To Co-Op or Not to Co-Op, That is the Question
Co-ops are a great way to gain real-world work experience while working towards a degree. Typically students will work for at least one semester before returning to school, though they can sometimes opt to do multiple rotations. Co-ops are much longer than summer internships and are an excellent learning opportunity.
Two biomedical engineering students, currently on co-op, shared some of their experiences and opinions.
Harshil Patel (Third Year BME/ME Student)
Q: What company do you work for and where is it located?
A: I work for Janssen Pharmaceutical in Spring House, PA
Q: What is a typical day at work like for you?
A: I generally get into work around 7:00, answer my emails from the previous day, and immediately dive into creating technical documents, such as building a design and development for a new device, user requirements and translating them into technical requirements. I communicate with outside vendors in Europe to ensure the testing is done correctly according to the protocols. Currently, my major project is implementing LEAN/5s on an engineering Lab.
Q: How have you applied your knowledge from the classroom to your job?
A: Just from my biomechanics class (303). I can easily say that I’ve used my knowledge on different types of fluid flows in creating a drug delivery device that would be well suited for the drug product.
Q: What is the most surprising thing you have learned so far about working in the professional world?
A: The shear amount of time it takes to put a medical product into production. The team I work in believes in perfection. In college, you have major assignments due within the same week, sometimes it feel like you’re rushing through your work to just get it done. But in the professional world, you are given weeks maybe months to communicate worldwide to make sure the project plans and research are best suited for the patient.
Q: How has this experience impacted your future career goals after graduation?
A: In just three months into my co-op experience, the medical field is where I want to be. The business engineering in the medical industry really fascinates me, so my next step is too dive into how business affects the medical field.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned so far?
A: Without a doubt, patience; with five to seven projects being completed worldwide, you learn to be patient in communicating through different time zones and also sensing urgency without sounding disrespectful at the same time to make sure you meet deadlines.
Q: Would you recommend this co-op for other students? Why or Why not?
A: Of course! I’ve connected with so many new friends and employees, I’ve lost count. I extended my co-op from six months to eight months if that shows how much this co-op has taught me. A co-op puts you right into the professional environment, and unlike the stereotype of internships, I’m not pushing paper around all day, I’m working on real-world projects that will directly help patients all around the world. And that is something you don’t learn/do in a classroom.
- Interview by Darian Nocera, biomedical engineering undergraduate student
Darian Nocera (Third Year BME student, chemical option)
Q: What company do you work for and where is it located?
A: McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a Johnson & Johnson company, in Fort Washington, PA
Q: What is a typical day at work like for you?
A: I am a research and development co-op and a formulator for new product development. I work in a lab environment and spend the majority of the day running experiments. I have two projects that I go back and forth working on, pretty much exclusively working with ibuprofen.
Q: How have you applied your knowledge from the classroom to your job?
A: Honestly, I have not really used much of what I have learned in classes explicitly on the job. However, having the chemistry and biology background knowledge greatly contributes to problem solving when designing experiments.
Q: What is the most surprising thing you have learned so far about working in the professional world?
A: It was surprising to me that R&D, especially, is actually a pretty laid back environment, and deadlines are not very strict. However, working at a company that produces over-the-counter drugs allows me to see how strict the FDA regulations are, because there are a lot of little things we need to be careful of in order to not violate any policies.
Q: How has this experience impacted your future career goals after graduation?
A: I didn’t think that I would like research, but I actually enjoy it a lot! I’m not positive if it is want I want to do yet, though. I would also love to work for a company like Johnson & Johnson.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned so far?
A: I never expected that I would take a co-op, and even after I got the offer I wasn’t sure if I would because I knew it would postpone my graduation date. However, I’m very happy that I took the job, and it made me realize how important it is to take every opportunity you can, otherwise you don’t know what you’re missing out on.
Q: Would you recommend this co-op for other students? Why or Why not?
A: Absolutely. It’s a great learning experience and work is actually fun! Plus, everyone I work with is always willing to help. I have made so many great friends with the other co-ops, too. I definitely don’t regret taking the opportunity.
- Interview by Darian Nocera, biomedical engineering undergraduate student