Title: Bridging academia and industry: The role of student societies in shaping biotech careers
Abstract:
Despite the rapid growth and innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, a persistent disconnect remains between academic training and the needs of industry. University curricula often equip students with the skills necessary for academic research but offer few structured pathways toward industry roles. As a result, many graduates find themselves uncertain about how to transition from education into employment.
The University of Edinburgh’s Biotech Society was founded to address this challenge. Our mission is to bridge the gap between academia and industry by exposing students to real-world biotech applications, connecting them with professionals, and fostering industry-relevant skill development from the earliest stages of their academic journey.
This presentation will introduce the Biotech Society, outlining our objectives, initiatives, and the challenges we aim to overcome. We will highlight our work in launching workshops, organising career talks,and creating opportunities for students to interact with key voices in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors. These efforts have created a dynamic space for students to engage with the field beyond traditional academic boundaries.
We will also reflect on student feedback and our collaborative experiences with industry figures, making a case for why academic institutions and biotech companies must take shared responsibility in preparing the next generation of talent. This talk calls on the wider biotech community to partner more actively with student-led organisations and invest in programmes that build practical bridges between science education and industry employment.
