Program preps 7 in IT, bioscience

PROVIDENCE – Tech Collective, a bioscience and information technology industry association, announced the conclusion of its 2014 graduate fellowship program, noting five out of seven participants were hired by their host company.
Funded through the Governor’s Workforce Board of Rhode Island 2014 Jobs Initiative program, the graduate fellowship connected recent Rhode Island college and university graduates with local information technology and bioscience employers. Since its launch two years ago, the program has hosted 21 fellows, successfully garnering post-employment for almost all of them.
The fellows and host companies are:

  • Roberto Almonte – Rhode Island College; Fellowship: IT Support Technician, The Groden Center.
  • Yoimy De La Cruz – Rhode Island College; Fellowship: IT Support Technician, Lincoln Appraisal & Settlement Services.
  • David Jasinski – Bryant University; Fellowship: IT Process Associate, Amica Mutual Insurance Co.
  • Justin Morse – Brown University; Fellowship: Biomedical Electrical Engineering, Ximedica.
  • Bophal Ouk – University of Rhode Island; Fellowship: Technical Project Manager/Pharmaceutical Operations, Tedor Pharma.
  • Michelle Site – Brown University; Biomedical Research, Ximedica.
  • Daniel Tonderys – Brown University; Biomedical Engineer, Ximedica.
    Upon completing the program, Jasinski has been hired by Amica; Ouk has been hired by Tedor Pharma; and Morse and Site have been hired by Ximedica. Tonderys will continue working with Ximedica part-time as he pursues his master’s in engineering at Brown University.
    “Ximedica is proud to support local students and talent,” Michael Pereira, senior vice president of technology and operations for the company, said in a press release.
    “The graduate fellowship program is a prime opportunity for Rhode Island businesses to experience, with low risk, the wealth of talent available locally through this unique collaboration between industry, government and academia. Together we can consistently and positively impact Rhode Island’s economy. We look forward to these continued opportunities,” he added.
    The fellowship program kicked off in May when Rhode Island technology employers, and recent Rhode Island college and university graduates were solicited to submit open entry-level job positions and resumes to be considered for the fellowship. Tech Collective staff evaluated positions and candidates to make recommendations to employers, who then conducted interviews and selected fellows. During the June through September program, each fellow was paid a weekly stipend funded 50 percent by the Jobs Initiative program and 50 percent by the host company.
    “We are proud to showcase our 2014 fellows and host companies as they lead by example to create new, innovative opportunities for our state,” Kathie Shields, executive director of Tech Collective, said.
    New Horizons Computer Learning Centers also provided each fellow with a training certificate.

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