What is the Life Sciences Placement Program?
The cycle of life science innovation involves discovery, product development, clinical testing, manufacturing and commercial launch. These integral components play a crucial role in transforming concepts into marketable innovations that find practical application in the real world. It is of critical importance to provide students and recent graduates with opportunities for training and hands-on experience across all these domains and innovative companies with the talented highly qualified people that they need to grow and scale.
API accelerates and simplifies internship approvals through the Life Sciences Placement Program, cutting Mitacs timelines from four months to as little as three weeks. With pre-approved Mitacs funding, guidance throughout the process and access to our industry and academic networks, we connect students and recent graduates with hands-on opportunities that bridge academic research and real-world innovation, faster and more efficiently. LSPP interns will also gain access to API’s programming library, expanding education opportunities without additional costs.
Who benefits from the LSPP?
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Industry
From startups, to scaleups, and beyond. The LSPP enables employers to have the talent they need when they need it, in a model that is built for scaling business.
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Trainees
The LSPP enables recent graduates and students from colleges and post-secondary institutions to take their education to the real world as they work as part of industry teams, gaining critical sector experience.
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Researchers
At academic institutions, leading researchers will have an enhanced mechanism to partner with industry, enabling the translation of academic excellence into commercial innovation.
What types of projects and roles are eligible?
With placement ranging from 4 months to 2 years depending on project scope and intern type, LSPP welcomes projects in the following areas:
Discovery Research
Projects in new life science product discovery work, lab-based as well as in-silico, spanning traditional small molecule pharmaceuticals to biologics to medical devices, and much more.
Analytical Methods Development
Projects in the development of novel assays and tests to demonstrate the safety, efficacy, or other functionalities of potential products opportunities for hands-on experience with advanced analytical techniques through collaboration with industry experts.
Formulation and Finished Product Development
Projects in the development of delivery platforms for diverse innovative products. Hands-on projects will involve the incorporation of inventive formulation techniques.
Clinical Trial Design and Data Modeling
Projects in biostatistics, clinical pharmacology, and the application of artificial intelligence in clinical trials.
Manufacturing under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Scale-up projects including research to transition academic proofs of concept to larger volume production under a quality management system spanning pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices.
Regulatory Affairs and Business Strategy
Projects focused on product-market fit, designing regulatory strategies and dossier development, conducting patent and intellectual property studies.
Engineering
Designing new processes and developing medical devices and diagnostic prototypes beyond initial proofs of concept.
Benefits of Using API and LSPP
API and LSPP create employment opportunities that give researchers and early-career professionals hands-on life sciences experience. Leveraging API’s partnership reduces application review times and expands funding access.
There are several benefits to choosing the LSPP including:
Faster Application Approvals and Submission Support
Pre-approved project submissions reduce Mitacs review and approval times to as little as 3 weeks. From project evaluation to submission, API ensures your application is complete, accurate and aligned with all requirements so you can focus on research and innovation.
Direct Access to Supportive Funding
Through the LSPP, access to a pool of Mitacs matching funds for eligible projects. Through preapproved funding, Mitacs matches 50% of internship funding up to $7,500 per graduate student, $10,000 per postdoc and $11,250 (up to 66%) for First Nation students.
Training and Education Resources
LSPP interns gain access to select courses from API’s programming library, providing professional development opportunities while reducing the cost of additional training. This includes courses from BioTalent Canada, OBIO, and CASTL to help expand technical, business and project management skills.
Pro Bono Consulting
Interns and collaborating partners receive up to five hours per intern of pro bono consulting through API’s internal translational services team. These services span Discovery & Development, Regulatory & Quality and Clinical & Quantitative Solutions, providing technical guidance and expertise to assist with the commercialization activities related to your Mitacs project while providing interns with valuable, hands-on learning opportunities as they collaborate with industry experts.
Explore Internship Streams with the Life Sciences Placement Program
LLSP offers two different Mitacs internship streams. Explore these two distinct streams and choose the one right for you and your research.
Stream 1
Accelerate Internships
Hands-on applied research internships that contribute to peer-reviewed publications or strengthen partnerships between post-secondary institutions (PSIs) and industry through collaborative R&D projects.
Stream 2
Business Strategy Internships (BSI)
Innovation-focused internships that help bring emerging technologies to market and develop forward-thinking business models through strategic research and analysis.
Internship Details/Eligibility
Internships through LSPP may vary in duration; therefore, internship opportunities are flexible and have different requirements.
- Minimum Internship Length: Each internship must span at least 4 to 6 months, with the option to scale based on the project’s scope and complexity.
- Part-Time and Full-time Enrollments: Internships can be structured as full-time or part-time roles, depending on both project requirements and the academic commitments of the intern.
- Intern Identification: An intern must be selected and confirmed before submitting a Mitacs internship application.
To be eligible for Mitacs consideration, an intern can be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, an international student with a valid student visa, or international postdoctoral fellow with a valid work permit. Interns must be at least 18 years old, and meet one of the following criteria:
- Postdoctoral fellows are eligible if their PhD was completed less than five years before the project start date.
*Exceptions may be granted for extenuating circumstances, such as parental leave or military service.
** Fellows must not have been employed full-time at the partner organization prior to applying.
- Recent graduates (must be within two years of graduation at the project start date), and non-degree students (diploma or
- Visiting students and researchers at Canadian academic institutions who are completing a degree at an institution abroad may also be eligible, subject to the Canadian institution’s approval.
Interested in using LSPP for your next big project?
Explore Our Programs
API offers a variety of programs to expand skills and training through our in-house expertise and extensive life sciences network, explore them here.