At Middlesex CC, Student Learns and Earns to Jumpstart Career

Coming from Gujarat, India and now living in Billerica, Jeel Patel was looking to attend a college that would help her adjust to education in the United States and get her on track to a career. With affordable options that provide hands-on experiences, her aunt recommended that Middlesex Community College “is the best to start your education.”

“I am grateful to be a student at MCC,” Patel said. “I have learned a lot of new things that will help me a lot for my future career. I was able to study without worrying about my tuition fees.”

Having completed part of a bachelor’s degree in India, Patel came to Middlesex knowing what she wanted to pursue for a major. She has been interested in biology since high school, which led to her interest in biotechnology. “I want to help discover cures for dangerous diseases,” she said.

In her classes, Patel learned more about the biotech field and the options available to her as a career path. Her internship at Takeda Pharmaceuticals allowed her to work and gain experience while actively studying the subject.

Patel considers “the best experience at MCC” to be working in MCC’s biotech lab. The experiences provided her with the opportunity to practice her skills in a safe space before performing the work at her internship.

“I gained a lot of knowledge from being a part of the Learn and Earn Experience in terms of knowledge and training,” she said. “Working at Takeda has been a great experience for me. I get the opportunity to learn new things every day and it excites me every time.”

Both MCC’s Director of Biotechnology Dr. Mariluci Bladon and MCC’s Director of the Biotechnology Learn and Earn Experience Stefana Soitos offered Patel the support and encouragement she needed to get through the program. While Bladon taught her the theoretical knowledge and skills of the industry in classes and labs, Soitos guided her through the application process for the Learn and Earn Experience.

“I did not have to worry so much about entering the Learn and Earn Experience,” she said. “The whole process was very simple. I am so grateful I pursued my associate degree from MCC.”

Patel graduated from Middlesex in the Spring of 2022 with her associate degree in biotechnology. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honors society for two-year colleges, she completed her degree with honors. For her next steps, she hopes to transfer to Northeastern University.

Soitos said Patel is also one of several MCC students to have been offered a full-time job from Takeda after completing the internship. The internship – and Middlesex – “is my first step to enter biotechnology,” she said.

“I have learned a lot from MCC,” Patel said. “I am sure that those things are going to help me for the rest of my career.”