The Institute’s impact would not be possible without the ongoing support from the life sciences community and our ecosystem partners.
Learn how we collaborated in 2021 to bring successful programs together, explore new partnerships, and support the ecosystem's most critical workforce needs.
Autumn Rivera
2022 Colorado Educator of the Year + LabXchange Teacher User
6th grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School
Roaring Fork School District
LabXchange sat down with 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year Autumn Rivera to discuss how LabXchange provides access to resources for her and other rural teachers.
"LabXchange offers opportunities for students and teachers to have the same learning experiences regardless of location or resources. Living in a less densely populated area, the opportunity to have access to these learning libraries and tools as a teacher is transformative. Rural teachers now have the ability to bring more ways of teaching into the classroom, including during virtual learning, that greatly benefit our students.”
Colorado BioScience Institute Mentor Program Participant
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus
“When it comes to building your career, focusing on graduating isn’t enough to lead to new opportunities,” says Odalis Castro, dual-campus bioengineering student of University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus. As a first-generation college student, Colorado-born Odalis has practiced the art of relationship building to open new doors to new experiences, including participating in the Colorado BioScience Institute’s Mentor Program with Institute Board Member, Michael Mestek, Ph.D. as her mentor.
To other students, her advice is initiative is key to being an advocate for your future. “If you aren’t sure the right path to take – take that class or reach out to that professor who might know someone that can help you. If you’re not afraid to take those extra steps, you’ll be surprised how willing others are to be a guide.” Making connections and considering all opportunities to start getting involved and stay involved is always valuable. Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem continues to inspire future innovators and increase and diversify our talent pipeline through connections and the Institute's workforce development trainings and STEM education programs for students, teachers, and professionals at all levels.
Find out more about Odalis' success and future plans including her next journey conduct research in Poland through the Fulbright Program.
Research Experience for Teachers
Bear Creek High School
Shanna Atzmiller spends most of her year teaching at Bear Creek High School. But on her recent summer breaks, she's in the labs of Colorado bioscience companies.
Her experiences are changing the way she teaches and introducing her students to their own potential in science careers.
"My students have a sense of accomplishment that I haven't seen in my classroom before, they feel that they are learning science better because they are working through real world science techniques and problems."
RET is helping classrooms like Shanna’s make important contributions to the future of the industry.
Biodesix, Inc.
Abby Wright loves her job as at Biodesix, Inc.
Abby reached her ideal position with some help from the Colorado BioScience Institute’s Executive Leadership program.
“Through Colorado BioScience Institute’s Executive Leadership Program, I was assigned a mentor who has founded and run multiple biotech companies, and he and the program director have provided really insightful, constructive advice"
Review the Institute's past accomplishments in the recent Impact Report.
