How to land a biopharma job: Check out this virtual symposium on Jan. 28

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Even amidst a pandemic, North Carolina’s biopharma market is booming.

In just the last few months, companies like KBI Biopharma and Thermo Fisher Scientific announced expansion projects, bringing more than a thousand new jobs to the state.

Could one of those be for you? The Bioprocess Development Group (BPD) thinks so.

On Thursday, Jan. 28, the group is hosting a virtual symposium, “BioGrow: Training and Education Across North Carolina,” to get the word out to anyone interested in a career in biopharmaceuticals.

“Attendees will learn about local training opportunities that include short courses and certificate programs, associate’s programs, bachelor’s programs, and graduate programs available in North Carolina,” said the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Life Science Economic Development Associate Director Katie Stember, Ph.D., who is helping to organize the event.

“They will also hear success stories from students who will share their experiences in various local training programs and their transition to industry jobs, as well as from local company representatives about what they are looking for in employees and how to find job opportunities.”

A BOOMING INDUSTRY

In North Carolina, there are an estimated 80 sites focused on biopharma manufacturing and around 26,800 employees manufacturing an array of products, including small-molecule pharmaceuticals, monoclonal antibodies, industrial enzymes, vaccines, and cell- and gene-based therapies.

A recent “Window on the Workplace” study projected 5,000 new jobs for the sector by 2025.

The average entry level biopharma manufacturing salary ranges from $45,000 to $60,000, depending on training.

The BPD event, sponsored by Morrisville-based Kymanox, a pharma industry service provider, is “one small piece of a many-pronged plan” to meet the needs of the industry, Stember noted.

North Carolinians of all ages and educational levels – from community college students to professionals looking to uptrain – are invited to attend the event on Jan. 28 from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Participating organizations include North Carolina State University’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, North Carolina Central University’s Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Training Enterprise, Campbell University, the NC Community College System BioNetwork, Alamance Community College, Durham Tech Community College, Forsyth Tech Community College and Wake Tech Community College.

The event will also include a panel discussion called “Training Success Stories,” which will include former students from local educational programs sharing first-hand accounts of their career tracks in biopharma.

To register for the event, sign up here.

Please visit https://biojobshub.wraltechwire.com/ to learn more about biopharma manufacturing jobs through NCBiotech’s newly developed site.

(c) N.C. Biotech Center

Original Article Source: WRAL TechWire