Jobs and internships in the rapidly growing life sciences and tech industries are the focus of a virtual career fair and networking event produced by Campus Philly, with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia as the presenting partner. The Life Sciences & Tech career event, to be held from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, is an opportunity for area companies to connect with diverse students and recent grads to further build the region’s talent pipeline.

More than 30 schools in the Greater Philadelphia region are expected to be represented by participating students interested in careers in life sciences, cell and gene therapy, biology, tech, engineering, math, and data management. Attendees will be able to engage with companies by visiting virtual employer booths, joining panel discussions with other industry professionals, and building their professional networks.

Several graduate schools will also attend, including University of Pennsylvania and Saint Joseph’s University. The schools will be promoting continuing education as professional development opportunities. 

The event will also host three panel discussions to give students an inside look at the experience of young life sciences professionals in the region. Topics include: Real Talk: What It’s Really Like to Work in Life Sciences and Tech, Unexpected Careers in Life Sciences, and Why the Philadelphia Region is the Best Place to Launch your Career in Tech. 

On the career fair, Campus Philly’s President, Dr. Jennifer Johnson Kebea, EdD, commented, “This event will directly connect employers with talent from over 30 higher education institutions to network, share opportunities, and provide insight. For employers, even if you’re not hiring right now, that’s okay. This event is designed to support your talent pipeline and help you build relationships with top talent throughout the year. We hope you will join us.” 

Among the companies recruiting at the career fair are members of the Life Science Talent Pipeline Collaborative (the Collaborative), a group of cell and gene therapy companies and specific academic research labs working with the Chamber to address the industry’s future talent needs. This is the third year the Chamber has coordinated the Collaborative’s participation in the event. 

“I am so proud of the work of the Collaborative in connecting prospective employees with jobs in these growing industries,” said Sarah Steltz, Vice President, Economic Competitiveness, the Chamber. “Students can study at Greater Philadelphia’s leading colleges and universities and then go on to build their careers here, taking advantage of the region’s connected and collaborative environment and great quality of life.”

The Chamber has resources for those exploring careers in life sciences in Greater Philadelphia. Its “Discovery Starts with Me” video series features employees at area life sciences companies sharing personal stories about their journey to living and working in our region. You can watch all 12 video stories here. The Chamber’s Select Greater Philadelphia website now also features a job search tool with listings of openings in the region’s life sciences industry.

Building a diverse talent pipeline has always been central to Campus Philly’s mission. Since its founding in 2004, Campus Philly has served as a trusted resource for the region’s college students and recent graduates, offering events, programming, content, and resources for young professionals. By encouraging diverse students and recent graduates to study, explore, live and work in the region, the nonprofit organization helps fuel inclusive economic growth. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Chamber’s work to support talent development in our region’s key industries, please contact Sarah Steltz at [email protected].