Oklahoma City Community College

The R&D Intern Partnership with Oklahoma City Community College allows students working toward their associate’s degree in biotechnology to receive first-rate, on-the-job training. Community college students are often juggling school, work and family – making the stipend provided by the OCAST partnership all the more important. Companies participating in the intern partnership are required to match the OCAST award. Dr. Charlotte Mulvihill, professor of biotechnology at Oklahoma City Community College, says without the stipend, many students wouldn’t receive the invaluable experience they gain through the internship program.

Statewide, nearly 500 Oklahoma college students have participated in the OCAST R&D Intern Partnership program.

The intern partnership allows employers to screen future employees, students to network and gain experience in the industry and the college to receive feedback from companies on how to improve the degree program. Many students find employment in Oklahoma upon graduating and several have been hired by the company where they interned.

Dr. Charlotte Mulvihill, professor of biotechnology, stands in front of a class of future OCAST funded interns at Oklahoma City Community College.

Joyce Mann, medical technologist at InterGenetics.