Project in Biotechnology Industry

HMB491Y1: Projects in Biotechnology Industry

 

Overview of HMB491Y1:

HMB491Y1 is a full-year, 1.0 FCE academic internship course that allows fourth-year Human Biology students to earn academic credit for supervised work in the biotechnology sector.

Explore the details of this course below.

 

What Does HMB491Y1 Offer?

Students have the opportunity to work with course staff to secure a placement with one of the program’s approved biotechnology partner organizations. Internship roles may involve:

  • Laboratory or wet lab assistance

  • Data collection and analysis

  • Quality control or regulatory tasks

  • Research and development support

  • Science communication or project coordination

The internship is designed to help students:

  • Apply academic learning in a professional environment

  • Develop industry-relevant skills

  • Build a professional network

  • Explore career paths within the biotechnology sector

Final acceptance into the course is dependent on securing a placement and being officially accepted as an intern by the partner organization.

 

HMB491Y1 Course Structure:

Students complete 200 hours with an approved industry partner (approximately 8–10 hours per week over 8 months) and participate in mandatory biweekly class meetings to discuss their internship experience, reflect on professional development, and connect course concepts to real-world applications.

Enrollment is restricted to fourth-year students and is by application only. This course is not eligible for CR/NCR. 

Overall:

  • 12 hours of lecture

  • 200 hours of placement work

  • 12 hours of seminar 

  • Biweekly in-class meetings focused on reflection, workplace learning, and career development

 

Eligibility and Application Process

Enrollment in HMB491Y1 is competitive and occurs each April though the Human Biology website. 

Applications will be assessed based on:

  • Completion of prerequisites

  • Academic performance in relevant coursework

  • Responses to application questions

  • Relevant knowledge or experience

  • Fit with available internship positions

  • Interview performance 

Prerequisite:  14.0 credits and an application, ​ STA288H1 (Recommended) / STA220H1/​ PSY201H1/ EEB225H1

HMB201H1/ HMB301H1/ HMB360H1 (NOTE: students that did not take HMB201H1 & HMB301H1 would be required to complete 16 CS-Biotech online modules)

Exclusion: JPM300H, ASIP Program, HMB490Y1, not recommended to take with another full year project course. Anyone considering taking two projects needs course instructors approval first.

 

Course Information Sheet:

For full details on this course, please see the HMB491Y1 Course Information Sheet.pdf