Where Our Alumni Are Now-Alice Zhang

In 2011, Alice spent 8 months in Osaka assisting with the development of a new healthcare application and analysis based on human physiology as a Research Intern at the Advanced Technologies Development Laboratory of Panasonic Electric Works. Some of her most significant contributions as a Canada-Japan Co-op student included conducting research on minimally invasive detection of blood glucose levels, and publishing her findings in the Journal of Biomedical Optics. She notes her experience conducting innovative experiments alongside top researchers at Panasonic to be one of the most memorable parts of her experience. Outside of work, she managed to arrange small trips across Japan with fellow Canada-Japan Co-op Program participants and built friendships with Panasonic employees from other departments who lived in the company dormitory with her.

After her graduation from The University of British Columbia, Alice returned to Japan to work as an Associate at Unison Capital, a private equity firm. Participating in The Canada-Japan Co-op Program gave her the chance to experience Japanese work culture and allowed her to “get her foot in the door” to a working life in Japan.