The Biosciences Area partners with Biotech Partners (BP), a non-profit with the mission of educating underserved youth in the Bay Area with personal, academic, and professional development experiences that increase participation in higher education and access to fulfilling science careers. In 2016 the Biosciences Area provided internships to 13 high school students.
We are looking for mentors who have a strong commitment to teaching a high school student. The mentor has to be physically present throughout their internship, provide training, monitor their work, sign off timesheets, etc. Interested mentors must express their interest by March 14, 2017.
What is the Biotech Partners program?
Biotech Partners is a non-profit organization that helps youth from populations underrepresented in the sciences. They are committed to supporting disadvantaged students who might be at risk of dropping out of high school. Their paid summer internships run for 8 weeks, between June 20 and August 11, and includes juniors and seniors. Before they start the internship, the students complete high school biology, chemistry, algebra, and two semesters of biotech lab.
Who can be a mentor?
We are looking for people (postdocs, graduate students, research associates, technology-focused staff, ops staff, etc.) who have a strong commitment to teaching a young student. Mentors will need approval from their supervisors and/or area contacts. It is helpful if the mentor has had some prior teaching/mentoring experience. The internship job description should align with BP’s goal which is to provide a summer experience that will help increase the student’s participation in higher education and provides access to fulfilling science careers.
What was the feedback we received from mentors last year?
Here’s some of the feedback we received: “My student got tons of work done for us.” and “I learned how to tailor my mentorship to an individual’s capabilities”.
Who pays for the internships?
There is a cost involved in hosting the students since these are paid internships. The students work 20 hours a week at an hourly rate of $12.53 for 8 weeks. The source of funds to cover the cost varies depending on your operations center. See below for details regarding each operations center.
Biosciences Operations @ Berkeley
Interested mentors should fill out this form and contact Louise Benvenue with questions. Individual PIs will sponsor Biotech Partner interns.
Biosciences Operations @ Emery Station (JBEI, ABPDU, KBase)
Interested mentors should fill out this form and contact Rochelle Urban with questions. Funding for a limited number of JBEI and ABPDU interns will be provided by the Operations budget. JBEI and ABPDU mentors will require approval from their supervisors. KBase funding is TBD.
Biosciences Operations @ Walnut Creek (JGI)
JGI Program Leads that have an unfilled summer student allocation that would like to host a Biotech Partner intern should send requests to Ray Turner and TBK Reddy. JGI-hosted Biotech Partner interns will be funded by the budget of the Program hosting the student.
Mentor Timeline:
Fill in the mentor interest form or contact your operations center contact by March, 14 2017
Interviews conducted in April and May
Required mentor orientation in May
Internship runs about 20 hours/week June 20-August 11, 2017
BRAVO! Final Celebration: August 12, 2017
Additional information
- Learn more about the 2016 Biotech Partners experience in the Biosciences Area
- Biotech Partners flyer
