Chair's Corner

Dear CSBI Colleagues,

Much work has been done in recent years to integrate the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and their Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA).  CSBA's governing documents were altered to include a seat on the board for CSBI leadership and best practice and other sessions on workforce and entrepreneur related issues and have been incorporated in the biannual CSBA meetings.  These changes have increased the opportunities for collaboration in the areas of workforce development, STEM and entrepreneurial support.

An I-Corps Bio-Entrepreneurship program piloted in San Diego in conjunction with the 2017 BIO International Convention for early-career life science researchers from underrepresented groups around the country and Puerto Rico.  CSBI affiliates, in San Diego for the convention, secured and acted as mentors for this program.  Due to the success of the pilot, a second year was funded and affiliates are encourage to engage in 2018.

Our workforce subcommittee is excited about the release of the 4th biennial “2018 Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report” based on quantitative data from real time job postings and candid interviews with 135 industry executives across the nation providing a qualitative backdrop and hiring manager data from over 350 organizations. The report provides valuable insight to a variety of stakeholders on the changing workforce needs of our industry and is released in Boston at the 2018 BIO International Convention in Boston.  Many of the participating institutes and associations, are using this data to produce their own state reports.

We are grateful for the participation and collaboration of all state and regional affiliates. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or desire to get involved.
 
With best regards,
Liisa Bozinovic and Ann Reed Vogel