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The Hong Kong Life Sciences Society (HKLSS), dedicated to cultivating professional talents in life sciences since its establishment in 2018, continues to provide the vastly popular Summer Internship Program. This year saw the 6th edition of the program, which both the number of applicants and final admissions reached record highs. It also marks the first time internship opportunities being offered in Shenzhen, in addition to Hong Kong and Shanghai. The expansion allows undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain a deeper understanding of the frontier developments and technological innovations in the life sciences industry in Mainland China. The program concluded with a closing ceremony last Saturday, where participating organizations and the distinguished guests witnessed the interns’ growth.
The six-week Life Sciences Summer Internship Program is conducted annually from early July to mid-August. This year, over 400 applications were received, of which, many had come from students studying abroad. In the end, 42 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and abroad were selected. The students interned at 23 organizations including start-ups, venture capital firms, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, and non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The internship offered them with opportunities to explore in pioneering research and technologies, which equipped them for future careers.
Prof Ken Wong, Executive Director of HKLSS, said in his speech, “Exposing our talent to diverse perspectives and career paths is a key part of preparing them for the future. This is the reason we launched our summer internship program back in 2019. By engaging talent to work and live in the three cities, we can further enhance cross-cultural exchange and learning opportunities for our interns. This cross-city collaboration is crucial as we collectively work to cultivate the next generation of life sciences leaders.”
Prof Wong added, “Before the internship program began, we also launched a five-day study tour to Wuxi and Shanghai, in partnership with the Hong Kong Wuxi Trade Association. This allowed our interns to gain insights into different aspects of the industry that are not easily accessible in Hong Kong alone.”
Program Expands to Shenzhen, Benefiting Both Employers and Students
Shenzhen-based Signet Therapeutics participated in the program for the first time. Dr Shu Zhuo, Vice President and Head of R&D at Signet, expressed his delight with the company’s involvement. He mentioned that Signet, located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, aims to attract Hong Kong talents for internships and exchanges. Dr Zhuo said, “Our company has developed a focused and systematic training program specifically for interns, covering areas from organoid platforms to drug pipelines, allowing students to gain substantial experience within six weeks.” He also praised the Hong Kong students for their global perspective and communication skills, stating, “Their innovative thinking is remarkable, enabling them to effectively analyze and solve problems, which enriches our working environment. For R&D companies like ours that require constant innovation, such cultural exchange is essential.”
Internship Program Equips Overseas Students in Future Career Planning
16 students participating in this year's summer internship program are from overseas universities. Among them, Susan Pan, who is enrolled in the HKU-Cambridge Undergraduate Recruitment Scheme (Natural Sciences), interned at Signet’s R&D department this summer through HKLSS’s program. She said, “I believe Shenzhen's life sciences and pharmaceutical development is among the best in the country. As the hub of the Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen has great potential for joint development with Hong Kong. During my internship in Shenzhen, I was able to interact with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds, all of whom are highly motivated and eager to explore.”
Susan values this internship, which provided her with a more concrete vision for her future career, such as first-hand experience of laboratory work and experiment processes. She encouraged other peers who are considering to join the Internship Program, “Be proactive in engaging and communicating with your colleagues. Be brave to ask questions and learn from your seniors. Enjoy this internship as it is an invaluable opportunity to learn and explore.”
In-Depth Understanding of Hetao Development
A record number of postgraduate students participated in the HKLSS Summer Internship Program this year. Tony Xie, a PhD candidate at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, chose to intern in Shenzhen, joining the The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Biomedical Innovation R&D Center. Tony believes that participating in the internship as a postgraduate student has many benefits, “In addition to broadening my horizons and opening up possible career paths, I believe employers will view graduates who have completed an internship as more experienced and prepared, and it serves as an advantage in the job market. Interning in Shenzhen required adapting to cultural differences at the beginning, but I gradually realized that their equipment and working environment are very similar to those in Hong Kong, making it easier for us to adapt.”
Students participating in the Internship Program noted that the HKLSS internship is highly regarded by their academic institutions and various corporations. The program also includes workshops, site visits, and exchange activities that enrich the participants’ understanding and better prepare them for their future careers. HKLSS will continue strengthening its collaboration with laboratories and biotech companies in Shenzhen and Hetao area. Additionally, it aims to provide study tour opportunities in more locations in the fields of research, testing, and artificial intelligence for local and overseas students.