At the latest Industry and Career Exploration Panel and Networking Session, students heard directly from industry professionals working in vaccine production and biotech, not just about the roles themselves, but how to actually get there after completing their Microcredential or graduate training.

The panel led practical conversations around hiring trends, in demand skills, and what employers are really looking for right now. And during the post panel networking session, students continued those conversations one on one and started building connections with industry experts.

Thank you to our speakers and partners for sharing your time and insights:

• Cynthia Elias ()
• Naval Gandhi (QA Consultant)
• Anthony Amin ()
• ()
• ()

And thank you to the  and Co-op & Career Centre who helped bring this event together:

, J., , , ,

Looking forward to more opportunities like this.

LinkedIn post by 91ŃÇÉ« Markham Campus.

_{Photo of students interacting with industry professionals during the Industry and Career Exploration Panel and Networking Session}

Last week, our campus brought biotech employers together with students from the Master of Biotechnology Management (MBM), the Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology, and the Micro credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance to share real world hiring perspectives and build connections.

Employers spoke candidly about what they look for in early career hires, the skills that help new graduates get up to speed quickly, and how internships connect to real projects across biotech and life sciences.

A heartfelt thank you to all the panelists who joined and shared their journeys: (Compound Creations), (), (), (), and ( Research Institute).

If you are hiring or planning ahead, preview the 2026 MBM Résumé Book (.pdf) and meet internship ready candidates.

Faculty members and , along with the Co op & Career Centre team, helped bring students and employers together for this session.

Heather Grebler, , , , .

LinkedIn post by 91ŃÇÉ« Markham Campus.

_{Photo of biotech employers interacting with students during the event}

Last week, our Master of Biotechnology Management and Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology Capstone Poster Event showed what’s possible when biotech leaders and graduate students collaborate — offering a glimpse into the future of learning: hands-on, connected, and driven by real-world challenges. Partners from more than 10 leading biotech organizations participated in a poster showcase and evaluations, providing actionable feedback and insights that bridged classroom innovation with industry expertise.

Thanks to for funding support that makes these experiences possible. And a huge shout-out to the amazing organizations already leading the way:

, , , , , , , , ,

Special shout-out to our partners at — which has hired several of our Biotech students in the past year — for providing your expertise and evaluating every poster at the event.

Partnerships like these help shape employer-ready talent and spark innovation across the biotech sector. If you’re a biotech organization looking to:

• Collaborate on applied research
• Share expertise through mentorship and guest lectures
• Recruit skilled talent through experiential learning
• Build visibility in 91ŃÇÉ« Region’s growing innovation hub

We’d love to connect. Let’s build the future of biotech together.

LinkedIn post by 91ŃÇÉ« Markham Campus.

_{Group photo of 91ŃÇÉ« biotechnology students at the Capstone Poster Event}

The founders of AppArmor, and , truly electrified our Graduate Biotechnology Classroom at with their genuine energy, remarkable success story, and generosity in sharing their insights. One of my many favorite takeaways: “Success is when preparation meets opportunity.” A perfect reminder for all of us in biotechnology; students, faculty, and industry alike. We’re also grateful for their generosity in gifting our students hard copies of their book. Thank you, Chris and David, for an inspiring and energizing session!

LinkedIn post by Jade Atallah.

_{Photo of Chris Sinkinson and David Sinkinson}

We were honored to welcome author and entrepreneur (Founder & CEO of ) to our Graduate Biotechnology classroom as a guest lecturer. He shared powerful insights from his book, The Uncertainty Advantage, offering timely perspectives on navigating complexity and building resilience. Thank you Scott!

LinkedIn post by Jade Atallah.

_{Screenshot from Scott Stirrett’s virtual talk with 91ŃÇÉ«U Biotech cohort}

Welcome to our second Master of Biotechnology Management (MBM) and Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology (GDB) cohorts at ! From classrooms to laboratories to capstone projects to industry internships, these students are training to make their mark on the biotechnology landscape. Here’s to growth, leadership, and innovation.

LinkedIn post by Jade Atallah.

_{A group photo of the new MBM and GDB cohorts at 91ŃÇɫ’s Markham Campus}

Graduate Biotechnology Students from attended the (LSO)'s Ideas to Action Forum this week. From who unpacked Ontario’s Health Innovation Pathway, to and who emphasized the importance of graduates seeking front-line experience to who inspiringly encouraged us to think critically about how Canada can strengthen the future of its biotechnology sector and to who grounded the conversation in the importance of working collectively toward common goals. We are grateful to LSO for hosting such a thought-provoking forum, shaping the future of biotech in Canada.

LinkedIn post by Jade Atallah.

_{Group photo of 91ŃÇÉ«U Biotech students at the LSO’s Ideas to Action Forum}

We had the honor of welcoming from to our Graduate Biotechnology Programs at to share her expertise on Market Access in the Biotechnology sector. We are deeply grateful for her insights and generosity in supporting our students’ professional growth.

LinkedIn post by Jade Atallah.

_{Photo of Lindy Forte speaking with students at 91ŃÇɫ’s Markham Campus}

As ' Master of Biotechnology Management students approach the completion of their courses in April and prepare for their internships this summer, they had the incredible opportunity last Friday to hear directly from six fantastic industry experts at in Markham.

The panel discussion, "Emerging Trends in Biotechnology Commercialization and How It Impacts Those Entering the Field," explored key topics such as the role of AI, the current biotech landscape in Canada—including the need for better funding and infrastructure—and strategies for navigating regulatory challenges. Panelists also shared insights on successfully leading operations in larger biotech companies.

^{A group photo of attendees at the AI and Biotech Trends panel discussion}

Congratulations for a very well organized, engaging and informative conference on the latest trends in synthetic biology in Canada and abroad! This was by far one of the best events I attended in 2024!

I appreciated the balanced selection of topics, the amazing and super approachable speakers - including the incredible keynote speaker Timothy Caulfield! - and the continuous opportunities for networking throughout the event. For someone coming from a non-scientific academic background - and not knowing for example what phagetherapy is - I also loved how the speakers made their sessions accessible and fun to listen to. I am looking forward to nurturing all the new connections and friendships made over the past week.

Special kudos to all our Master of Biotechnology Management (MBM) students for making time during the busy fall term to attend the conference, volunteer to support the organizers, and network like superstars! I am very impressed and proud of our 1st MBM cohort.

LinkedIn post by Sara Del Piano.

_{A group photo of attendees at the Ontario Genomics SynBio Conference 2024.}