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Industrial Internship Program

COMPANY INFORMATION PACKAGE

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science

Industrial Internship Program 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Program Description .............................................................................................................. 3 Program Highlights................................................................................................................. 4 Employer Responsibilities..................................................................................................... 4 On-Site Visits .......................................................................................................................... 5 How Do I Get A Student? ...................................................................................................... 5 - Step 1: Assess Your Needs............................................................................................ 5 - Step 2: Design a Job Description .................................................................................. 5 - Step 3: Contact the IIP Coordinator .............................................................................. 5 - Step 4: You Interview the Candidates........................................................................... 5 - Step 5: Contact the IIP Coordinator .............................................................................. 6 - Step 6: Probationary Period ........................................................................................... 6 - Step 7: Site Visit by the IIP Coordinator ....................................................................... 6 - Step 8: Overlap Your IIP Students ................................................................................ 6 - Step 9: After the Work Experience ................................................................................ 6 - Step 10: Post-Project Evaluation ................................................................................... 6 Ethical and Legal Issues ....................................................................................................... 6 Recent Sponsors .................................................................................................................... 7 Evaluation................................................................................................................................ 7 Administration ......................................................................................................................... 8 Employer Evaluation Form ................................................................................................... 9



PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Industrial Internship Program (IIP) provides bright, young Canadian students in the biological sciences an

opportunity for an extended work experience in Canadian industry. The Program is designed for undergraduate

students who have completed three years in either the Honors or Specialization Programs (i.e., students majoring

in Animal Biology, Bioinformatics (Specialization), Cell Biotechnology, Environmental Biology, Evolutionary

Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Physiology and Developmental Biology, Plant Biology) in Department

of Biological Sciences. Time of employment is flexible at either 8, 12 or 16 months beginning May, September or

January. A 4-month probationary period is established at the beginning of the 12 or 16-month internships.

Students’ are screened by the Department of Biological Sciences for acceptance into the IIP. They complete their

degree in 5 years instead of the usual 4 years.

The program benefits employers by: q Fostering closer interaction between your company or agency and the University of Alberta. By being

involved with the student’s education and training, employers are considered to be co-educators. We want the training and orientation invested by you in our students to yield a return of solid research and development work. Thank you for helping our interns achieve that!

q Having access on a year-round basis to enthusiastic and well-prepared students with good skills and new

ideas. q Having interns fulfil short -term needs, complete special projects, or undertake tasks to allow the

organization’s more skilled staff to perform other roles. q Providing a cost-effective means of evaluating and screening the potential of future employees without

making a long term hiring commitment. An internship graduate who is hired in a position where they previously completed a work term needs significantly less training and is already familiar with the organization if permanent employment opportunities arise.

q Enhancing the recruitment image on campus and strengthen community and industry links through support of

the program. The program benefits students by: q Applying and developing knowledge and skills in an actual work setting q Gaining work experience relevant to their academic degree q Developing interpersonal and social skills required in work settings q Increasing awareness of personal strengths and limitations as a professional q Helping clarify career goals q Linking with potential future employers q Assisting in financing their education through an extensive paid work team.



PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ü During the extended 12 or 16-month work

period, students can be involved in one or more projects with the same employer. This is more cost effective in long run.

ü IIP students will have completed 3 years of

academic training, are well qualified academically, and bring some practical laboratory or field experience to the job site.

ü The employer chooses the most suitable student

for their organization through the interview process. The student and the employer negotiate salary.

ü This program builds bridges between the

Department of Biological Sciences and the industrial sector. Feedback from participating Companies on our student’s skills and knowledge can help the Department in the continuing review and development of its curriculum.

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES

Within the Employer-Student-University partnership, the employer assumes the same role, as would be the case with the hiring of any temporary employee.

It is the employer’s responsibility to: 1. Provide accurate job posting information including salary and relocation. 2. Provide reasonable notice of candidates to be interviewed and of interview cancellations. 3. Not discuss job offers/ranking with candidates before, during, or following an interview. 4. Not seek a candidate’s assessment of another candidate. 5. Provide rankings/offers (where applicable) in accordance with institutions’ published schedules. 6. Not submit/make multiple job rankings/offers unless prepared to accept multiple acceptances. 7. Honor all job/student matches (where applicable) and not renege accepted offers nor rescind offers of

employment. 8. Confirm all job offers in writing. 9. Comply with all Provincial and Federal Freedom of Information, Human Rights, and Employment

Legislation. 10. A 4-month probationary period is provided at the beginning of the Internship for the benefit of both the

employer and the student. If either the student or employer wish to terminate the Internship at the end of the 4-month probationary period, the employer and the student contact the Internship Coordinator as early as possible to carry out the termination.

11. Employers are asked to designate one main representative to be responsible for guiding and supervising

students on the job, even though other co-workers may be involved in some parts of student supervision.



ON-SITE VISITS The IIP Coordinator visits the work site twice, usually during the probationary period and during the work experience term. The visit is scheduled at a time that is convenient for the coordinator, student and employer. The purpose of the meeting is to assess how the internship is going from both the student and supervisor’s points of view. The on-site visit is an informal meeting that lasts about one hour; half the time is

spent with the employer and the other half with the student. Tours of the work site and the viewing of student projects can be part of the on-site visit. For students placed in remote areas for a work term, it can be difficult to have a site visit due to prohibitive costs. In these cases the job site visit may be done through a telephone call or via e-mail.

HOW DO I GET A STUDENT?

Step 1: ASSESS YOUR NEEDS Assess your needs for a full-time assistant for 8, 12, or 16 months q You will need to identify an employee that will act as the student’s supervisor and be the liaison with the IIP

Coordinator q Areas of instruction in the Biological Sciences include:

• Cell Biotechnology • Environmental Biology • Animal Biology • Microbiology • Molecular Genetics

• Physiology & Developmental Biology • Plant Biology

• Evolutionary Biology • Bioinformatics (Specializationn)

Step 2: DESIGN A JOB DESCRIPTION q Indicate the type of work to be done, skills required and to be developed, and the closing date of competition Step 3: CONTACT THE IIP COORDINATOR q Forward the job description to the IIP Coordinator (Dr. Phil Fedorak) and you will be provided with the

resumes of all qualified IIP students Step 4: YOU INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATES q Our staff, at the University of Alberta will arrange an interview room, and co-ordination of interview times (if

you wish). Alternatively, if convenient we can have the interview(s) at the job site. q You select the best candidate for your needs q You negotiate salary and other benefits with the candidate q Candidates are not pre-selected by the program



Step 5: CONTACT THE IIP COORDINATOR q Let us know who you have selected q We can contact other candidates to inform them of your decision Step 6: PROBATIONARY PERIOD q The first 4 months of a 12 or 16 month project can be a probationary period q EVALUATION of student and project will occur at the end of this period Step 7: SITE VISITS BY THE IIP COORDINATOR q Will occur, usually during the probationary period and once later. Step 8: OVERLAP YOUR IIP STUDENTS q You may want to hire another IIP student to overlap with, and be instructed by, your outgoing IIP student. In

other words, consider having two interns (one whose internship is ending and a new intern) during each summer.

q This will save you time and money. Step 9: AFTER THE WORK EXPERIENCE q BIOL 400 is a three credit course that is the academic component of the IIP q This course is taken in the term immediately following the work experience period (typically the first term of

the year 5 in the student’s program) q The student gives an oral report and a written report of what was done during the work experience period. q The sponsor, the IIP Coordinator and one other adjudicator grade these reports. q Students are required to obtain proprietary clearance from their sponsor Company prior to any public

presentations related to BIOL 400. If problems arise in this area, they need to be discussed with the IIP Coordinator.

Step 10: POST-PROJECT EVALUATION q Following completion of an internship, we want your opinions on the success of the program and how we can

improve our curriculum to better suit your needs.

ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUE Liability It is expected that co-operating IP employers will extend the same insurance/liability coverage to IP students that they do to other temporary full-time employees. In the event that this is not the case, the University of Alberta extends limited coverage to students carrying out work as part of an academic program. The Risk Management Office on campus can be contacted to confirm particulars of coverage and common arrangements. (Risk Management: Linda Dudley (780) 492-5513. Criminal Records Check If employers require employees to have Criminal Records Checks or Security Clearances, this should be indicated in the job description. The Faculty will facilitate the Criminal Records Check process by supplying the necessary documentation to students.



RECENT SPONSORS • Alberta Cancer Board, Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine,

University of Alberta http://www.ualberta.ca/~oncology/

• Alberta Department Sustainable Resource Development (Wildlife Forensics Lab), Edmonton, Alberta http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/

• Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, Boyle, Alberta http://www.alpac.ca/

• Alberta Research Council, Biotechnology Business Unit, Edmonton, Alberta http://www.arc.ab.ca/

• Alberta Research Council, Crop and Plant Management (Plant Genetic Engineering), Vegreville, Alberta http://www.arc.ab.ca/

• Banner Pharmacaps (Canada) Ltd., Olds, Alberta http://www.brandsforall.com/healthcare/bannerpharmacaps.htm

• Biomira Inc., Edmonton, Alberta http://www.biomira.com/

• Environment Canada, Prairie and North Region, Edmonton, Alberta http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/overview.en.html

• Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Hammond Bay, Nanaimo, British Columbia http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/English/default.htm

• Pioneer HI-Bred International Inc., Ellerslie, Alberta http://www.pioneer.com/

• University of Alberta, Digital Teaching Resources Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/

• ViRexx Inc., Edmonton, Alberta

http://iloweb.ilo.ualberta.ca/Spinoff%20Companies/Profiles/Virexx.htm

EVALUATION Formal evaluation of student performance occurs twice: once during the 4-month probationary period and again at the end of the work term. On-the-job performance is judged by the employer. The Internship is graded on a pass/fail basis. After the 4-month probationary period, a review is conducted by the employer to determine the appropriateness of the internship. The employer and the student jointly discuss the evaluation. If the partnership is not working, the student may withdraw from the program. A copy of the evaluation is forwarded to the IIP Coordinator. The final evaluation is completed at the end of the internship. Students are evaluated on both technical and non-technical skills. As with the 4-month evaluation, a copy of the final evaluation is forwarded to the IIP Coordinator and these evaluations become part of the student’s program records.



ADMINISTRATION The program is administered from the Office of the Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies) in the Department of Biological Sciences. The IIP Coordinator is Dr. Phil Fedorak who is assisted by Brenda Metherell (Executive Secretary to the Associate Chair). We encourage interns to name a suitable Faculty Advisor from within the Department who can provide specialist expertise for liaison with the Company and with the IIP Coordinator. Administration:

Brenda Metherell Calendar & Program Coordinator

Department of Biological Sciences CW 312, Biological Sciences Building University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9 Telephone: (780) 49 2– 0077 FAX: (780) 492 – 9457

E-mail: [email protected]

IIP Coordinator: Dr. Phil Fedorak Coordinator, Industrial Internship Program Department of Biological Sciences M444 Biological Sciences Building University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9 Telephone: (780) 492 – 3670 FAX: (780) 492 - 9234 E-mail: [email protected]

Visit us on the Web at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/programs/iip/



Department of Biological Sciences Industrial Internship Program University of Alberta Dr. Phil Fedorak Edmonton, Canada Coordinator Phone: (780) 492-3670 Fax: (780) 492-9234

EMPLOYER EVALUATION

Confidential Evaluation of a Work Experience Student*

The Industrial Internship Program aims to assist the student in their career and academic development. Your observations and evaluations are vital in this learning process to assist the student in further development and future work experiences. Please complete the enclosed Evaluation Form before the last day of the student’s work semester. The form should be completed by the student’s immediate supervisor, or whoever is the best person to evaluate the student’s work performance and attitude. Student’s Name: Work Term: Employer: Supervisor’s Name: Address: Signature: Phone: Fax: Email: For each category below, please select the one phrase that best describes the student’s performance during the last nine months of the internship, relative to other junior staff. Beside each category, please add a few words of your own for a more precise description.

Overall Performance during internship:

1. Below average in significant ways

2. Solid, sound performance compared to peer group

3. Above average in several significant ways

4. Exemplary performance in comparison to peer group

Qualify in own terms:

Technical expertise at end of internship:

1. Below average relative to others after one year of work experience

2. Good competence and sound skills

3. Above average in many significant ways

4. Outstanding in almost every respect

Qualify in own terms:



Team Work during internship (if applicable):

1. Below average team member

2. Reliable team member

3. Above average team member, shows some initiative and leadership

4. Outstanding. Organized work for the benefit and support of others

Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________

Efficiency and Organization: 1. Below average, often repeating work that was supposed to be complete 2. Kept on top of project. Consistently correct. 3. Above average, seems to use time effectively. Planned and organized work schedule 4. Outstanding. Extremely efficient and effective in using time wisely Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________

Adaptability: 1. Below average, reluctant to accept change 2. Comparable to peer group 3. Above average, makes a good effort to accommodate proposed changes 4. Extremely adaptable. Not upset by rapidly changing schedules and deadlines. Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________ Communication skills (oral and written) relative to peer group: 1. Has difficulty presenting ideas clearly and succinctly 2. Able to present ideas and be understood 3. Above average, communicates effectively in both oral and written work 4. Outstanding communication skills, smooth and polished work Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________ Customer Interactions (if applicable): 1. Below average in making customers comfortable 2. Does good job when dealing with customers 3. Above average for peer group in dealing with customer requests 4. Outstanding ability to handle even difficult or abusive customers Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________



Initiative: 1. Showed initiative only when pressed on the matter 2. Comparable to peer group when it came to initiating new directions 3. Above average initiative, made good efforts to guide work on a productive path 4. Outstanding, takes major role in initiating new ideas and approaches Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________ Problem Solving: 1. Modest problem-solving ability. Needs constant supervision 2. Average for the peer group. From time to time shows real ability 3. Above average skill level, can figure most things out. 4. Adept at solving problems without significant input from others Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________ Continuing Education: 1. Makes work of learning new material. Slow on uptake. 2. Comparable to peer group in learning new features or facilities 3. Well above average in learning latest techniques 4. Learning appears to be no effort, and happens without explicit request Qualify in own terms: ____________________________________________________________________________

YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

If you wish, please attach either your personal assessment or a recent “in company” review of the student. Please return the completed the completed form to:

Dr. Phil Fedorak Coordinator, Industrial Internship Program,

Department of Biological Sciences, M444 Biological Sciences Bldg.,

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9 Telephone: (780) 492 – 3670 FAX: (780) 492 - 9234

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