With biologics making up about 40% of the global pipeline coupled with the rise in demand for cell and gene therapies, it is no secret the biopharma industry will need an influx of talent to meet its future workforce needs. This summer, 12 organizations had a chance to connect directly with 13 rising sophomores and juniors to begin building that talent pipeline during the virtual 2020 NIIMBL eXperience held from July 21-August 13.
”The eXperience program was a fantastic opportunity to have meaningful interactions with students, beyond what we may normally get to do during a traditional job fair. Not only do we get to talk about our industry, but we also learn from the insightful questions the students asked, what their interests are and where their concerns lie, both are vital feedback as we look to enhance our talent acquisition efforts.” said Rita Wong Director, Head of Manufacturing Science and Technology at Genentech.
Developed in 2018, the NIIMBL eXperience links biopharma organizations to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and at NIIMBL member institutions that have been traditionally underrepresented in the biopharmaceutical industry, including African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities.
The program is unique in that it allows organizations to talk directly to students, not only to market the industry but also to understand the students’ interests and how they may find a fit in the industry that they otherwise may not have been aware of. The interactions provide excellent feedback on how companies can best recruit and retain talented individuals.