Avril Behan

Hi. My name is Avril and I'm a Research and Development Analyst at Teva's Waterford site.

My job is hands-on… I do a range of different tests to make sure the strength of the inhaler is the same at the start, middle and end. We’re currently helping develop new generic inhalers which involves replicating branded ones on the market to make them more affordable for patients.

I followed my interests to get here... At school I always had an interest in biology and maths, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. So, I continued with science and maths and really liked it, which ended up leading to a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

A university work placement led me to Teva… During my bachelor’s degree in industrial biochemistry at the University of Limerick, I undertook an industrial placement at Teva. I’d always heard good things about Teva and thought it was a great place to work. It gave me the opportunity to advance my knowledge in pharmaceuticals.

Everyone was helpful and welcoming… During my placement I felt very much a part of the team and everyone made an effort to really involve me. I was invited to all the team meetings and there were lots of opportunities for me to listen and learn from my colleagues. It was an easy decision for me to return to Teva on a full-time basis.

There’s always the opportunity to learn something new… I’ve been lucky enough to receive a lot of training in my short time at Teva. If you’re willing and show initiative, they’ll train you on a lot of different methods and help you develop new skills which really adds to the variety of the role.

I would recommend Teva to other students… because it provides a great opportunity for on-the-job learning. Choosing to do a placement on site, as opposed to online at home, has lots of advantages. As a scientist, you need to be working in the laboratory and getting hands on with equipment, which is exactly what Teva offers.