Skip to main content
Applied Sciences › Engineering Science › Biomedical Engineering
SFU Co-op Student

empty
Vincent's coworkers
[T]he experience at Intel of Canada has been the best and friendliest experience I ever had as a Co-op student here

Throughout my education, Co-op has played an important role in my learning experience and I was excited about the various career options I could approach. Initially, I wanted to find a biomedical Co-op placement related to my field of study, however, after my previous co-op experience at a biomedical startup LungPacer, I knew I needed more experience in design development with a larger team.  

In my case, I applied for Intel which is the world’s largest and highest valued multinational semiconductor chip maker that specializes in processors and SSDs. I thought that through this experience I could not only hone my communication skills in a team but also gain the necessary skills to prepare for my future career as a design engineer.  One of the benefits of working in a large company is that the amount of expertise and help is never lacking, and teamwork plays a large role in successful product development. Even though I had completed all three terms in my undergraduate, working at such a specialized company was invaluable to my learning.

At Intel, I worked as a Silicon Validation engineer which is mainly focused on systems validation. There is a good mix of hardware and software needed in the post-silicon stage of the development, and the diversity of technical skills needed to validate the silicon is well spread. I’ve had the privilege of scripting automation for Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) testing, worked with firmware and hardware validation by DMM.  I also worked with some state-of-the-art LeCroy and Logic Analyzer equipment to validate the product. Lastly, but most importantly, I had the chance to work on my ability to communicate my engineering thoughts clearly in a team, and honed my soft skills to work in the industry as a team player at Intel.

Overall, the experience at Intel of Canada has been the best and friendliest experience I ever had as a Co-op student here, because employees treat everyone with an equal amount of respect. 

SFU Co-op Student

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking, Work Term Extension

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

picture of glichelle pondering a though
Surviving Workplace Politics

Ever been peeved with workplace politics? Have you ever been a victim of office politics? One student shares her experiences from the workplace with tips on how to survive.

 

person with their head in a book
Responsibility and Success

One of the most memorable parts of my time in co-op was the collection of accidents, errors, mistakes, and mix-ups that happened in the course of working in the laboratory.

 

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

ian and coworkers in scrubs
Ian's International Co-op in Mexico: Babies, Mothers, and Hearts

When Ian first came to SFU, Ian was a student in the Biological Sciences program. After their first year, they realized that they didn't just want to study living organisms, they wanted to learn about the human body. So at the end of their first year, they found themselves transfering to the Biomedical Physiology program.

Sharon and Olivia standing in front of the vaccination clinic
Taking Their Shot: How SFU Health Sciences Students Are Supporting Fraser Health Vaccination Efforts

SFU health sciences students Sharon Kular and Olivia Tomlinson have been working as co-op students to support vaccination efforts in the Fraser Health Authority this summer

Dancing Practice
Reflecting on My Internship & Interviewing a Professional Dancer

Interning with a contemporary dance company was one of the best choices I made in my degree. After participating in a performance/installation, I met with one of the professional dancers in the production to talk career, personal strategies, and the ins and outs of the dance community in Vancouver.