By Mahek R.M Mehta, Chemistry and Biomedicine BSc student.
Hello all, my name is Mahek R.M Mehta, and I am a placement student at the Institute of Cancer Research having taken a year out from studying Chemistry and Biomedicine at King’s.
Placed under the Drug Development Unit, I work as a Clinical Trials Assistant at the Oakward Laboratory, supporting the pharmacokinetic analysis of first-in-human novel cancer therapies. As a CTA, I get a front-row seat to how early-stage clinical trials operate, even though my work largely happens behind the scenes.
What does a typical day look like?
A typical day at work is split between preparing and quality checking sample kits, wherein each cryovial is carefully barcoded which facilitates reliable tracking of drug efficacy and bioavailability in the subject’s bloodstream.
I am the only CTA in a small, fast-moving team of three, where multitasking is an essential skill – whether that is stepping in to troubleshoot unexpected issues, managing sample flow, or ensuring my timelines are met without compromising accuracy. As an adrenaline junkie, this pace has pushed me to adapt to precision despite time crunches.
In the lab on placement
On a personal level
Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed the inherent sense of responsibility. The knowledge that the work I do feeds into evaluating groundbreaking research makes even routine feel colourful. This opportunity has given me the confidence of working in a professional lab environment and taught me how much impact a small, well coordinated team can have.
I would strongly recommend this placement to King’s students. It offers real insight into clinical research and builds the kind of resilience, precision and teamwork you need.
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