Saturday: USC hosts community biotech event in east Los Angeles

USC presents a half-day educational and workforce development event to encourage the residents of East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and neighboring communities in the San Gabriel Valley) to prepare for opportunities related to STEM disciplines.

Economic studies have shown that for every one research job created in the biotechnology industry, four more are created in non-science roles such as administration, marketing, sales and operations.

Contact: Pamela Madrid at (626) 398-5033, (626) 297-7199, pamela@pmadridcommunications.com or uscnews@usc.edu

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to noon

WHERE: East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, 91754

VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

• Carlos I. Noriega – former NASA astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC, Retired
• Diana Ramos, MD, MPH – Medical director for reproductive medicine, L.A. County Department of Public Health; a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist and adjunct assistant clinical professor at Keck School of Medicine of USC
• Gabriela Teissier – “A Primera Hora” (“At First Hour”) host, Univision Communications Inc.
• USC representatives and panelists
• Students and families

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

A plenary panel featuring Carlos I. Noriega and Diana Ramos kicks off the event. Gabriela Teissier will serve as moderator.

Supplemental workshops include discussions on K-12 educational success, job training opportunities and research careers.

BACKGROUND: Biotechnology is the development of medical devices, delivery systems and treatments that will fight disease and enhance well-being. The use of new high-tech materials is revolutionizing the world of health care and opening new opportunities to create healthier families.

WHY BIOTECH IS IMPORTANT: Los Angeles is a global city, with different communities from across the globe contributing to the region. The advances in biotechnology present an opportunity for new jobs across the hiring spectrum in Los Angeles County.

MORE: In partnership with the community, progress made by USC in research and health care will create thousands of jobs for local workers as well as medical and research professionals. A respected global leader, the University of Southern California will help usher in a new era with the creation of a biotech corridor in East Los Angeles and a biotech park at USC’s Health Sciences Campus.

Many of Los Angeles’ future biotech luminaries are leaving the county in search of better employment opportunities after graduation, creating a “brain drain” in the community. USC, along with the support of key city and county stakeholders, is leading the charge to build a stronger biotech infrastructure. The goal is to create a thriving environment where biotechnology innovations are supported through academic institutions, training centers, companies and communities that maximize the expertise and resources already in place.

In partnership with Caltech, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Trade Tech, the Los Angeles Unified School District and Cal State L.A., USC is working to create an educational pipeline where students are offered enhanced opportunities to pursue STEM disciplines. Beginning as early as sixth grade, students demonstrating an interest and affinity for the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) are poised to benefit most by focusing their sights on a career in biotech.

Additional information about the event and USC’s commitment to expanding the biotechnology industry in Los Angeles County can be found at https://biotech.usc.edu/biotechdecade/.

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