Cooperative
Education

Founded over a century ago, our co-op program is one of the largest and most innovative of its kind in the world. Through cooperative education, students are able to develop professional skills, meet valuable contacts, and explore one or more career paths.

For over 100 years, Northeastern has been a world leader in cooperative education (co-op), the University’s cornerstone experiential learning program.

By alternating semesters of academic study with periods of full-time work, students are able to transform work across academic and professional contexts. Co-op provides students the opportunity to explore or refine potential career paths, make valuable industry connections, broaden perspectives, and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed —all while learning and growing outside the comfort zone of the classroom.

Quick Facts
When Can You Start

All Northeastern students can participate in the co-op program. Undergraduates must first complete three academic semesters and alternate periods of academic study with six-month periods of work experience in their field(s) of interest. Transfer students are eligible to start co-op after completing at least one academic semester at Northeastern.

Plan Up To

Co-op advisors help students plan up to three co-ops while staying on track for graduation in 4-5 years.

THE CO-OP JOURNEY

The program starts with a mandatory preparation course and required reflections, both during and post co-op, to help reinforce learning. Reflections can be completed as part of an expo, poster presentation, essay, video, or meeting.

Students gain up to 18 months of professional experience and may work in world-renowned health care institutions, neighborhood health clinics, with multinational biotechnology companies, as well as nonprofit research labs. Students develop impressive resumes and many receive offers of employment from their co-op employer.

MOST Co-OPS ARE FULL TIME AND PAID

Most co-ops are full-time, paid positions with the co-op employer. Students do not pay tuition while on co-op, although they are still considered full-time students with no change in benefits. Students who complete the co-op program also receive a notation on their college transcript.

3,100+ EMPLOYERS 136 COUNTRIES

Northeastern works with more than 3,100 employers across the United States and in 136 countries around the world.

Discover our co-op employers

Behavioral Neuroscience
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Clinical Research Student Assistant
Boston Children’s Hospital
Genetic Counseling Assistant
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
C.O.R.I. Unit Intern
Harvard Medical School
Research Assistant (Fishell)
Italian Home For Children, Inc.
Residential Counselor
Liquiglide Inc.
Coatings Engineer
Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Assistant
MIT Lincoln Laboratory/strong>
CO-OP Student – Science Writer (Req 25384)
Novartis AG
Medicinal/Organic Chemist
Partners Healthcare
Research Assistant (Center for Nervous System Repair-HMS)
The Boston Beer Company Inc
Boston: Sensory, Research & Development Lab Co-op
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc
Machine Intelligence Co-Op
Biochemistry
bluebird bio, Inc.
Vivarium Co-op
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Laboratory Research Trainee
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
Co-op: Belfer Center
Harvard Medical School
Research Assistant (Crickmore)
New England Aquarium Corp
Penguin Husbandry Co-op Aquaristry
Peapod Digital Labs
Data Science
MPro Sports Orthopedics, Inc
Medical Assistant
The Boston Consulting Group/strong>
Global Learning and Development Co-op
WGBH Educational Foundation
Human Resources Co-op
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover
Research Co-op
Co-op
Bioinformatics
bluebird bio, Inc.
Stem Cell Research – 1119
Harvard University
Organ-on-Chips Co-op
Indigo Agriculture
Microbial Analytics and Quality Control Co-op
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Solar Incentive Fellowship
Merck KGaA
Explorative Cancer Research Co-Op
Moderna Therapeutics
Co-op, Analytical Development (JT)
New England Baptist Hospital
Operating Room Attendant
Partners Healthcare
Therapy Aide
Tarveda Therapeutics
Formulations & Analytical Co-op
Tufts Medical Center
Student Nurse Technician- Medical-Surgical
Biology/Cell and Molecular Biology
Acceleron Pharma Inc.
Regulatory Affairs Co-op
Alnylam Pharamaceuticals
Analytical Sciences, Stability Co-Op
BlueWave Solar
Operations Intern
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Genomic Variant Curator
Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary
Research Assistant
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Commercial Clean Heating and Generation Fellowship
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Assistant
Merck KGaA
Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies Co-Op
New England Baptist Hospital
Human Resources and Medical Staff Office Co-op
Roslindale Pediatrics
Medical Assistant
Surface Oncology
Protein Biochemistry Co-Op
The Marine Biological Laboratory
Cephalopod Co-op Aquarist
Pfizer Inc.
Cell Culture Process Development Co-op
Biotechnology
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Infant/Toddler Teacher, Family Solutions
Cataldo Ambulance Service Inc
EMT
Living Proof, Inc.
Discovery Co-op
Morphic Therapeutic, Inc.
Biology Co-op
Northeastern University
Assistant Teacher
Oncorus, Inc.
Research Associate, Molecular Biology
Ra Pharmaceuticals
Target Biology Research Technician
Smart Energy Island
Intern
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Co-Op, Analytical Development
Wayfair LLC
Business Analyst Co-op (Pricing, Marketing, Comp Intel, Ops, Talent, Finance, Product)
Chemistry
Abbvie, Inc,
Neuroscience Histology
Best Bees Company
Beekeeper and Field Researcher
Boston Medical Center
Research Assistant
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Patient Care Assistant – Intermediate Neuroscience (10CD)
Cogen Therapeutics, Inc.
Molecular Biologist
Cygnal Therapeutics
Research Associateher
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Program Management
Mass. Bay Brewing Company, Inc.
QA/QC Lab Technician
Ropes and Gray LLP
Training Assistant
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Clinical Research Assistant
Environmental Sciences & Studies/Marine Biology
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Wetland and Waterways Co-op
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center       
Clean Technology Innovation Fellow
New England Aquarium
Giant Ocean Tank Co-op
MSPCA Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Angell
Veterinary Assistant-Collaborative Care Team
New England Wildlife Center, Inc.
Wildlife Hospital Co-op
Northeastern University
Ocean Genome Legacy Laboratory Assistant
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Geological Research Assistant
Best Bees Company                        Beekeeper and Field Scientist
BlueWave Solar
Operations Intern
The Marine Biological Laboratory
Cephalopod Co-op Aquarist
Linguistics
Aircraft Music Library
AirCraft / IndieTracks Music Library Intern
Asher Kornbluth MD Medical Practice
Undergraduate intern
Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Assistant
Merck Research Laboratories
uncovering molecular mechanism of non coding rna in intestinal barrier function
Translate Bio
Co-op for Bioanalytical Chemistry
William James College
Junior Research and Evaluation Associate
City of Boston
Office of Equity – Undergraduate Co-op
Harvard University
Research Assistant (Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders)
WaysideYouth & Family Support Network/strong>
Residential Counselor
Mathematics
Amgen Inc.
Undergrad Co-op R&D (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience)
Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.
CMC- Cell Line Development
Boston University
Research Assistant
Codiak Biosciences.
Co-op Purification (Downstream Process Development)
Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Synthetic/Medicinal Chemistry Co-op
Goldfinch Bio
Synthetic / Medicinal Chemist
Biogen Inc.
Co-op: Protein and Cell Engineering
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
(GLOBAL) Biology for Ageing Research Co-op
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PwC Assurance (Audit) Co-op – Job Location: Hong Kong
ZoomInfo
Human Resources and Recruiting Coordinator Co-op
Lockheed Martin
Engineering Co-op (Energy Storage)
Physics
Spinnaker Capital LLC
Private Investments Operations Intern
Boston Medical Center
Research Assistant
Genentech
Data Steward
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Agriculture Research Co-op
Octagon Therapeutics Inc
Microbiology Research Scientist Co-op
Sanofi Genzyme
QC Chemist
Sense
Device/Client Support Analyst
Victory Programs, Inc.
Assistant Intake Coordinator
Camp4 Therapeutics
Research Assistant
Harvard University
Research Technician (Lee)
Queen’s University
Research assistant (Perception and Action research)
Psychology
Air Force Research Laboratory
Information Directorate Co-op Intern
Bose Corporation
Global Sales and Marketing Project Manager Co-op
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Wildlife Biologist Aide
Duke University
Research Asst., Neurobiology Graduate Program
Harvard University
Audio Visual/Information Technology Assistant
Homesite Group Inc.
Actuarial Analyst Associate
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Corporate Social Responsibility Co-op
Tufts Medical Center
Clinical Laboratory Co-op
US Food and Drug Administration
Laboratory Support Technician
WAVE Life Sciences
Oligonucleotide Co-Op

Co-op Advising

Students are supported by their discipline-specific co-op advisor throughout the process and meet their co-op advisor in the Co-op Preparation Course their sophomore year. The course focuses on career exploration, employer research, resume development, and interview preparation. In addition, co-op advisors meet with each student individually prior to initiating a co-op job search to discuss the student’s interests and goals, polish their resume, and address job-search strategies.

You can learn by visiting the Northeastern Co-op page .

More Filters

Department

26 Search Results
Cheryl Arruda

Cheryl Arruda

Senior Co-op Coordinator
Lisa Campagnoni

Lisa Campagnoni

Associate Director of Undergraduate Cooperative Education & Global Co-op
Michael Conte

Michael Conte

Assistant Co-op Coordinator
Patricia Corrigan

Patricia Corrigan

Assistant Coop Coordinator
Catherine Cosgrove

Catherine Cosgrove

Associate Co-Op Coordinator: Cell & Molecular Biology
Fatma Dabbous

Fatma Dabbous

Part-time Lecturer
Kate Daher

Kate Daher

Assistant Co-op Coordinator

Next Steps.

The Basics of Co-Op

Eligibility
Undergraduates may participate in co-op after completing three academic semesters. Transfer students are eligible after completing at least one academic semester at Northeastern.
Schedule
Co-op advisors help students plan up to three co-ops while staying on track for graduation in 4-5 years.
Preparation
The program includes a mandatory preparation course and a post co-op reflection, which may be completed as part of an expo, poster presentation, reflection essay, video, or meeting.
Advantages
Students gain up to 18 months of professional experience and may work in world-renowned health care institutions, neighborhood health clinics, with multinational biotechnology companies, as well as nonprofit research labs.
Compensation
Most co-ops are full-time, paid positions with the co-op employer. Students do not pay tuition while on co-op, although they are still considered full-time students with no change in benefits.
Employers
Northeastern works with more than 3,100 employers across the United States and in
136 countries around the world.

Co-op News

A volunteer helps salvage furniture from homes which were damaged by the earthquake, in the town of Imi N’tala, outside Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.

‘I was just sitting under a doorway tearing up.’ Northeastern students completing co-ops in Morocco recount earthquake experiences

Become a Co-op Employer

Cooperative education, also known as co-op, is an educational model that allows students to alternate periods of full-time academic study with periods of full-time work in their areas of interest. Students gain valuable work experience, explore new interests, learn about career options, develop a professional network, and enhance their classroom experience. Northeastern University co-op students work in a variety of settings including research, clinical, education, business, government, and non-profits.

The Northeastern Co-op program offers employers a gateway to enthusiastic employees seeking to develop skills and talents and opportunities to connect and network with future colleagues.  

Additionally, the program provides a simple, cost-effective way to meet hiring needs. 

Interested in becoming a Co-op employer? Contact [email protected]

Interested in hiring a PhD co-op? Contact Vanecia Harrison, [email protected]

Information for Employers

What are the benefits of hiring a co-op?

Through the co-op program, employers have the opportunity to

  • Expand your capacity for long and short-term projects
  • Build a potential, future pipeline
  • Evaluate potential candidates’ skills, company fit, and workplace readiness over several months
  • Get access to temporary employees without agency costs
  • Expand your brand to the future workforce

When you become an employer partner of Northeastern University, you work with a dedicated co-op coordinator to assist you throughout the process. This team member works within the co-op program to support you and the students.

What is the timeline for hiring a co-op?

Generally, there are two six-month co-op cycle for both undergraduate and graduate students (Master’s and PhD*).

These cycles are as follows:

Spring Co-op: January – June

  • Post your job: August – December
  • Interview candidates: mid-October – December

Fall Co-op: July – December

  • Post your job: January – June
  • Interview candidates: mid-February – June

*Alternative cycle and timeline options may be allowed for graduate co-ops. To discuss these options, please email [email protected] and a cooperative education team member will reach out to you.

Are students paid?

Hired students are onboarded as employees within your organization and are paid for their contributions. For more information regarding pay please refer to the Co-op Employer Handbook.

How do I create an attractive job description?

In order to attract ideal candidates, consider including the following in your job description:

  • A list of the job responsibilities illustrating the experience/skills the student will gain
  • What skills are necessary to be successful in the position
  • A comprehensive overview of your company including unique highlights that appeal to applicants
    • Professional development opportunities
    • Mission
    • Access to public transit or parking
    • Facilities
    • Paid holidays
    • Complimentary snacks or lunch
    • Other
  • A salary range

When posting your job opportunity, please select all relevant majors and degree level (Undergraduate, Graduate, and PhD).

Who interviews and selects the student for the co-op?

Your organization selects the students it wants to interview and hire from the resumes you receive from your co-op program coordinator. We refer students to you that match your specified job qualified, however you are not required to hire a student if you do not find a good fit.

What are my organization's responsibilities to a student?

Your organization

  • facilitates all hiring decisions.
  • provides supervision and training/mentorship throughout the co-op.
  • completes an evaluation of each co-op student at the end of the work period.
What if there are concerns regarding the co-op?
  • Northeastern University’s co-op program has a long history of success with its employers.
  • Employers are encouraged to resolve issues with co-op students as they would with permanent employees.
  • A co-op student is an employee of your organization and should expect to be treated as a staff member.
  • Should a problem arise reach out to your Northeastern contact as soon as possible.
What resources are available to help me through the process?

In addition to your dedicated co-op coordinator, please reference the following resources to assist you in hiring and employing a student:

Ready to hire a student today?

Northeastern utilizes NUWorks, powered by Simplicity, as its recruiting platform for all co-op, full-time, and internship work opportunities. 
Get started today by creating an account. From your account you can post a new role, review resumes, print documents, update statuses, copy existing job posts, and more.  

Use our Best Practices for Employers guide to help you get started.
Get information on employing students in our Co-op Employer Handbook.
Employer Testimonials
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard University

I have worked with over 50 NEU coops over the last 15 years and have been extremely impressed with the consistent levels of motivation and talent in this group. Many have continued on in second coops pursuing different projects within the lab, or to senior thesis projects, thereby building on the skills they learn in the first coop.

Moreover, it has been thrilling to see many students begin to figure out their specific passions for domains of science or medicine through hands-on experience in our lab. Finally, the staff that oversee the coop program have always been helpful and clearly care about the students and the quality of their experiences.

-Mark Anderman, PhD, Principal Investigator, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard University

Employer Testimonials
Vinfen

Vinfen has been partnering with Northeastern’s CO-OP program for several years with consistently favorable results. We’ve been able to place students from various majors, including Business Administration, Human Services and Neuroscience, alongside teams that provide new experiences and the opportunity to apply knowledge that they’ve learned through their course work. Throughout the years it has become clear that allowing the ability for each CO-OP student to provide their own perspective to the role, whether that was gained in the classroom or not, is why the program has worked so well over the years.

We constantly find that Northeastern students are well prepared to take on the assignments and have a unique blend of high IQ and EQ which sets them apart from students from other universities. We look forward to hosting future CO-OP students and are thrilled to be a part of the success stories of the Northeastern students who we’ve already met.

-Steve Jones, Director of Recruiting, Vinfen

Employer Testimonials
Mass General Research Institute

Since 2017, I look forward to welcoming new and enthusiastic Northeastern co-ops at the start of each semester to help in conducting my research at Mass General. Each of the over 10 co-ops I have worked with has been instrumental in moving my clinical trials forward. From recruitment and enrollment to data collection and analysis, each co-op joins us with a strong skillset and more importantly a passion to learn, contribute, and grow.

As six months is not enough time, I've often hired the students part-time at the end of their co-ops to complete ongoing projects and train future hires. It's truly been a pleasure working with Northeastern University's co-op program, and I strongly recommend to all researchers.

-Hassan Dashti, PhD, Center for Genomic Medicine, Mass General Research Institute

Employer Testimonials
Biobot Analytics

Northeastern University's coop program has been a big asset for Biobot. We love the enthusiasm, work ethic, and expertise that the students bring to our organization, and can't wait to bring on more! We have even permanently hired staff that we first met as Northeastern coops—a win-win all around.

-Jessica Alfoldi, VP of Research and Development, Biobot Analytics