Online Education and Networking Series for Students Who are Interested in Exploring Biotechnology Career During COVID-19 Pandemic
A Project Funded by Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego
Ivan Li
Team Members
Ivan Li
Ivan Li
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed numerous aspects of our daily life and society as a whole. For high school students, this means a loss in precious learning and networking opportunities that will have significant impacts on their college prospect and future career choice. For example, summer break is supposed to be the best time for high school students to take college-sponsored classes and field trips, participate in lab-focused internships and camps, and attend scientific conferences. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these have been cancelled. Although some students have the opportunity to learn from parents and their close friends, or take expensive private remote classes, most students aren’t as fortunate. The pandemic’s impact is even more severe on the disadvantaged students with limited educational resources and heightened financial difficulties. The CCA Biotech Club (CCABC) recognizes the greatly un-met need to provide a free forum to all students, especially those who are disadvantaged, to be able to learn remotely from experts and to explore future college and career options, especially in the area of biotechnology and biomedical research related, but not limited, to infectious diseases and vaccine development. To this end, we plan to organize a series of online seminars given by academic and industry experts on (1) the current understanding of COVID-19 from a scientific perspective; (2) the process of developing treatment and vaccines; (3) the general drug development process; (4) how to become a “drug hunter”.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed numerous aspects of our daily life and society as a whole. For high school students, this means a loss in precious learning and networking opportunities that will have significant impacts on their college prospect and future career choice. For example, summer break is supposed to be the best time for high school students to take college-sponsored classes and field trips, participate in lab-focused internships and camps, and attend scientific conferences. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these have been cancelled. Although some students have the opportunity to learn from parents and their close friends, or take expensive private remote classes, most students aren’t as fortunate. The pandemic’s impact is even more severe on the disadvantaged students with limited educational resources and heightened financial difficulties. The CCA Biotech Club (CCABC) recognizes the greatly un-met need to provide a free forum to all students, especially those who are disadvantaged, to be able to learn remotely from experts and to explore future college and career options, especially in the area of biotechnology and biomedical research related, but not limited, to infectious diseases and vaccine development. To this end, we plan to organize a series of online seminars given by academic and industry experts on (1) the current understanding of COVID-19 from a scientific perspective; (2) the process of developing treatment and vaccines; (3) the general drug development process; (4) how to become a “drug hunter”.
Goal
To provide high school students a free, interactive online forum to learn about biomedical research and development in the context of COVID-19. To give students an opportunity to ask experts for future career advice. To promote interest in biomedical research and drug development.
To provide high school students a free, interactive online forum to learn about biomedical research and development in the context of COVID-19. To give students an opportunity to ask experts for future career advice. To promote interest in biomedical research and drug development.
Method
Weekly (7-8 sessions total) online seminars via Zoom. Each session will be divided into
(1) scientific presentation;
(2) speaker’s personal career journey
(3) Q&A. Speakers are from institutes (for example, UCSD, Scripps Research Institute), industry (for example, Pfizer, Mirati) and hospitals (for example, Keiser). Some speakers have already confirmed their participation.
Weekly (7-8 sessions total) online seminars via Zoom. Each session will be divided into
(1) scientific presentation;
(2) speaker’s personal career journey
(3) Q&A. Speakers are from institutes (for example, UCSD, Scripps Research Institute), industry (for example, Pfizer, Mirati) and hospitals (for example, Keiser). Some speakers have already confirmed their participation.