Science internship programs merge, move into new Knight Campus

After a storied academic presence at the University of Oregon spanning more than two decades, the former Bioinformatics and Genomics Master’s Program and Master’s Industrial Internship Program have united under one umbrella: The Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program.

The program has trained over 800 scientists and engineers in an accelerated experiential format by providing students with hands-on, real-world problems to solve while on campus followed by a 9-month paid internship in industry, government lab or research institute setting.  Students receive extensive professional development training to help them launch their careers quickly.  In addition, recent student interns have earned an average internship salary of $58,225.

Graduate students pursue one of five technical tracks that cross the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering including: bioinformatics and genomics, molecular sensors and probes, optical materials and devices, polymer science, and semiconductor and photovoltaic device processing.

“Since the internship program was launched by the Materials Science Institute in the mid-90’s, it has delivered career-changing opportunities for students and provided outstanding talent to our partners,” said Senior Associate Vice President and Lokey-Harrington Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Professor Jim Hutchison.

“What makes the program so special is that we combine immersive, sector-specific technical and professional development training on campus with an unparalleled live-fire technical experience during the internship.”

In 15-18 months, the Graduate Internship Program students earn a Master’s degree, complete a 9-month paid internship with a leading-industry organization, expand their professional network, and build a competitive resume. This potent combination has led to a 98% graduation rate and 90% employment rate within three months of graduating.

“People from all different types of backgrounds are connected to this program, whether they are current students, alumni, or guest speakers,” said Tiphanie Pfefferle, a graduate student in the molecular sensors program track. “I have never been to a lab that is so prepared...Our track lead is always working hard at keeping our lab space prepped and clean, providing us with new technical experiences, and offering opportunities to grow in our field.”

One key reason Pfefferle chose the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program is because of its sense of community and the way faculty care about the wellbeing of their students.

Pfefferle will be interning at Cascade Chemistry (based in Eugene) starting winter term. She hopes the internship will provide a career path, specifically in the field of synthetic chemistry.

Students in the Graduate Internship Program receive hands-on training in laboratories and classroom spaces designed specifically for applied graduate education at the Knight Campus and state of the art core facilities, such as the Center for Advanced Materials Characterization in Oregon (CAMCOR).

“As the largest master’s program in physics in the U.S., we are excited that students have access to more space on campus, and that our biology and chemistry tracks can continue expanding as well,” said Director of Materials Science programs, Dr. Stacey York.

The new Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact is an innovation and entrepreneurship hub with almost 400,000 square feet of space. The proximity of the building to UO’s science complex facilitates cross-campus collaboration. Knight Campus space includes a dedicated lab for the internship program, active-learning classrooms, a 120-seat tiered auditorium for scientific lectures, a covered outside terrace space and numerous indoor spaces for learning and collaboration, and a café.

About the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program

The current program is an evolution of the original Master’s Industrial Internship Program, created in 1998 at the University of Oregon. The Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program (KCGIP) is an integral part of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. A nationally-recognized training program with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, the KCGIP has distinguished itself for training students in real-world knowledge and industry-based skills necessary to be successful in any research environment.

 

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