Gaining valuable industrial experience
PHARMACEUTICAL Chemistry students at International Medical University (IMU) have the opportunity to put their knowledge to practice through an eight-week industrial attachment, which allows them to gain valuable industrial experience and build their professional network for their careers.
Wong Zheng Wei was given the opportunity to undertake his attachment at Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) – the leading cancer research organisation in Malaysia.
Wong relates his experience, “Within the training period, I was expected to complete a project to test the anti-proliferative effect of a previously approved breast cancer drug on oral cancer cell lines. At the beginning, I felt immensely out of place as I had no experience or knowledge in the field, but I persevered and brushed up on the areas I was lacking in. I was taught the basics of cell culturing, procedures to prepare cell proliferation assay, as well as immunoblotting for the project, plasmid extraction and basic animal work.
“Apart from laboratory work, it was mandatory to attend weekly meetings, gatherings, product presentations and talks by professionals from other institutes. I would say these exposures have kept me up-to-date with the advancement of science and technology and at the same time, piqued my interest in research.
“The experience would not be complete without the awesome colleagues and people I interacted with. They were amiable and down-to-earth. They were easy to get along with and I could rely on them when I had doubts. The modules I have learned in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry programme assisted me in coping with the project work during attachment. The practical sessions have introduced me to the appropriate skills and use of laboratory instruments while the lectures gave me an insight into the field of cancer. In addition, soft skills such as communication skills, teamwork and problem solving aided me when I was adjusting to the working environment and I owe it to the Social Responsibility module I went through in IMU.
“Despite it being only for three months, I was blessed to briefly experience life in research, which turned out to be both challenging and enjoyable. At the end of it, I learnt that it pays to try new things and never to let go of an opportunity.”
The pharmaceutical chemistry degree from IMU is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK. The course is undertaken entirely at IMU and completed in three years (six semesters). After obtaining the IMU BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree, those who meet the academic criteria can also continue to pursue the Master of Pharmacy programme at the University of Sydney or Curtin University in Australia. They are given credit exemptions in the Master of Pharmacy programmes.
Graduates of the Master of Pharmacy degrees from these universities can register as practising pharmacists in Australia and Singapore, but not in Malaysia currently. Upon completion of the degree, graduates can enter the workforce and begin their career as chemists in pharmaceutical and other chemical industries.
If you have pre-university results, a passion for chemistry and an interest working in the pharmaceutical industry, make an online application today and pursue this interesting and rewarding career in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. If you have just completed your SPM and do not have pre-university qualification, consider enrolling in the one-year IMU Foundation in Science (FiS) programme, the direct route for entry into any of IMU’s local degree programmes.
■ For details, visit www.imu.edu. my, e-mail start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03-2731 7272.