Real-world experience -- and full-time jobs -- for Carolina students studying life sciences

Life sciences continues to be a thriving and growing sector for North Carolina’s economy. For several years, leaders in the industry have recognized that the job growth threatens to outpace the local talent available and ready to fill the jobs. NCBiotech and others stepped up to create programs and initiatives to help fill that gap.

One such program is the Industrial Internship Program (IIP). The program, created in 2012, has proven incredibly effective for both students and local companies.

Since its inception, the Industrial Internship Program has provided more than $400,000 to help companies sponsor interns. The program has helped place nearly 150 interns into 95 different life sciences companies across North Carolina.

“I personally believe in supporting the community, getting involved with younger people and helping mentor them,” she said. “As someone who had an internship when I was younger that was beneficial for my career, I thought it was important to give back and get involved in this program.”

Last year, her company hosted two interns from North Carolina State University, who eventually were hired as full-time employees.

NCBiotech’s internship program is broad in scope, opportunities may range from conducting clinical trials to building business plans. The roles are expansive and aren’t restricted to lab work. The program is open to any life sciences company in North Carolina — one that has been around for a while or a startup — that has a need that an intern could help fill.

David Rosenthal is the Program Manager for Emerging Company Development. According to him, a big goal is to make it easy for companies to participate. Students are required to work 120 hours per semester, which provides continuity for the company and a real-world experience for the student. NCBiotech funds up to $3,500 per company per year towards stipends for the intern. If the company is interested in providing more pay or additional benefits to the intern, or if the company agrees to the intern working more than the program’s required hours, they are encouraged to do so, Rosenthal said.

Patel-Raman said NuPulse was grateful for the financial support. “Companies can match the funding or add more funding, which we did,” she said.

Companies apply to participate in NCBiotech’s program, a process which starts each January. In the application, companies must explain the kinds of projects given to interns and details about why the company is a good fit for the program.

As internship applications are submitted, NCBiotech provides recommendations for candidates to meet each company’s needs. The internships are available to students pursuing undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Once recommendations are made, the companies conduct their own interviewing and hiring processes and select interns that best fit the opportunity.

Patel-Raman said their company “really benefited” from having NCBiotech handle the internship posting. “They managed the entire process,” she said. “This year, we already had interns who were interested, so we were able to get the value from the [funding] we received.”

In addition to the convenience, Patel-Raman said the interns always contribute in meaningful ways. Not only does it benefit the company, but by making a real impact, the students walk away with confidence, job experience and increased clarity in the job path they want to pursue.

“It just feels good to be afforded the opportunity to give back,” she said. “We make sure that they aren’t just doing paperwork. We’re really focused on making sure they can come up with projects that they specifically own over a few months.”

The contributions the interns can make is substantial. One of NuPulse’s devices requires multidisciplinary support and an intern provided input on designing a component of the system. Another intern worked on a project that involved planning animal studies for the company. Patel-Raman said the IIP opportunity is a no-brainer for life sciences companies.