Physics Co-op
Want to graduate with paid work experience from a top employer already on your resume? A Science Co-op in physics can get you going. Hone your skills and knowledge in real industry scenarios, explore different roles and workplaces in B.C. or abroad, and build your networks and references. Plus, a Science Co-op can help you find work during any semester, not just over the job-competitive summer months.
CO-OP QUICK FACTS
- Integrate work experience with your academic studies and get the opportunity to gain a year or more of paid work experience during your program
- Complete a minimum of three work terms and earn a Co-operative Education Designation with your Bachelor of Science degree
- Join the co-op program early in your studies for the most flexibility when scheduling courses and work terms
- Apply two terms in advance of your first intended work term (e.g. apply to co-op in Fall to prepare for a Summer work term the following year)
- Minimum CGPA to apply: 2.5
- During each work term, you are enrolled in the Co-op Practicum course and maintain your status as a full-time student
- Visit the co-op website for upcoming application deadlines
Example Physics Co-op Roles
- Systems Developer
- Laboratory Assistant
- Computational Engineering Assistant
- Lab Technician
- Analytical Co-op
- Research Assistant
- Data Analysis Co-op
Physics Co-op Employers
Hear what physics co-op students have to say…
Matthew Garayt, SFU alumnus
B.C. Children’s Hospital, Respiratory Clinic, Columbia Containers and E-One Moli Energy
After graduating from SFU, I worked at E-One Moli Energy full-time for almost two years and am currently a PhD student working on lithium- and sodium-ion batteries at Dalhousie University. Through the co-op program, relationships and connections are built that can lead to opportunities down the road. For example, my work term at Columbia Containers was borne out of an interview from a previous term where I did not receive an offer but showed interest in their organization and remained in contact with them.
Symphony Huang, SFU alumnus
Kavanagh Lab, SFU (Summer 2017), E-One Moli Energy (Summer 2018), Luican-Mayer Lab, uOttawa (Summer 2019)
I completed 3 co-op terms during my undergrad in Physics at SFU: one in an industrial setting at Moli Energy and two in separate academic research laboratories. I was lucky enough to obtain my third work placement at the University of Ottawa, thanks to networking at the CCUWiP conference I attended in January 2019, where I met professor Adina Luican-Mayer, who researches quantum materials and later hired me in her lab the following summer. Having co-op experience helped me identify what I enjoyed working on and which skills I wanted to continue developing. So that led me to go on to study quantum materials at McMaster University with professor Bruce Gaulin and I had the opportunity to travel the world for neutron scattering experiments and conferences. I now work at Svante Technologies in Vancouver as a material characterization specialist, supporting product development through microscopy, experiments, and method development. My co-op and graduate school experiences trained me well for my first full-time role in industry, training me as a scientist and as a professional.