My Internship Experience: Lonnie

Posted on: 10 December 2024 by Richard Finch in Student experiences

Lonnie MacDonald is a University of Liverpool PhD student in Pharmacology - Hypersensitivity Research. In this post he looks back at his first year as a postgraduate research student.

After completing my first year in my PhD journey in Pharmacology, I wanted to start a yearly post to log my progress, reflect on incredible experiences, and celebrate some key milestones:

• I completed the University of Liverpool Clinical Trial Training for Investigators. This has provided valuable insights and skills essential for conducting successful clinical trials, gaining hands-on knowledge of industry standards and techniques.
  
  
• My Industry Placement at AstraZeneca provided me with a week of work experience where I gained first-hand exposure to industry practices, developed cellular techniques, and explored the application of life sciences technology in research settings.
  
  
• I demonstrated for LIFE234 Life Science Module for a ligand-binding practical in a life sciences undergraduate course, strengthening my leadership, active listening, and communication skills through hands-on teaching experience.
  
  
• And finally, I won the “Shots of Science” Competition where I presented a 3-minute talk on my research to a multidisciplinary audience, enhancing my public engagement skills and earning recognition in the competition.
  
  

This year has been incredible, with so many growth opportunities, challenges, and discoveries. Looking forward to what’s to come in the years ahead as I continue my Pharmacology PhD at the University of Liverpool.

My advice to any current students and recent graduates who are currently exploring their options: “It’s never a stupid idea, if you think it’s worth doing. Be open to career discovery and taking a chance - don’t be scared of the application statistics!”