Biotech Partners is an independent non-profit organization which focuses on helping underrepresented students step outside their boundaries, dream big, and achieve the impossible.
Helping students underrepresented in the field of biotechnology attain confidence in themselves through the support of sponsors, mentors, and Biotech Partners community members
Biotech Partners is composed of professionals who all share the same mission and vision in creating impact and opportunities for students to spark curiosity and passion in the field of STEM
We partner with schools to bring our program to students. Get in touch with Lynda for more information about bringing Biotech Partners to your school. lgayden@biotechpartners.org
Biotech Partners shares the impact of its work during COVID-19
Praise for our programs
In an internship with a real company that’s doing real science a student can see what a STEM-related career looks like in a safe and supportive environment
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Natasha Aziz, PhD
Head, Scientific Education & Academic Relations; Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Industry
We find that they are very very well prepared, both in terms of technical skills and in terms of the professional skills that they need to be successful in the workplace
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Colleen McMahan
Research Chemist, Hiring Manager; USDA
Industry
I was interested in Science, but I wasn’t AS interested in Science as I am now
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Nayo Johnson
Biotech Academy Student
Student
Now I’m seeing it like I can actually make a career for myself here, and so I would say that it’s much more interesting because I can actually see a future and I’m willing to devote more time to it
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Lily Rockholt
Biotech Academy Student
Student
It is a way of turning young people on to academic learning, making education vital in a public high school. It’s a way of involving Biotech Companies in the education of their future workforce.
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Loni Hancock
California State Senator
Government
Joining Biotechnology along with doing this internship—it has helped me realize how important it is to be able to contribute to increase the statistics of people of color in the STEM field. And Someday, I want to inspire other young people of color to pursue a career in the STEM field.
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Sofia
Biotech Academy High School Student Interned at Symic Bio
Student
They gave me that, you know, that knowledge to even think about what I wanted to do when I was gonna grow up. So, you know, my Sophomore Year I had no idea what I wanted to do—my Junior year, I did.
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Elvia Hernandez
Biotech Partners Alumni
Student
This is passion-driven, as well as profession-driven, and you can’t beat a combination like that.
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Kimberly McLeod
Parent
Parent
Biotech Partners helped me prepare for my internship by giving me the skills I needed. I worked at the biopharmaceutical company, and so what I did was working in a lab a lot and getting hands on experience of what they actually do at the company.
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Elvia Hernandez
Biotech Academy High School Student Interned at Symic Bio
Student
My students have had the internship, and they’re Seniors. I’ve also taught them as Juniors, many of them in Chemistry. So I see a sea change in their attitude about their work.
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Charles Brown
Chemistry & Biotech Academy Teacher, Oakland Technical High School
School
So, COVID-19 hasn’t really impacted my career aspirations in STEM because it’s actually—I would say it’s actually made me feel like it’s more important.
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Anshdeep
Biotech Academy Student
Student
Overall, completing this internship during the pandemic was just truly rewarding. I was able to learn how to use software that would just prepare me for future jobs.
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Sofia
Biotech Academy High School Student Interned at Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Student
When I go and pursue my dreams and my career, I want to encourage younger people. We need to see more Black and Brown faces in the Medical field, STEM field.
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Ahniesty
Biotech Academy High School Student – Interned at Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Student
It gave us an opportunity to proceed, especially during this time where a lot of things were cut. We still had opportunities through Biotech Partners, and they gave us this chance.
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Eesha
Bioscience Career Institute Community College Student Interned at Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Student
I could see the work that I learned in school being applied in my work at the lab. And, a very rewarding experience to have the mentor say ‘Oh I was going to teach you this but you already know all of it’.
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Miguel
Bioscience Career Institute Community College Student Interned at Bayer Pharmaceuticals
Student
The internship also helped my family, because they needed an extra source of income because my parents had their hours cut, and everything to deal with the pandemic.
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Elvia Hernandez
Biotech Partners Alumni
Student
They teach the hands-on practical skills that are required in scientific jobs. And that’s extremely important.
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Gail Maderis
President & CEO, BayBio
Industry
Biotech Partners changed the trajectory of my life.
Ahmed Akbar
Director @ Ernst & Young LLP
+ Current Biotech Partners board member
I was a mediocre student and didn’t really care about my education or have any long-term goals. Biotech Partners helped me to realize my potential and armed me with the skills and resources to fulfill it.
I now advise Life Science companies on their corporate strategies. My goal is to help support their mission of educating underserved youth."
Sponsors
Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors who continue to support us throughout the many years with their sponsorships. We can't do this alone!
Impact 100
Non-Profit
Bayer
Pharmaceutics
Ultragenyx
Biopharmaceutics
Amgen
Biotechnology
City of Berkeley
Berkeley, California
City of Antioch
Antioch, California
Partners
Thank you to our wonderful Partners who continue to support us and our students in organizational, curriculum, and internship development!
