OICR invests in co-op student experience
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
Inclusion, innovation and collaboration are more than just buzz words for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). They are core values that resonate with its employees, including Waterloo co-op students.
At OICR, students deliver solutions that will improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Step into OICR’s labs and you’ll find students involved in cutting-edge cancer research. They work on DNA sequencing, image analysis, computational projects and much more.
Dr. Michelle Brazas (she/her), director of adaptive oncology, has been with OICR for 18 years. She credits her longevity to meaningful work and great people – including co-op students.
Students bring new ideas, perspectives and experiences that we don’t have. Cancer is complex, and solutions aren't simple. We need students’ insights for our projects, initiatives and problems we’re facing.
Dr. Michelle Brazas, director of adaptive oncology, OICR
Initiatives at OICR include the Marathon of Hope where students helped sequence over 700 samples. OICR also utilizes student support for projects that need artificial intelligence (AI) skills.
“When we present our problems and projects, it’s about bringing new software and developing new tools to analyze cancer in a different way. Co-op students have those programing skills and experiences with tools like AI or social media,” Brazas says.
It’s no surprise that OICR’s mentorship and support of co-op students have earned them big wins. The organization is the recipient of the Co-operative and Experiential Education 2025 Employer Impact Award for Student Experience. More than 2,000 students voted to crown OICR as this year’s recipient.
Company snapshot
Industry: Research
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Years of operation: 20
Years as a co-op employer: 14
Total Waterloo co-op work terms: 261
Key co-op student roles: bioinformatics programmer, software developer, cancer drug discovery chemist, genomic data analyst
The approach
Waterloo co-op student Kealey Nguyen working in the lab at OICR
OICR’s mentorship goes beyond formal programs. It happens in meetings, at lunch and through cross-team collaborations. OICR encourages students to explore, ask questions and shadow other departments.
Students are set up for success through thoughtful preparation, such as setting up projects and ensuring they have the tools they need.
Kealey Nguyen (she/her), a Health Sciences co-op student, worked with OICR in her first work term.
“Everyone wanted to help”, Nguyen says. “It made a difference.”
Nguyen recalls feeling that she was unqualified as she began her first work term. However, the team at OICR saw her potential and helped Nguyen to quickly find her footing.
“I didn’t just follow protocols – I understood them. That foundation gave me the confidence I needed and made the work meaningful,” Nguyen says.
The impact of co-op students
For OICR, working with students is important in engaging the next generation in meaningful research.
“We don’t just hire students – we invest in them and they invest in us. We look to the participation of the next generation in our research as an important element of our mission and vision. We actively engage and participate with them – they are part of our team. We’re recognized as their team member, an impactful force in their experience. It’s amazing.”
Students are an important part of not only OICR's talent strategy, but their future. They rely on getting the best talent through their doors to make a difference for cancer patients.
“For many years, OICR has provided amazing co-op experiences. Students benefit from mentorship, cross-training initiatives and organizational presentations,” says Lauren Rafferty, account manager, CEE. “More importantly, they genuinely care about students’ learning and well-being.”
A team member reviews samples in the lab at OICR
A team member examines a machine in the lab at OICR
Kealey Nguyen working at her laptop in the laboratory
Two team members pose in the lab at OICR
The takeaway?
Mentorship and collaboration empower students to make meaningful contributions to important work.