Industry internships are a powerful way for students to experience biotechnology first-hand and set them up for future employment. Biotechnology Training Program trainees are required to complete an industrial internship of approximately three months’ duration and typically in the third year of graduate study using the second year of BTP funding. Industry sponsors show a marked preference for interacting with more technologically adept interns, and this timing also allows trainees to focus on their program requirements and passing preliminary exams before undertaking an internship.
Since 1997, Ph.D. trainees have completed internships at approximately 140 different sites nationwide and abroad, including Australia, Ecuador, Germany, Finland, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.