Darryl from Process Chemistry

• • Process chemistry

  • Emma
  • Alison
  • Gair
  • Catherine
  • Coleen
  • Naomi
  • Zakariya
  • Darryl
  • Jacob

After graduating from Cardiff University with a chemistry degree, I worked in a pilot plant at Evotec OAI for just over 4 years.  I applied to AstraZeneca after seeing an advertisement in Chemistry in Britain for a chemist to work in the large scale Laboratory (LSL).

"I have been rewarded with a promotion to senior chemist within my first two years of working for Astrazeneca" Darryl

In my first interview I was asked to assess a laboratory process for its suitability for larger scale manufacture.  I was called back for a second interview during which scale up was discussed further and I was taken on a tour of the new facilities in which I work now.

The LSL contains reactors of up to 100L in size and these are used to manufacture typically kilo quantities of drug substance for use in toxicity and clinical trials.  The LSL is also used to trial processes in order to resolve any issues prior to larger scale manufacture.

I started work for Astrazeneca at Avlon, Bristol where I spent a few months helping to commission the equipment ready for use.  This was a fantastic way familiarising myself with the facility.

Getting involved right from the very beginning in a new facility gave me the opportunity to use my ideas and previous experience to help develop new systems and procedures, this was great opportunity to make a difference and I found this very satisfying.

My role as an LSL chemist is quite a varied one.  As well as manufacturing the drug substance I am responsible for looking after the whole accommodation process, this requires a knowledge of analytical chemistry, Engineering and GMP and it is this variety of experiences which I find interesting.  I enjoy working as part of a team with many enthusiastic and knowledgeable people.

I feel that my development and progression has been taken seriously since I have received coaching and been able to attend many courses, I have also been rewarded with a promotion to senior chemist within my first two years of working for Astrazeneca.