Before considering the CCSF Biotech program, I had been looking for an entry level position in biotech-research. The search process wasn’t going smoothly, so I decided to search for coursework or laboratory volunteer opportunities to learn and gain experience, and the CCSF Biotech program came to my attention. Initially I planned to pursue the Biotechnology Certificate program only, however after I learned about the concept of mammalian tissue culture, I realized the relevance of mammalian tissue culture in the field. This made me also pursue the Stem Cell Technology Certificate program followed by applying for the Stem Cell CIRM Internship.

Regardless, whether I would have enrolled in the internship or not, the coursework already prepared me extremely well to enter into the field. The instructors taught about the scientific concepts and demonstrated the important laboratory skills clearly. Also, most importantly I had a lot of opportunities to perform laboratory routines through doing experiments, keeping good records, and drawing out conclusions. When I finished the essential coursework, I knew that I was ready for the internship program.

My first important milestone in the program was to be enrolled in the Stem Cell CIRM Internship, which allowed me to gain valuable experience in the laboratory environment immediately. In the internship, I had the opportunities to continue performing both tissue culture and different laboratory assays. I continued to improve my knowledge and skills through working with and learning from my team members. One important benefit that I learned from the internship is that I had the opportunity to work in both an independent and collaborative fashion. I learned to manage my daily schedule by performing my techniques more efficiently and improving my multitasking skills. At the same time, I tried to do my best to maintain open communication with my team members to make sure everything went smoothly. Every team member in my lab was open for help when I had questions regarding my techniques, the projects, career in the field, and in particular the poster presentation at the end of the internship. Besides doing experiments, attending presentations to learn new scientific concepts in the field was always encouraged. 

Outside the lab, the internship program also requires each intern to attend one class meeting per week, which was helpful as each of us had the opportunity to learn different essential skills in the field such as analyzing the data or reading articles critically, presenting information concisely, and learning to prepare the resume for career, etc. If any good or bad things happened in the lab, we were encouraged to share our experiences so that we all learned from each other and gained personal growth as a group too.

My second important milestone was to present my work at the Biosymposium at the end of the internship. It was the happiest moment in the program because first I was surprised on how much I had done in a short period time to reach that stage. It was stressful to present my work in front of the professionals and any person who was interested in the science, but I also acknowledged what I had gone through in the program, and being able to teach and receive suggestions from others on my work made me feel great to continue to pursue my career in the biotech field. Besides showing my work, I had the chance to network with different professionals, and in particular having the unique opportunity to attend a mock in-person interview session. I felt grateful that I was well prepared to start my career in the biotech-research field after completing the program.

After completing the internship, I began to search for my next position. With the experience and skills from the internship being listed on my resume, I was surprised how quickly I was being contacted by different recruiters, which hadn’t happened before the completion of the internship. My lab members and the program coordinators also provided me resources to facilitate my search process. Within a reasonable amount of time, I was able to secure my first employment in the field working as a Research Associate in my current company. Thanks to the internship experience, it was an easy transition for me to adapt to my current company environment.

Advice to Current & Future Students:

To the current and future students in the CCSF biotechnology program, you will be preparing yourself to work in the real laboratory environment throughout the whole program, i.e. meaning in both coursework and the internship phrase - take as much advantage as possible in the program to do this. The whole program not only provides you with scientific knowledge, but also provides the essential training and a realistic simulation of the real laboratory working environment so that you will be well prepared when you start your biotech career. Whatever work that you have done in the program, you will do the same work more efficiently in your next position in the field. Therefore, if possible please put as much time as possible to learn the knowledge, practice the skills, keep good records, ask questions, etc. If you are struggling in different phrases throughout the program, don’t hesitate to ask for help from instructors, lab members, fellows, etc. because everyone in the program is eager to help and they all want you to be successful in the field.