New program trains biomedical scientists with business savvy
Third-year students have until Oct. 22 to apply for January entry into the new Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) Bachelor/Master’s program offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Science with contributions by the DeGroote School of Business.
Applications are now being accepted for a unique McMaster program which offers students the opportunity to train in biomedical science and business at the same time.
Third-year students have until Oct. 22 to apply for January entry into the new Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) Bachelor/Master’s program offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Science with contributions by the DeGroote School of Business.
An information session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in MDCL 3020.
The program, open to students who have completed two years in science or health sciences, includes two years to finish an honours Bachelor of Health Sciences degree, followed by one year for the course-based master’s degree. The 12-month master’s program has a four-month internship in the health sciences sector.
Although the program begins in September 2015, an accelerated start has been arranged which will see about 15 students start in January 2015. Those students will be prepared to begin the fourth year of the program next fall.
“This is a multidisciplinary training program, concentrated in the biomedical sciences, which will produce graduates with strong discovery research skills, street smarts and business savvy,” said Eric Brown, director of the program and a professor of biochemistry and biomedical science.
“The career options and relevance of this program will be a lightning rod for students wanting an exciting future. We’ve met enthusiasm for this program from all, so we decided to get started right away.”
He said the program will be reaching out to the commercial health sciences sector for involvement as guest lecturers and community mentors.
Brown pointed to the current impact of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors on the Canadian economy, and their anticipated growth, adding: “These students will become Canada’s biomedical scientists who lead in discovery and commerce.”
Courses in the program range from drug discovery and development, and laboratory research skills to accounting for decision making and applied marketing. Innovative educational methods of experiential, inquiry and team-based learning approaches will be the hallmark of the program.
More information on the program, including how to apply, may be found at http://bdcprogram.mcmaster.ca/index.html
