How It Works
The internship (graduate coop) is the real-world component of the Professional Master of Science in Biotechnology Program. We are fortunate to have a rich practice environment in the immediate Boston area, and based upon our survey of local companies, we anticipate a variety of internship opportunities in all life science disciplines as well as non-science opportunities such as project management.
Under the supervision of the Biotechnology Masters Program Internship Coordinator, each student, including international students, will complete a paid full-time internship that provides him/her with an invaluable opportunity to gain professional training and real-world experience in the commercial sector. Students who intend to pursue additional graduate study after obtaining the Biotech MS degree may wish to consider an internship in a laboratory at NU or at another educational institution in the area. In some instances the internship will serve as a mutually beneficial preliminary period of employment, perhaps leading to a permanent position.
The internship will be three to six months in length, depending on the requirements of the employment site. The internship usually occurs in the summer semester, at the end of the program. All exceptions must be approved by the Internship Coordinator. Each student in the Biotechnology MS program will perform one internship. Students with permanent jobs will work with the Internship Coordinator, their work supervisor, and their academic track advisor to design a special project that meets the internship requirement. In the event that a student is not able to secure an internship, an experiential (unpaid) position in an NU laboratory will be available.
During their internship, students will be enrolled in the Internship Reflection Seminar. The seminar is designed to complement learning during the internship. Students will participate in activities to integrate academic learning and experiential learning including written reflections and weekly reports which will not include company confidential information.