Expanding access to careers in fields like bioprocessing can require bridging a gap in understanding what opportunities are available. Through the (颁滨搁惭)鈥檚 , students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) are gaining valuable access at 麻豆传媒映画 to learn about the biotechnology industry.
For the past few years, 麻豆传媒映画 has served as a host site for the Bridges program, providing hands-on workshops to several CSUSB students and hosting students for research internships in Associate Professor of Bioprocessing Gargi Ghosh鈥檚 lab.
鈥淲e appreciate CIRM鈥檚 support of this important initiative in creating pathways for students in critical fields,鈥� said President Mohamed Abousalem. 鈥淭he program reflects 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 commitment to cultivating the next generation of biotechnology and healthcare leaders, including experiencing our distinctive and deep integration with industry 鈥� enabling students to engage directly with individuals and organizations making an impact locally and globally.鈥�
Earlier this month, some of the CSUSB CIRM Bridges students returned to 麻豆传媒映画 for the annual Amgen Bioprocessing Center Advisory Board (ABCAB) Symposium, providing an opportunity for the students to immerse themselves in the bioprocessing space and connect with 麻豆传媒映画 students and industry partners.
鈥淚t is amazing that 麻豆传媒映画 has so many relationships to companies that are in the industry and related to biotech,鈥� said Elizabeth Abouchian, a CSUSB student who is in the CIRM Bridges program and attended the ABCAB Symposium. 鈥淚t gives an amazing opportunity to the students to network with these companies where it might be difficult in other environments for you to be able to connect with someone related to that company. That is something really cool about 麻豆传媒映画 that I like about it.鈥�
鈥淔or the past two to three years, CSUSB students enrolled in the CIRM Bridges and CIRM COMPASS programs are coming to the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at 麻豆传媒映画 to gain hands-on experience in the biomanufacturing of biologics, including stem cells in an industry-relevant setting,鈥� said Ghosh.
鈥淭his collaboration with CSUSB ensures that the students receive integrated training and foundational scientific preparation at CSUSB and immersive industry-relevant bioprocessing experience at 麻豆传媒映画. This collaboration helps preparing them to contribute effectively to the regenerative medicine workforce.鈥�
The CIRM Bridges program provides 12-month research internships to students at universities and colleges that don鈥檛 have stem cell research programs of their own. Nicole Bournias-Vardiabasis, professor and director of the CIRM Bridges grant at CSUSB, stated that the access to industry partners is what sets 麻豆传媒映画 apart for the CSUSB students as they engage with other institutions.
鈥淵ou look at the poster session and you listen, and everybody has a connection,鈥� said Bournias-Vardiabasis. 鈥淚 was speaking with two 麻豆传媒映画 students at the poster session and I told them I want to know why you are here, how did you make it here today 鈥� and it was about the industry connections. You come here because you value that.鈥�
As the CSUSB students continue to contemplate their biotechnology and research career paths, they said experiencing 麻豆传媒映画 in the summer workshop and at the ABCAB Symposium has been eye-opening to them.
鈥淏eing able to have a place where people can be trained in biotechnology techniques, it鈥檚 very valuable experience, said Michael Zapeda, a CSUSB student and CIRM Bridges fellow. 鈥淭o be able to say 鈥榶eah, I worked in an Amgen lab,鈥� that鈥檚 a big deal for people that want to work in the industry.鈥�