Press Release - Office of College Advancement
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Office of College Advancement
Ohlone College
510-659-6206
www.ohlone.edu
**For Immediate Release**
12 Regional High School Students Secure Biotech Internships
Fremont, CA – The future is very bright. Especially bright for twelve regional high school participants in the Ohlone College Biotech Institute from the Bay Area who were awarded internships with local biotech companies on Friday, July 22.
These students, who decided that a summer of lounging just wasn’t for them, received their internships through the 5th Annual Summer Biotechnology Institute at Ohlone. This popular program first trains high school students in a 4-week intensive class instructed by Ohlone professor, Dr. Mark Barnaby. Applicants are taught biotechnology concepts and lab skills critical to biotechnology firms. Participants then have the opportunity to secure 2-3 week internships with regional biotech companies to further their experience. Interviews were held on Tuesday, July 19 with 5 different companies. A quick decision was made and 12 out of the 17 students in the program were offered internships:
- Abgenix of Fremont
- Robert Soo Hoo (Mission San Jose)
Deboral Soong (Irvington)
Tiffany Shih (Amador Valley)
Nimi Mastey (Foothill) - Mendel Biotech of Hayward
- Stephanie Chen
Kimberly Fok
Anjali Krishnan (all from Mission San Jose) - Inamed of Fremont
- Jennifer Taylor (Mission San Jose)
- Lab Vision/Neomarkers of Fremont
- Stehanie Cham (Monte Vista)
Byron Tang (Mission San Jose) - Boston Scientific of Fremont
- Sonali Sheth (Mission San Jose)
Tara Makker (Irvington)
Ohlone College also offers other successful programs in biotechnology. The college, with the Alameda County WIB, trains displaced high-tech workers for positions in the biotechnology industry. Ohlone offers certificate programs in Biomanufacturing & Research and Computer Applications in Biotechnology. A State Chancellor’s grant enables Ohlone to offer special skills workshops for current employees in biotechnology and a newly awarded National Science Foundation Grant will sponsor the formation of an alliance between Ohlone, high schools, biotechnology companies and the CSUs. The program is specifically directed towards helping underserved students such as those from the Hispanic/Latino community to secure jobs in the biotech field or successfully transferring to CSUs in biology, chemistry, engineering and technology.
Contact Persons:
- Dr. Mark Barnby, Biotech Professor, Ohlone College (408) 395-5644 or (408) 348-5652 (c)
- Dr. Ron Quinta, Dean--Math, Science & Technology, Ohlone College (510) 659-6024
- Anita Neuman, Dir. Project Management, Boston Scientific (510) 440-7634 (2 student interns)
- Michael Yoshida, Sr. Manager, Purification Operations, Abgenix (510) 284-6689 (4 student interns)
- Gregory Dapper, Sr. Scientist, Inamed (510) 623-2609 (1 student intern)
- Tim Morken, Product Development, Lab Vision-Neomarkers (510) 991-2840 (2 student interns)
- Fred Hempel, Sr. Scientist, Mendel Biotechnology (510) 259-6152 (3 student interns)
Additional Information: On-site photos and interviews can be arranged.
