Hands-on Demonstrations Delight High School STEM Students
PhD Student-led Demonstrations Demystify Biotechnology
High School STEM Students Explore Northwestern Labs
Prospective Master's Students Visit MBP Facilities
Industry Panelists Share Their Career Insights 
AbbVie's Francisco Rausa Delivers Keynote Speech
Guests Enjoy Biotechnology Day ReceptionInside Our Program / Seminars & EventsBiotechnology Day
Each year, Northwestern University's Master of Biotechnology Program (MBP) hosts Biotechnology Day, a one-day life sciences festival designed to inspire and inform curious minds. We aim to reach a broad community of students, scientists, and science enthusiasts through our programming on:
- K-12 STEM Education
- Biotechnology Workforce Development
- Community Based Biotechnology (a.k.a. Biohacking, DIYbio, etc.)
This year's Biotechnology Day has been postponed due to Covid-19 - please keep checking back to see updates for the future.
March 15, 2019
On March 15, 2018, MBP hosted a wonderful event which included community outreach activities, tours of facilities, career panels (technical and non-technical focuses), a keynote speech entitled "The State of the Biotechnology Industry in the US, Chicago, and Northwestern" by Dr. Alicia Löffler (Associate Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the founding Executive Director of the Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO), Associate Vice President for Research, Adjunct Professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University), and an open networking session.
March 2, 2018
In March of 2018, MBP hosted its day-long event at Norris University Center. Guests enjoyed industry panels, biotech demonstrations, and keynote speaker Jeffrey C. Baker, Ph.D. (Deputy Director, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the United States FDA).
November 10, 2016
November's event at Norris University Center was a huge success, thanks largely to our co-sponsors, the Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP) and the Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) at Northwestern University. With their help, we were able to engage, educate, and connect nearly 200 members of the scientific community!
Students from Curie Metropolitan High School, Beacon Academy, and Evanston Township High School participated in hands-on activities and small-scale scientific experiments before exploring career paths in the biotechnology field through conversations with industry professionals and Northwestern PhD students. Their visit concluded with an extensive tour of the Northwestern University campus and various laboratory facilities.
The afternoon portion of Biotechnology Day was open to curious members of the community as well as students from the Master of Biotechnology Program. Technical and non-technical career panels comprised of 14 industry professionals representing 13 different companies delved into the details of the many diverse career possibilities offered by the biotechnology field. Francisco Rausa, Senior Principal Research Scientist at AbbVie, delivered a keynote speech which highlighted his work at AbbVie as well as exciting trends emerging in the industry. The evening concluded with an open networking session and reception in the gorgeous Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, overlooking downtown Chicago and the lake.
We would like to thank everyone for a wonderful Biotechnology Day. We hope to see you again next year—until then, stay curious!
February 26, 2016
In February of 2016, MBP hosted its day-long event in the atrium of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Guests enjoyed industry panels, biotech demonstrations, and keynote speaker Nicole Fisher (HHR Strategies).
