Hosting professional mastersHosting professional masters interns - lessons learned

Andreas WalzOphidion IncOphidion, Inc.

Who is Ophidion?Who is Ophidion?

• Founded in 2008• Small startup biotechnology companySmall startup biotechnology company• Developing cognitive enhancing

therapeuticstherapeutics• We employ four full-time employees• We're not VC funded• We've hosted ten interns in the pastWe ve hosted ten interns in the past

three years

Small vs medium vs large biotech

• Compare and contrast–Small is dynamic and less structuredSmall is dynamic and less structured

Small vs medium vs large biotech

• Compare and contrast–Small is dynamic and less structuredSmall is dynamic and less structured–Small is less safe and less funded

Small vs medium vs large biotech

• Compare and contrast–Small is dynamic and less structuredSmall is dynamic and less structured–Small is less safe and less funded

S ll h b i l–Small has greater access but is less diverse

Small vs medium vs large biotech

• Compare and contrast–Small is dynamic and less structuredSmall is dynamic and less structured–Small is less safe and less funded

S ll h b i l–Small has greater access but is less diverse

• There are more small companies than large onesg

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Technical interns

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Technical interns• Business internsBusiness interns

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Technical interns• Business internsBusiness interns• What determines the need for an

intern?intern?

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Technical interns• Business internsBusiness interns• What determines the need for an

intern?intern?• How do we find interns?

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Masters - Program in Applied Biotechnology Studies (PABS)gy ( )

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Masters - Program in Applied Biotechnology Studies (PABS)gy ( )

• College - Pasadena Community College (PCC)College (PCC)

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Masters - Program in Applied Biotechnology Studies (PABS)gy ( )

• College - Pasadena Community College (PCC)College (PCC)

• University - California Institute of Technolog (Caltech)Technology (Caltech)

Types of internships at OphidionTypes of internships at Ophidion

• Masters - Program in Applied Biotechnology Studies (PABS)gy ( )

• College - Pasadena Community College (PCC)College (PCC)

• University - California Institute of Technolog (Caltech)Technology (Caltech)

• High school - Polytechnic

What makes a good intern?What makes a good intern?

• Basic skills–Lab skillsLab skills–Computer skills

C i i kill–Communication skills• Ability to adjusty j• Open mindedness• Maturity• Maturity

What do interns get out of their experience?

• Exposure to real world science• Critical industry experienceCritical industry experience• Enables decision making

d i l• Recommendation letter• Connections

Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Investment vs benefit• Love to teachLove to teach• Impact of intern on rest of group

?• To pay or not to pay?• Have specific deliverablesp

Questions and Comments