Connecting Data Solutions in Practice and Theory: Five years of cooperation with Roche in Germany
May 25, 2022
Building a bridge from university to the working world, trying out what has been learned and solving real world problems – that is the basic idea behind the "Roche Cooperative Study Program". For half a decade, the German branch of one of the world’s largest biotech company located in Penzberg near Munich has been cooperating with the master's program Data Engineering at Jacobs University Bremen – to the benefit of Roche, the university, and the students.
Since 2018, the company has accepted two to three Master's students into the program each year with a partial scholarship – at the start of the 2022/23 academic year for the fifth time. This year, four Jacobs Master students have been selected for the Roche Cooperative Study Program. The cooperation also includes a three-month internship at Roche in Penzberg, mentoring by company representatives throughout the entire study period, and the Master's thesis in cooperation with the company.
One of the current scholarship holders is Deepali Bohra. As part of the study program, she completed an internship in the Roche Data Lab Team as a Data Engineer. Through the collaborative program she gained valuable insights into current innovations in the healthcare industry, Deepali said. Her mentor at Roche supported her in both her work in the medical labs and her university courses. The well-structured program at Roche allowed Deepali to balance studying at Jacobs University and gaining industry knowledge at the same time.
"It is always a pleasure and a benefit to work with the students of Jacobs University," said Roche mentor Katharina Reckermann. "They understand very complex tasks quickly and have impressed me with their personal strengths and scientific approaches." Linda Stemmle, Data Scientist at Roche, added: "Working with Jacobs University has proven to be a great source of talented data engineers. The diversity of students from different backgrounds enriches our teams and provides us with different perspectives."
The temporary cooperation with the students may well develop into permanent employment. "Some graduates have started their professional careers at Roche," explained Claudia Spieker, contact person for the cooperation program at Jacobs University. For example, in the case of Diego Lainfiesta, who was among the first Master's students supported in 2018 and now works at Roche: "The company offers an excellent environment for turning ideas into reality."
Questions answered:
Claudia Spieker
Corporate Relations and Talent Programs
Resource Development
Phone: +49 421 200-4235
Email: c.spieker [at] jacobs-university.de lent Programs
Resource Development