YWIB-Chicago: A Day in the Lab, May 14, 2024

On May 14, 2024, Young Women In Bio Chicago and Portal Innovations hosted 27 high school juniors from Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School. This event allowed students to hear from and connect with scientists, participate in a hands-on lab experiment, and learn about venture capital and the journey of startup companies.

Upon arrival, the students received a tour of Portal Innovations’ gorgeous facility. The morning continued with a lab activity and an entrepreneurial activity. After lunch, the students heard from a career panel of established women in STEM, including Linda Kim, Melissa Youngquist, Shahila Christie, Marina Buyanova, and Meesha Dogan. The discussion helped demonstrate the diversity and multitude of functions within the life science industry, how to gain entry into the field, and how typical non-linear career paths are. Then, they had an opportunity to put their networking skills to use. The day ended with a photo opportunity and a survey for the students to complete. YWIB-Chicago was very excited to see that the event received great feedback in the survey.

Submitted by Heather Lewis