Throughout Virginia, the life sciences sector is gaining momentum as major pharmaceutical companies invest billions in new facilities and operations. As a result, employers need to find people who can step into laboratory and manufacturing roles right away.
Businesses have been consistent in what they are looking for. Educational training is important, but on-the-job experience is harder to find. That gap inspired the week-long Life Science Skill Development Course held in January on George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus.
Hosted by the Innovation District, the session was led by Virginia Espina, a research professor in George Mason’s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, and Kimberly Klem, a high containment suite lab manager for George Mason’s Biomedical Research Laboratory, whose combined industry and academic backgrounds span GLP/GMP-certified and CAP/CLIA-accredited lab settings.
“We built the curriculum around the common pain points we see most often in entry-level professionals, especially when it comes to hands-on competencies, lab math, and data recording,” said Espina.
Conversations with life science companies and workforce partners helped shape a program focused on bench-based learning rather than traditional classroom instruction.
“Employers across the life sciences consistently look for early‑career professionals with a solid foundation in practical lab skills, good documentation habits, and an understanding of quality expectations,” said Heather Branscome, a senior scientist at American Type Culture Collection. “Equally important are transferable qualities such as attention to detail, problem‑solving, and the ability to work effectively in a team.”
Attendees arrived with different backgrounds and goals. Some were early in their careers, others were transitioning to new ones, and many were looking for firsthand exposure to feel more comfortable in technical roles. They also had the opportunity to earn a digital skills badge tied to performance and meeting course requirements.
“We weren’t just following steps. We had to understand why each one mattered,” said course participant Berkay Erdogan, a student in the biotechnology program at Northern Virginia Community College. “Troubleshooting through challenges made it seem a lot more realistic."
The Innovation District is led jointly by George Mason, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas, and anchored by George Mason’s SciTech Campus. The district and its workforce training programs are supported through funding from GO Virginia, a statewide initiative focused on growing Virginia’s economy by aligning talent development with the needs of industry. Grounded in employer input and professional standards, the Innovation District’s offerings help equip people with the capabilities companies value as the life sciences sector continues to scale in the commonwealth.