Pfizer UK Undergraduate Programme 2027/2028 - Peptide Drug Development Undergraduate

As a chemistry undergraduate, you will join a small team of formulation scientists and analytical chemists responsible for advancing peptide drug candidates.

You will work with an experienced scientist who will provide day-to-day guidance, with the aim of enabling you to contribute with a decreasing level of supervision as your experience and independence increases.

During your year with us in Peptide Drug Discovery & Development, you will:

• Contribute to the formulation development of synthetic peptide drug candidates, including preparing and evaluating formulations and assessing the impact of pH, buffers and excipients on solubility and stability.
• Gain an appreciation of accepted practices, including good documentation practice and quality standards, to ensure safe, compliant and productive working in the laboratory.
• Attain a working knowledge of state-of-the-art analytical techniques used to characterise peptides, including hands-on high/ultra-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UPLC), and biophysical methods for assessing aggregation and physical stability.
• Set up and monitor solubility screening studies on peptide candidates.
• Set up, monitor and analyse stability studies on peptide candidates, and gain an understanding of common peptide degradation pathways (e.g. oxidation, deamidation, hydrolysis and aggregation) and how they are controlled.
• Increase your knowledge of both practical and theoretical aspects of peptide chemistry, pharmaceutics and the drug development process.
• Potentially have the opportunity to use a range of automated and high-throughput equipment for formulation screening and sample analysis to help improve your efficiency.
• Be trained and expected to run in vitro potency assays for biologics.
• Become familiar with searching scientific literature and internal databases to design and plan experiments and interpret data.
• Gain experience of working as a lab member in a research team, contributing to general operational and routine tasks.
• Participate in team meetings, scientific discussions, and technical training to build your knowledge, communication skills and professional network.

Pfizer offers various benefits, including:

• Professional mentorship: Build your network and learn from scientific experts across Pfizer's Global Research & Development organisation.
• Volunteering: Use up to 5 days of paid volunteering leave per year to support a cause that matters to you.