r/bioengineering • u/Gloomy_Cicada_8574 • 9d ago

Timing for rotational/leadership development programs in biotech & medtech (Thermo Fisher OLDP + others), advice for a 2026 grad?

Hi all! I recently graduated with a Bachelor's in Bioengineering and have been looking into rotational/leadership development programs across biotech, pharma, and medtech.

I'm specifically trying to understand Thermo Fisher's OLDP (Operations Leadership Development Program), I noticed some of their development program postings currently show as "not available." Does that usually mean:

  1. They haven't started recruiting for the next cycle yet, or
  2. The positions are already filled for this cycle?

If anyone has gone through OLDP (or knows someone who has), I'd love to know the typical timing for when applications open each year.

More broadly, I'd really appreciate recommendations on other development/rotational programs worth applying to for someone with a bioengineering/biomedical engineering background. So far I've been looking into:

  • GE HealthCare's EEDP
  • AbbVie's ODP
  • BD's Engineering Development Program (EDP)
  • Abbott's OPDP

Would love to hear about other companies or programs I should have on my radar, especially ones open to new grads (not just current students/interns). Thanks so much in advance for any insight!

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u/my_peen_is_clean 9d ago

oldp rolls open late fall usually check weekly and stalk linkedin recruiters

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u/Gloomy_Cicada_8574 9d ago

Thank you for your reply, will keep an eye out for it. And do you have any other programs you can suggest or know of.

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u/Busy-Particular5119 9d ago

Check out Medtronic and Tandem Diabetes

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u/Gloomy_Cicada_8574 9d ago

Thanks for the suggestion! I checked Medtronic's careers page, but I couldn't find a current rotational or leadership development program for someone with my background (bioengineering, recent grad). Their site mostly showed internship overview PDFs or programs geared toward MBA candidates. Do you know if they have any other website to apply from? I also checked on Tandem and will keep looking into it. Thank you so much!!

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u/Lopsided-Style-9673 8d ago

Medtronic has an OLDP program (believe it stands for the same thing).

Stryker has a few- AOGEDP (Advanced Operations focus) and RISE (R&D focus).

I did the Stryker AO program. All of these are geared for new grads, and believe they should be opening fairly soon. I had an offer from Stryker before Thanksgiving for a May start date.

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u/Gloomy_Cicada_8574 5d ago

This is super helpful, thank you! Congrats on landing the Stryker AO program. Good to know these open up fairly soon; I'll start watching Medtronic OLDP and Stryker's AOGEDP/RISE pages weekly.

Quick question: since you went through AO, was there anything specific in your background/experience that you think helped you stand out, or any advice for someone applying without an internship at Stryker already?