BULLS – Building Up Local Life Sciences

On Monday, June 1st, Made in Durham’s executive director Casey Steinbacher presented a new talent development pipeline plan for local life science careers. The plan was developed in collaboration with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and NC Biotech Center with the goal of connecting more Durham youth and adults to living wage careers in the life science industry.

Life science companies need skilled employees and Durham residents, especially those displaced by the virus, need living-wage employment opportunities now more than ever. The BULLS Initiative addresses both:

• A long-term pipeline development initiative plan
• Immediate post-COVID jobs initiative plan

The Research Triangle has become a global hub for life science companies which are projected to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis in a strong position for continued growth.

• Durham is home to nearly 40% of all Life Science companies state-wide.
• 1,500 new biopharma jobs and 2,600 life science jobs have been added to Durham county in the last 18 months.

In order to meet this demand for jobs and connect more Durham residents to career opportunities Durham needs to do 3 things:

1. Increase awareness of life science careers
2. Increase our education and training capacity
3. Build better talent connections
4. Address these barriers through an equity lens – increase access and affordability

You can see the full power point presentation here: BULLS Presentation

Thank you to our partners in this work!

Durham Public Schools
Durham Economic and Workforce Development
STEM RTP
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Research Triangle Park
Durham County
NC Central University
NC Central University’s BRITE program
Durham Technical Community College
North Carolina Biosciences Organization
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce