A new Philly nonprofit is trying to close a gap in the city\u2019s life sciences ecosystem: meaningful connections between students and industry professionals.<\/p>\n
After their own unconventional experiences navigating the ecosystem, Mary Szurgot and Michael Dobruskin founded Philly Biotech Connect<\/a> earlier this year, hoping to give more students clearer exposure to STEM careers and the range of roles available within those careers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not a job fair. We\u2019re not promising that people are going to walk away with a job from our events,\u201d Dobruskin told Technical.ly. \u201cWhat we do aim to achieve is help people make connections that can open doors to future conversations and future opportunities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we do aim to achieve is help people make connections that can open doors to future conversations and future opportunities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael Dobruskin, biotech connect<\/p>\n The group\u2019s first step has been curating its LinkedIn network to reach executives and industry professionals, as well as building relationships with local universities as it grows its roster, Dobruskin said.<\/p>\n Over the last several months, the group has attended other organizations\u2019 events to get a sense of the existing landscape. While there was plenty of programming geared toward professionals and separate events for students, few opportunities exist for the two groups to meaningfully interact, Dobruskin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, the nonprofit is ready for kickoff. Biotech Connect will host its first virtual events next month, including career guidance sessions and a panel of industry professionals.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those online efforts are designed to lower the barrier to entry, Dobruskin said. The group plans to host an in-person event in the fall, but in the meantime, it\u2019s focusing on lower-stakes programming to help students feel more comfortable engaging with industry professionals.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the people we meet in biotech, and ourselves included, end up in this industry by chance,\u201d Dobruskin said. \u201cWe want to create a platform where that can happen organically, where students can meet biotech professionals.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Off the beaten path<\/p>\n Dobruskin and Szurgot aim to broaden the definition of life sciences careers. <\/p>\n While they both have an academic background in STEM, they want students to know that you don\u2019t necessarily need a degree in the subject to land a job at a biotech company.\u00a0<\/p>\n After completing her Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania, Szurgot realized she was more passionate about working with people than doing lab work. However, she thought her only options were to continue in academia or find an industry job.<\/p>\n It was only after making a connection with an IP attorney that she realized she could pursue a law degree and help other scientists bring their innovations to market. Once she graduates, she\u2019ll be able to use her science background to help her clients secure their intellectual property.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Dobruskin had a different experience that also shapes the networking focus of Biotech Connect\u2019s programming.<\/p>\n He studied biopharmaceutical process engineering at Jefferson University, pursuing a specific program that gave him the opportunity to teach pharmaceutical clients about biomanufacturing.\u00a0<\/p>\n That experience helped him make connections and learn about different roles in the industry because he was interacting with everyone from scientists to sales professionals. It even landed him his current job working in biopharma regulatory affairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was at the right place at the right time, and I met the right person,\u201d Dobruskin said. \u201cI want to give that opportunity to other students, because I wouldn\u2019t have learned about these career pathways otherwise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Getting Philadelphians to stay here<\/p>\n So far this year, Philadelphia\u2019s life sciences sector has shown its strength, with major funding rounds<\/a>, corporate investment<\/a> and new programming reinforcing the region\u2019s support system.<\/p>\n One of the reasons Philly is notable as a life sciences hub<\/a> is because of access to institutions and talent, but more could be done to keep people here, advisor Atul Shah told Technical.ly.<\/p>\n