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BioCAP Co-Op Program

Building the next generation of leaders in the Life Sciences Industry

The Biological Sciences Co-Op program provides a yearlong immersive work experience for students in an industrial setting. Students receive customized training upon entering the program and receive staff and faculty mentoring throughout the year. Students describe their accomplishments and experience with a final presentation at the end of the program to the incoming cohort.

Entry

  • Co-op opportunities are promoted directly to Biological Sciences students.
  • Students take BILD 82 Job and Internship Preparation: Professional Development Skills in the spring quarter, a course that prepares them for the co-op experience that begins in the summer.

Immersion

  • Students work full-time at partner company in the summer.
  • Students work 12-15 hours per week during the fall, winter, and spring quarters.
  • Students receive academic credit for this program.
  • At the end of each quarter, students meet with a faculty advisor and both the student and the company submit an online evaluation to monitor progress and address any issues that arise.

Completion

  • At the end of the spring quarter, students will return as guest speakers to BILD 82 to give a final presentation about their co-op experience.
  • Students will describe their role at the company and lessons they learned.
  • Student presentations and company evaluations will provide feedback for improving the program the following year.

Key Benefits

  • Industry: Company gains access to a talent pipeline of motivated and competitively trained biology students seeking work experience.
  • Students: Co-op students receive academic credit and are provided with a more immersive work experience than a traditional internship. Co-op students are typically hired at a higher rate and salary than non-co-op students.
  • University: UC San Diego gains successful placement of students into competitive industry positions. University-Industry partnership provides information about top industry recruitment needs.