SCCE hosts a number of events only for co-op to give you the opportunity to network with others within our co-op community, or with alumni, employers and other stakeholders.

Registration for all events is on OSCARplus. A sampling of our events can be seen below:

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The Co-op Student of the Year Award recognizes outstanding students in the Science Co-operative Education program.

Our winners and nominees display exceptional job and academic achievements, and contribute in a meaningful way to cooperative education and extracurricular activities at McMaster and in the community. One Year 3, 4 and 5 winner is chosen each year, with the top scoring candidate being considered as McMaster’s nominee for the National CEWIL and Provincial EWO Co-op Student of the Year Awards. A call for nominations is sent in November each year to all employers.

Read about Rameen Jamil's win here: 

A leap of faith brought Rameen Jamil to the frontlines of COVID research and earned her provincial honours as Ontario’s top university co-op student.

A fourth-year Biochemistry student in McMaster Faculty of Science Rameen worked as a research assistant under the supervision of McMaster respiratory scientist and immunologist Dr. Manali Mukherjee, Ph.D.

Experiential and Work-Integrated Learning Ontario named Rameen Ontario’s 2021 University Co-op Student of the Year. Rameen also won a Co-op Student of the Year Award from McMaster Science Career & Cooperative Education.

From January to August 2021, Rameen worked in Dr. Mukherjee’s lab on two COVID related projects. Much of her work focused on collecting and processing more than 150 samples from approximately 50 intensive care unit patients on mechanical ventilation as part of a longitudinal, multiple-visit, single-centre observational study by McMaster and The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton.

“Rameen’s performance was outstanding,” says Dr. Mukherjee, an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Respirology. “She exceeded my expectations given she joined as a third-year undergraduate student with no prior experience. Rameen is not afraid of hard work and is an out-and-out team player. She has immensely impressed everyone in our research group with her detail-oriented keen approach towards research, communication and time management skills.”

In addition to her primary project, Rameen also worked on investigating autoimmune biomarkers in post-COVID patients. The data generated by Rameen was used in several research proposals, including one that secured $499,000 in funding from COVID-19 Immunity Task Force. While her co-op has ended, Rameen is staying in the lab to work on her undergraduate fourth-year thesis project under Dr. Mukherjee’s continued supervision. She will be presenting her thesis work at the prestigious American Thoracic Society Annual Congress meeting in San Francisco this May.

“Dr. Mukherjee took a chance and gave me an opportunity when I had zero experience and basically no lab skills,” says Rameen. “I barely knew how to pipette but she still gave me a shot and I will be forever grateful.”

Alice O'Carroll, Director of Career Development and Cooperative Education with McMaster SCCE calls Rameen  a shining star and an inspiration to other students. “Rameen embodies all that is remarkable about McMaster Science students. We’re thrilled to see Rameen recognized as EWO Provincial Co-op Student of the Year. Her achievements demonstrate the fantastic contributions Science co-op students make to their employers and highlights the critical importance of co-op, experiential and work-integrated learning in integrating students with their future careers.” 

Students in the Faculty of Science completed more than 400 paid co-op work terms with 158 employers in 2020-2021.

A chance to impact the direction and activities of your co-op program.

A chance to impact the direction and activities of your co-op program. Representatives from each program will provide feedback from their program and help provide insight into the co-op student experience.

Personalized job searching is an important part of the co-op journey and teaches valuable skills that will enhance your future career development and employability. When searching for personalized jobs, remember all co-op positions must be a minimum of 420 hours of paid full-time work per four month term. All positions must first be approved by the SCCE. The Personalized Job Approval form can be found on Avenue to Learn.

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Where to look?

• Job Boards: Job boards such as Indeed, Monster and Eluta are great tools for finding posted opportunities. Only a small percentage of jobs are ever posted. So this should not be your only method of searching. Most tools allow you to filter your searches – look for “co-op”, “intern” or “student” positions, and/or limit to specific sectors. Remember to track all of the jobs you apply to this way.
• University Faculty Directories: If you are interested in a research opportunity, searching through a university’s faculty directory can help you find a researcher whose interests align with yours. From there you can contact them and see if they have funds and the space to hire you. 
• Network: One of the most effective approaches (but the one least used by students) is taking advantage of your network. Letting family and friends know that you are a co-op student looking for an opportunity may lead to unexpected connections and recommendations. Attending events, such as company information sessions, professional association meetings, conferences etc., can expand your network and introduce you to a wider group of people in your field. LinkedIn is also a valuable networking tool that can help expand your connections. Taking advantage of organizations like Ten Thousand Coffees or the McMaster Alumni and Partners Advisor Network will connect you with experts in your area and allow you to gather information about various career paths and industries.
• McMaster Work Program: Every summer McMaster offers hundreds of full-time jobs to students who demonstrate financial need. All Work Program postings go live on MOSAIC in March. Check out the details on eligibility for the program.
• Studentships: A studentship typically involves summer work on a research project. There are many studentships available both here in Ontario and around the globe. Below is a sampling of relevant opportunities:

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Interested in venturing outside of Canada for your work term?

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Benefits of International Co-op:

1. Experience a new culture

   While travel can provide you with a snapshot of a certain location, there is nothing like working and living in a place to fully immerse yourself in the local culture. Working abroad exposes you to new foods, customs, traditions, business practices and social norms. Our students often take the opportunity to travel to neighbouring areas, actively participate in local activities, make lasting friendships and grow their global network.

2. Hone Your Language Skills

   Chances are if you’re planning on working abroad, one of the major draws may be the opportunity to interact in a foreign language. There is no better way to learn than to dive right in, and you will have a fantastic opportunity to learn or improve your written and verbal communication skills.

3. Personal Development

   Being on your own in a foreign country can be nerve-wracking for some, while exhilarating for others. By embracing new challenges over the course of your experience, you will have the opportunity to further develop many important skills, including problem solving, independent thinking, research, communication and resiliency.

4. Graduate School Admissions

   Like future employers, graduate school admission boards look very highly on abroad experiences. Students who work or study abroad display diversity and show that they aren’t afraid to seek out new challenges or put themselves in difficult situations.

5. Unique Life Experience

   For many students, this may be the only chance to travel abroad, and live and work in a foreign country. Many nations are supportive of temporary student work experiences; full-time postgraduate positions may be much harder to secure. Students are encouraged to embrace this unique opportunity.

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Eligibility for an International Co-op

All work term positions must be preapproved through the Science Career & Cooperative Education office. Students must consult with the SCCE before accepting an offer and receive signed approval from the SCCE Manager or Co-op Advisor.

Visa Eligibility: Students must be able to secure a work visa in the country of employment.

Security: The country must not be on the “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid all non-essential travel” list issued by the Government of Canada

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Securing an International Co-op Work Term:

After you have met with a member of the SCCE team to discuss your international co-op plan, your job search will follow the same strategies and principles that you learned in SCIENCE 2C00 and 3C00.

1. Personalized

Your primary strategy will be catered to your interests. Use your personal networks and apply to positions in the hidden job market and targeted web searches.

• For example, you can look into different university websites to obtain background and contact information for the research labs within the institution. EUROScholars is a good reference for 7 major universities.
• You can also connect with companies and organizations via LinkedIn, e-mail or company websites.

2. Websites and Organizations with an International Focus

1. Each country you are interested in will have unique career websites and job boards. Check these regularly for updated postings. Examples Include:
   • REED (United Kingdom)
   • SEEK (Australia)
   • EURES (Europe)
   • GoAbroad
   • ScienceCareers
2. Quite a few organizations help connect students to work opportunities abroad. Please note there may be an additional charge for their services, which is your responsibility to pay:
   • AIESEC
   • GoinGlobal
   • Globalinks
   • CO-OP Japan
   • IAESTE
   • SWAP
3. International Science Scholarships:
   • DAAD
   • RISE
   • Scholars For Development
   • International Scholarships

3. OSCARplus Job Board

The OSCARplus Science Co-op and SSC’s main job board occasionally post positions outside of Canada, so keep an eye out for international opportunities. Your co-op coordinator can also connect with you when opportunities arise if s/he is aware of your interest in working abroad.

The Ambassador Program allows prospective students to get in touch with current co-op students. It is a great way to ask questions, learn about real experiences, and determine whether co-op is the right option for you!
If you have specific questions about a program that is currently not represented by an ambassador, or if you have any general questions about co-op, please direct them to gencoop@mcmaster.ca

We will be hosting an AMBASSADOR Night on December 7 from 7pm-8pm. Come by if you would like to chat with the ambassadors and learn more about what co-op is like. Registration is open on Oscarplus.

Be sure to check this page and follow the @mcmasterscce Instagram for details on upcoming events the ambassadors will be taking part in!