This three-day, in-person workshop is designed to build the foundations of leadership by exploring the characteristics of leaders, effective communication, and teamwork skills. Foundations of Leadership will delve into essential leadership traits, effective communication strategies, and teamwork skills. The peer-to-peer workshops are interactive and designed for personal and professional development.
When Maria Sears set out to build a medical device, she wasn’t working in a lab at MIT or shadowing researchers in a major city hospital. She was a high school student in Monte Vista, Colorado, a rural town better known for agriculture than engineering, using borrowed tools, sheer determination, and a powerful personal connection to guide her work. This year, Maria was honored as the Colorado BioScience Institute’s Future of Life Sciences Award recipient (Senior Division) for her innovative project: a wearable device that monitors pulmonary function by tracking heart rate and respiratory rate in real time. She not only built the device, but also coded the software and designed an accompanying app to help patients and providers use the data to inform preventative care decisions. “Chronic pulmonary diseases like asthma or cystic fibrosis can change a person’s life overnight,” Maria explains. “One day you’re fine, and the next you’re struggling to breathe. I wanted to build something that helps catch those shifts before they become emergencies.” Maria’s inspiration came from her own experience living with asthma, and from seeing the challenges her grandmother, who relies on oxygen, faces daily. Her sister, a respiratory therapist, also influenced her thinking and encouraged her to pursue a project focused on pulmonary health. Maria’s device tracks key vital signs and could eventually help patients, particularly in rural areas like her own, catch early warning signs before a condition escalates. “Where I live, we don’t even have a hospital in town. Just a small clinic,” she says. “If someone gets really sick, they might need to be flown to Denver. A tool like this could help people take action sooner and avoid that level of crisis.” Maria’s journey into biomedical technology began just a year earlier, when she designed a fall detection device […]
By: Colorado BioScience Institute Date: 07/31/2025 For Immediate Release NEWS RELEASE Strategic, employer-led initiative supported by ZOMA Foundation, SyncUp Colorado, and Colorado Succeeds DENVER – Colorado BioScience Institute and Colorado BioScience Association announce a new initiative, the Life Sciences Employer Talent Collaborative, launched to strengthen Colorado’s talent pipeline and ensure a steady supply of skilled workers for the state’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Supported by a grant from the ZOMA Foundation, with facilitation support from SyncUp Colorado, and developed in partnership with Colorado Succeeds, the initiative builds a shared strategy among leading life sciences employers to map talent needs, co-design solutions, and align training and education programs to high-demand roles. This collaborative will use the nationally recognized Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) framework to drive employer-led, data-informed workforce development across the state. “Colorado’s life sciences community continues to attract new companies, top talent, and major investment,” said Elyse Blazevich, President & CEO of Colorado BioScience Association and President of Colorado BioScience Institute. “Through the Life Sciences Employer Talent Collaborative, we’re making a strategic investment in the next generation of scientists, engineers, technicians, and leaders. It’s essential to our drive to become a top-five life sciences hub and to delivering the breakthroughs patients need.” The initiative launches at a pivotal time for Colorado’s life sciences industry. In 2024, companies raised $2.15 billion, marking the second time in four years funding surpassed $2 billion. Employment continues to grow, with nearly 41,000 professionals working in life sciences roles statewide. The average salary is $123,000, reflecting the high-skill, high-impact nature of the work. The Life Sciences Employer Talent Collaborative is designed to: “We’re cultivating and diversifying Colorado’s life sciences workforce from classroom, to campus, to career, and making sure they have the background and skills Colorado companies need,” said Meg John, Vice President of Colorado BioScience Institute. “This initiative builds on our long-standing work […]
Upskill in Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs – Without Disrupting Productivity In today’s highly regulated life sciences sector, staying compliant and competitive requires a workforce that’s continually evolving. The QA/RA Certificate Program is a flexible, online learning opportunity designed to help you build in-demand skills in quality assurance and regulatory affairs—supporting your career growth in the life sciences sector.
Preparing for your future in Colorado’s Life Sciences Workforce April 23, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Zoom As part of the Mentor Program, you’re invited to join our virtual session, How to Land Your Dream Job! With the ongoing shifts in the employment market, it’s crucial to effectively showcase your skills and experience. Equally important is ensuring that your online personal brand aligns with the role you’re seeking. This session will be led by Kelsey Henderson of High Country Search, who will walk you through the essentials of crafting a standout resume and share best practices for securing an interview. Kelsey is passionate about supporting candidates at every stage of the recruitment process. Please come prepared with an electronic copy of your resume and/or CV for the event.
We had an excellent event last week featuring our own Janie Butler and Jordan Haas from Green Key Resources, titled “Crafting Your Path: Mastering the Art of Resume Writing for Undergraduates.”
To meet employer needs, the QA/RA certificate will include access to career-enhancing experiential learning opportunities and mentorship. A partnership including the Colorado Bioscience Institute, and 16+ industry leaders will facilitate an innovative approach to providing participants with opportunities to increase economic mobility in high-demand, high-skill, high-wage occupations. The four courses that make up the certificate will be delivered online and asynchronously with a 3-day, in-person experience hosted by local Denver Metro area companies in the final capstone class. The curriculum is customized with input from our Advisory Board members to meet the QA/RA needs of the local bioscience community. The program provides specialized job training as well as mentorship and job matching activities offered by the Institute.
April 9th we hosted the annual Life Sciences Industry Showcase! This event consists of a panel that connects Colorado life sciences companies to Colorado university talent from undergraduate to post doc to demonstrate the breadth and depth of the Colorado Life Sciences Ecosystem. Participating companies showcased their company, technology and talent recruitment initiatives with an overview presentation and engaged with attendees through a moderated Q&A session. Our panel consisted of speakers from Medtronic, Biodesix, KBI Biopharma and Edgewise Therapeutics. This session grows the state’s future workforce talent pipeline by connecting them with companies and opportunities in Colorado. See the event recording below:
Tuesday, April 1, 9am-5pm
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, leaders must not only navigate external disruptions—such as regulatory shifts, political changes, and technological advancements like AI—but also lead their organizations through internal transitions, such as team restructuring and evolving company cultures. This training course is designed specifically for leaders who are committed to guiding their organizations through moments of change successfully.