The Octant apprenticeship

Training the Next Generation of Octonauts

The best education is hands-on, and we're committed to training and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Program Details

The Octant Apprenticeship recruits, mentors, and trains early-career talent from diverse backgrounds into high-value contributors across Octant, both technically and professionally.

What You'll Learn

Apprentices participate in formal and informal career development activities such as fireside chats, founder breakfasts, journal clubs, performance reviews, career development reviews, and more.

Above all, apprentices contribute to the growth of Octant through technological, business, operations, and culture initiatives.

Octant apprentices are fully-integrated Octonauts and work on high impact projects across the company. Octant apprentices work side-by-side with a mentor to support and expand Octant's drug discovery efforts by learning and developing skills such as:

  • cutting edge molecular cloning

  • mammalian tissue culture

  • data analysis

  • computational biology

  • high-throughput chemical synthesis

  • high-throughput assay development

  • and more

Your Opportunities with octant

Octant is committed to providing high quality experiences for early career scientists and engineers looking to further develop their technical skill sets while contributing to our broader mission to engineer breakthrough medicines.

cutting edge science

Octant is a technology first company, and you'll be at the forefront of discovery.

Company building

You'll be a part of the recruiting process, play a role in establishing critical infrastructure, and maybe even plan a happy hour or two.

Expand your network

In addition to your fellow apprentices and Octonauts, you'll meet members of other startups, academic programs, and investors.

Octant Career

Many apprentices join Octant as longer term members following the apprenticeship year (others have an impressive track record being admitted to top graduate programs).

Future Apprentices:

  • Are excited to build technical skill sets, whether they be at the bench or the terminal.

  • Enjoy learning about and developing novel products that impact human disease.

  • Are detail-oriented and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, startup environment.

Who We're looking for

Recent graduates seeking a one-year full-time research experience in science and engineering.

Apprenticeship Culture

Apprentices are part of an Octant Apprenticeship class and hold regular events including:

  • Fireside chats with diverse industry professionals (founders, VCs, scientists, scientific writing, board members, professors, and more)

  • Founder breakfasts

  • Apprentice dinners, team events, hikes, parties, happy hours, and more

Check out our Octant Apprenticeship blog posts here and here for more on the program experience.

Compensation

Medical, dental, & vision coverage with competitive compensation.

Testimonials

"The OA program was the perfect opportunity to familiarize myself with the biotech space, participate in cutting-edge research, and develop professionally and scientifically before committing to a PhD. Now, more than half-way through the program, I can definitely say I feel prepared to take on a PhD and full time research."

—  Maris kamalu, Class of 2021. Currently at UCLA.

“My favorite thing about the SBA program was working with so many people from different backgrounds. It was amazing to be a part of a team where everyone had their own contributions to the Octant's overall goal. Everyone has their own take on the science and are always open to discussion about anything.”

—  Giselle Uribe, Class of 2021. Currently at Harvard University.

"I always say something along the lines of “I can’t believe they’re letting me work on this” when I talk about working at Octant. The amount of ownership I have still seems surreal  and is something I’m really grateful for. On top of that, I really appreciate the amount of support I get from other Octonauts. Almost every person at this company has helped me at one point or another, and some of the people that I find myself relying on the most aren’t even on my team!

—   Justin greene, Class of 2022. Currently at octant.

“On multiple occasions, a scientist would sit down with me to help me analyze data, learn new techniques, and give me room to critically think and develop valuable skills. There are a lot of moments like these with all the Octant scientists – they will truly take the time to help you learn and grow!”

—  Morgan MacKenzie, Class of 2020. Currently at Octant.

Octant Apprenticeship alumni have gone on to receive admission to MD, PhD and MD/PhD graduate programs at the following institutions

Contact Us

Applications are currently closed for our Octant Apprenticeship. But feel free to reach out to us for any questions!

Email us here!