Bioscience Talent Connection 2026: Connecting Emerging Talent with Industry Leaders

On May 18th, BCLA’s 11th annual Bioscience Talent Connection (BTC) opened LABEST Week, UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG)'s flagship multi-day bioscience conference, welcoming students, trainees, postdocs, and professionals from across Southern California to the UCLA James West Alumni Center for a full day dedicated to career exploration, industry insight, and meaningful connection.

From morning coffee and registration to panel discussions, fellowship spotlights, networking lunch, and an afternoon career fair, BTC 2026 brought together attendees from diverse scientific backgrounds with a shared goal: exploring career opportunities across biotech and life sciences.

The day opened with remarks from BCLA leadership highlighting the organization’s mission of strengthening connections between academia and industry while helping trainees better understand opportunities beyond the traditional academic path.

The morning panel discussion, “Navigating Biotech Careers Beyond Academia,” moderated by Gabriela Barrios, PhD (UCLA), featured professionals spanning discovery biology, regulatory affairs, commercial finance, and scientific sales, including Benancio Rodriguez, PhD (VectorBuilder), Jasper H. Chang, PharmD, MS (Hologic), Romano Orlando, MS (Amgen), and Alex Lam, PhD (Xencor).

Panelists shared candid reflections on their transitions from academia into industry and discussed the realities of working in highly collaborative environments involving cross-functional teams across research, operations, finance, legal, manufacturing, and commercial strategy. Many emphasized that communication, adaptability, organization, and relationship-building are just as important as technical expertise in industry settings.

A major takeaway from the panel was the value of scientific training itself. Speakers encouraged attendees not to underestimate the transferable skills developed through graduate education, including critical thinking, problem-solving, presentation skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas to different audiences. Several panelists also emphasized that many opportunities emerge through relationships, conversations, and consistently engaging with the biotech community.

The Career Spotlight and Internship/Fellowship Spotlight sessions further expanded the breadth of careers represented throughout the day.

Representatives from UCLA Technology Development Group (TDG), including Andrew Wang and Ria Sanghera, shared insights into careers at the intersection of science, intellectual property, and commercialization. Their presentations highlighted how evaluating scientific innovations, supporting licensing efforts, and translating technical discoveries into accessible business and legal language can open doors to careers beyond traditional bench research.

Yuki Hebner, PhD, a UCLA-Amgen Medical Affairs Fellow, gave attendees an inside look into medical affairs and scientific communication within the pharmaceutical industry. Drawing from her own transition from academic research into biotech, she discussed how publication strategy, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration all contribute to bridging scientific research with patient care and healthcare providers.

Speakers from the USC Mann Fellowship Programs, including Michael Lim, PharmD, MBA, JianXiang (Eric) Weng, PharmD, and Bahram Karparvar, PharmD, provided insight into fellowship pathways across clinical development, medical affairs, and industry strategy. They discussed the recruitment process, mentorship, and the importance of tailoring applications thoughtfully while remaining open to different career directions within biotech and healthcare.

Beyond the formal programming, BTC 2026 gave attendees the opportunity to connect directly with professionals, recruiters, and fellow trainees throughout the networking sessions and career fair.

For many attendees, one of the most valuable parts of the event was gaining exposure to the wide range of careers available across biotech and life sciences. Recent PhD graduate Pegah Bagheri (USC) reflected on how impactful it was to hear from professionals who successfully pivoted into different industry roles. “I really enjoyed being able to see what kind of career options I could take with the PhD that I have obtained,” she shared. “I think it’s really useful to learn from different people about how you can pivot, and see what kind of career opportunities exist out there.”

Helen Salinas from USC also emphasized the value of connecting with professionals rooted in the local biotech ecosystem. “The most helpful part of today was networking with people from the LA area because the conversations felt more personal and relevant to our local biotech community,” she shared.

Throughout the afternoon networking lunch and career fair, attendees had the opportunity to ask candid questions, build new relationships, and learn more about different company cultures and career paths across biotech. The event also highlighted the continued growth of the Los Angeles bioscience community and the importance of creating accessible spaces where emerging talent can connect directly with industry leaders.

A special thank you to all of the panelists, spotlight speakers, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who contributed to such an engaging and inspiring event. We are especially grateful to our core sponsors, Amgen, Teknova, LA BioSpace, and Magnify at CNSI, and to our event sponsors Wilson Sonsini and the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles, and all participating organizations for helping make BTC 2026 possible.