Oskar Sundberg

Biotech Connection Los Angeles was founded in 2014 by Dr. Katrina Choe and Dr. Stefanie Volland. Today, a decade later, it has grown into an impactful organization of 20-30 graduate students and postdocs that continues to promote and foster the growth of Los Angeles as a biotech hub. BCLA now includes a network of over 8000 students and professionals, a Consulting team, and produces the podcast Inside Biotech. To celebrate a decade of educating, connecting, and inspiring, we are checking in with previous Presidents of BCLA to ask them about their time in leadership and their perspective on BCLA’s impact in Los Angeles.

This week, we interviewed Oskar Sundberg, who served as BCLA President from 2023-2024. Oskar is currently a 5th-year PhD student in Chemistry at USC, where his research focuses on medicinal chemistry, particularly drug delivery. As an international student from Sweden, Oskar joined BCLA to build his network and engage with the multidisciplinary nature of biotech.

When asked what inspired him to get involved with BCLA, Oskar shared how his journey as an international student led him to seek opportunities to connect with the broader scientific community in the U.S. “Coming from Sweden, I didn’t have a network here in the U.S., and I knew BCLA would be a great way to meet people in science beyond my USC and chemistry circles. My research is interdisciplinary, involving collaborations with surgeons and dentists, which naturally drew me to the multidisciplinary world of biotech. I was curious about the unique approaches to medicine taken by companies in LA, which aren’t as focused on traditional pharma but are doing innovative work in fields like drug delivery and bioengineering,” Oskar explained.

Reflecting on how BCLA has influenced his life, Oskar emphasized both personal and professional growth. He noted that working with BCLA allowed him to experience the collaborative nature of team-based projects, which contrasted with the often solitary nature of his PhD research. “PhD research can be isolating—usually, you’re working alone or with one or two others, but with BCLA, I had to communicate and coordinate with a larger team. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. I’ve made close friends through BCLA, and I’ve learned a lot about leadership and team dynamics. I used to think that being talkative and social made me a good leader, but BCLA taught me that effective communication and delegation are key to avoiding burnout and ensuring everyone is engaged.”

On the professional side, Oskar highlighted the soft skills he developed through his leadership role at BCLA, as well as the expanded professional network he gained. “BCLA has given me a more holistic view of the biotech ecosystem in LA, which is helpful as I think about my future career. The events we host, especially those focused on pitching and CV building, have been invaluable. Being president has been particularly beneficial because it has given me the opportunity to engage with so many people in the LA area and understand the broader biotech landscape.”

Discussing the changes he’s noticed in the LA biotech space since joining BCLA in June 2021, Oskar remarked on the resilience and growth of the community despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. “I joined during the pandemic, and I was struck by how resilient the biotech community is here. There’s a lot of local pride, and people are committed to staying in LA and giving back to the community. There are many organizations, like Larta institute, Lundquist institute, bioscience LA, Cal State incubator, that support startups and foster collaboration across sectors. Compared to Sweden, LA has a very supportive biotech community, though it does face challenges like being large, expensive, less venture capitals, and somewhat spread out. Despite these challenges, the there is a lot of support from city. There are people in all branches such as government, nonprofit organizations, for profit organizations working together to ensure the LA biotech community is growing.”

When asked about his favorite BCLA event, Oskar didn’t hesitate to mention the BCLA Summit. “The Summit is the biggest event we host, and it’s part of LA Biotech Week. It has become a staple in the LA biotech scene, with over 100 attendees and a full day of programming on topics like LA’s role in biotech and professional development. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how happy attendees are, and the mentor sessions are always a highlight. It’s a lot of work, but seeing the payoff makes it all worthwhile.”

As our conversation wrapped up, Oskar reflected on his time as BCLA President and the legacy of the organization. “I have so much appreciation for the founders and previous presidents who built BCLA from the ground up. It’s given me a much deeper understanding of the essential role non-profits like BCLA play in the biotech space. Before joining BCLA, I didn’t fully grasp the amount of work that goes into these organizations, but now I do, and I’m grateful for the experience.”