Connect with top executives and drive innovation.

By combining our business expertise and corporate partner network with UC Davis’ global leadership biotech research, we prepare you to understand the complex forces that shape and drive the industry.

A global hub of biotechnology innovation that's evolved since the 1970s, California is home to the world’s largest biotechnology companies, Genentech and Amgen on the pharmaceutical front, and Beckman Coulter, Cepheid and Roche in diagnostics. This has fostered a growing ecosystem offering you unsurpassed opportunities.

We’re the catalyst to create critical bridges between academia and the biotech industry.

• Learn from industry leaders in the cornerstone course and team up with biotech companies on consulting projects. Meet with CEOs and senior executives at top biotech firms across the spectrum.
   
• Collaborate to develop innovative solutions to pressing biotech challenges.
   
• Experience firsthand how UC Davis is a leader in the development of  technologies in human, animal and planetary health, agriculture and natural resource management, including platform technologies and data-informed models, as well as outreach and education strategies to engage the public and build an inclusive STEM workforce. 

Build Your Biotech Network

Our interdisciplinary courses, exclusive behind-the-scenes company visits, guest speakers and extracurricular activities are designed to build on UC Davis’ global leadership in biotechnology and connect you to the expertise and network on campus—and well beyond.

There are many rewarding careers awaiting you in the biotechnology Industry, which has an increasing demand for all types of skills: finance, operations, marketing, communications, R&D and management.

"Through one-on-one mentoring, we can guide and coach individual students and collectively, we can help develop a meaningful curriculum that prepares the students for successful careers within the biotechnology industry."

— Dr. Sunita Dhar, Executive Medical Group Director, Genentech

Intersection of Industry and Research

Continued success in the biotechnology industry requires the application of extraordinary leadership and management skills in addition to scientific innovations. You will team up with graduate student biotech researchers to tackle real business issues presented by industry leaders. Your contributions will help develop integrated solutions to real challenges they present each week.

Meet Recent Executive Guest Speakers

Professor Jan Nolta Ph.D., Director of UC Davis Stem Cell program and Gene Therapy Center, UC Davis

Dr. Sunita Dhar M.D., Executive Medical Group Director, Genentech.

Arjun Natesan Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, Translational Research & Portfolio Management, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

John Fikes Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, Program & Portfolio Management, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Steven Chamow Ph.D., Independent Consultant. Chair, UC Davis Biotechnology Immersion Advisory Council

John Selep, Sacramento Angel Investor; Cofounder and Board Chair, Agtech Innovation Alliance

Brad Niles Ph.D., CEO, ARIZ Precision Medicine

Hemant Vaidya Ph.D., Past VP of R&D, Siemens Microbiology

Ferando Beils, Sr. Marketing Executive, Qiagen, Molecular Diagnostics

Lory Tan MBA 10, Director, Synthego (UC Davis MBA alumna)

Dr. Keisuke Nakagawa, M.D., UC Davis Health, Director of Innovation, Digital collaboration

Advisory Board: Industry Leaders Share Insights

“Biotechnology is going to be one of the most exciting industries of the 21st century. The advances that we're going to see are going to be transformative for human health. For students who are interested in a meaningful career where they can contribute to a society in such an important way, this is a great opportunity.”

— UC Davis alumnus Steven Chamow, Biotech Industry Immersion Advisory Board chair, 35 years’ experience as biopharmaceutical executive

Led by Chamow, the Biotech Industry Immersion Advisory Board brings top biotech executives, venture capitalists, groundbreaking researchers and principal consultants together to connect with students and offer continuous insights to the dynamic forces propelling the biotech industry forward.

Meet Our Advisory Board