacturing role was at AstraZeneca, where I worked for two years as a sterile manufacturing technician. The job was advertised in the local newspaper, and I applied directly through the company’s website.

I found my current role as a manufacturing scientist on the Quotient Clinical website. I was invited to an assessment day, which entailed a written test, a one-to-one interview and a group exercise. My two years of experience and my broad range of skills, including the analytical skills I gained at university, were invaluable for gaining the position. In my current role, I work with people who have different qualifications, from university degrees to college qualifications.

I am currently working on studies involving MDIs, oral solutions and capsule filling. A typical day for me can vary. As I am a responsible manufacturing scientist (RMS) for certain studies, my duties include:

• ordering supplies for studies and booking them into our internal system when they arrive, washing them if necessary and ensuring they are ready for when manufacturing begins;
• writing batch manufacturing records (BMRs);
• liaising with project managers to ensure supplies for the studies have arrived from the clients, and liaising with the formulation and analytical scientists to ensure all relevant testing on the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) and excipients has been carried out.

My training to become an RMS entailed shadowing the senior manufacturing scientists, writing batch records and labels, working with radioactivity, and booking supplies in and out. I then carried out these activities myself under supervision, until the senior manufacturing scientists felt I was capable of operating independently and I was signed off as ‘competent’ in my training record. I am about to undertake a course to become an RPS (radiation protection supervisor), so I am currently undergoing internal training with our health and safety manager.

I enjoy working in my current role as every day is different, and I get to work on a variety of dosage forms. I also enjoy working on the documentation side of the studies and therefore understanding more of the background.

If students considering this career area have the opportunity to take a year in industry as part of their degree, they will gain invaluable experience of how things are done in the workplace, as it is very different from university. It will also help with their understanding of final year subjects back at university.