Back to Events
BioTalent Summit
Monday, March 16, 2026
Lansing Community College - West Campus 5708 Cornerstone Dr, Lansing
Bringing “supply” together with “demand”
Join regional and statewide workforce and economic development, industry talent recruitment and development, and academic professionals at Lansing Community College in Lansing on March 16, 2026 to discuss preparing, recruiting, and retaining the right talent for Michigan’s bio-industry.
This event will focus on:
IDENTIFYING:
- Barriers between available talent and companies looking to hire
- Disconnects between industry, academic, and economic development organizations
- Available programs or services that could help grow the bio-industry
DEVELOPING:
- Collaborative growth strategies for the life sciences
- Partnerships between academic, industry, and government or non-profit entities
Agenda
| March 16 | |
| 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Registration + Networking Breakfast + Exhibits |
| 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks MichBio President & CEO Stephen Rapundalo, PhD, will open the Summit by welcoming attendees and highlighting Michigan’s strengths, momentum, and leadership in the life sciences industry. The stage will be set for the day with an overview of the sessions ahead and the opportunities they hold for advancing Michigan’s talent and workforce ecosystem. |
| 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM | General Session: State of the Life Sciences Workforce in Michigan—Is Supply Meeting Demand? Michigan’s life sciences sector is growing rapidly - but is the talent pipeline keeping up? This opening session presents the latest labor market intelligence, workforce forecasts, and demand projections across biopharma, medtech, diagnostics, and manufacturing. We’ll explore what’s driving hiring surges, what skillsets are employers seeking and what employers will be seeking looking forward. Start the day grounded in data and urgency. |
| 9:05 AM - 9:50 AM | General Session: Workforce at a Crossroads—What Life Sciences Employers Really Need Now Facing a highly competitive talent market and widening skill gaps, life sciences employers are struggling to find and retain qualified talent. In this candid discussion, workforce leaders will share real-world hiring challenges—from skills shortages to shifting job-seeker expectations—and highlight where disconnects with higher education persist and how training must better align with industry needs. |
| 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Networking Break + Exhibits |
| 10:30 AM - 11:10 AM | General Session: Breaking In—What It Really Takes to Start a Career in Life Sciences What does it take to move from classroom to career in today’s life sciences ecosystem? Hear firsthand what’s working—and what’s not—as students and early-career talent navigate training, job searches, and employer expectations. Panelists will share how prepared they felt, the challenges they faced, and where education and training must improve to support Michigan’s next generation of bioscience professionals. |
| 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM | General Session: AI—Preparing the Bioscience Workforce for an Intelligent Industry As AI rapidly transforms the life sciences, its impact on workforce development is immediate and far-reaching. This panel will examine how companies use AI across R&D, manufacturing, quality, logistics, and talent management—and what it means for hiring and current employees. Speakers will also discuss how education and training must evolve to build digital literacy, data skills, and interdisciplinary thinking. |
| 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Networking Lunch + Plenary Keynote: Scaling for Impact—Lessons in Building a Statewide Bioscience Workforce Grab your lunch and enjoy an inspiring keynote from Sunny Schwartz, CEO of MassBioEd, the organization behind Massachusetts’ leading life sciences workforce programs. She’ll share lessons from statewide partnerships, labor market research, and building equitable, scalable talent pipelines—from high school pathways to mid-career reskilling—offering practical insights and a call to action for strengthening Michigan’s life sciences workforce. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Breakout A (Educator): Microcredentials in Life Sciences—Building Clarity and Capacity in Michigan’s Talent Pipeline Microcredentials—short, skills-focused certifications—can strengthen Michigan’s life sciences workforce by helping employers identify qualified talent and creating flexible entry points into high-demand roles. This session will explore their value, how they differ from traditional degrees, and opportunities for employers, educators, and workforce partners to build a more agile, skills-based talent ecosystem. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Breakout B (Employer): Winning the Talent Race—Competing for Skilled Workers in a Tight Labor Market With life sciences companies competing for a limited talent pool—especially in biomanufacturing, clinical operations, and regulatory roles—competition is intense. This session explores how employers strengthen pipelines through talent branding, outreach to non-traditional candidates, and streamlined hiring. Learn how leading companies recruit faster and smarter without sacrificing quality or equity. |
| 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM | Breakout C (Educator): Beyond the Transcript—Teaching the Soft Skills Employers Need But Can’t Find Life science employers consistently report that soft skills - communication, collaboration, adaptability, and professionalism - are among the hardest to find in new hires, yet among the most critical for success. This panel will explore what employers truly expect when it comes to workplace readiness, how to bridge the gap between classroom and career, and how faculty and career services can work together to help students show up ready to contribute on day one. |
| 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM | Breakout D (Employer): Upskill or Outpace—How to Future-Proof Your Workforce from the Inside” Technology, automation, and changing regulations are reshaping the skills needed across life sciences. This session explores how companies can build future-ready teams by developing internal talent. From frontline operators to mid-level managers, upskilling is now a core strategy. Hear how organizations create strong learning cultures, design role-based training, and partner with educators to meet evolving competency needs. |
| 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Networking Break + Exhibits |
| 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM | General Session: Building Talent Together—Industry-Educator Partnerships Driving Workforce Readiness Strong employer–educator partnerships are essential to building a skilled life sciences workforce. This panel highlights real collaborations where companies and colleges co-designed training aligned with medical device and biomanufacturing needs. Hear how they shaped curricula around real job roles, integrated hands-on learning, and built sustainable regional pipelines that deliver for students, employers, and Michigan’s life sciences economy. |
| 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Closing Plenary Session: Moonshot Thinking for Michigan’s BioTalent Ecosystem Close the day with a bold, future-focused conversation...what would it take to make Michigan a national model for biosciences talent development? This session explores how we can break down systemic barriers, scale what’s working, and foster collaboration across academia, industry, government, and community. Expect candor, insight and a call to action. |
| 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Closing Reception Join us for a relaxed closing reception featuring networking time, exhibitor engagement, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres. Connect with colleagues, meet new partners, and wrap up the BioTalent Summit with great conversations and a shared look ahead to Michigan’s growing life sciences workforce. |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Industry - Member
Registration Ends 3/16/26 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$125.00 |
|
Academic - Member
Registration Ends 3/16/26 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$75.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Industry - Nonmember
Registration Ends 3/16/26 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$150.00 |
|
Academic - Nonmember
Registration Ends 3/16/26 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$95.00 |
Venue
Lansing Community College
West Campus | The Showroom
5708 Cornerstone Dr, Lansing, MI 48917
MichBio has not arranged official room blocks for the 2026 BioTalent Summit at Lansing Community College – West Campus. However, attendees will find several convenient lodging options nearby:
Hilton Garden Inn Lansing West
633 N Canal Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: (517) 999-9930
Visit Hotel Website
Hampton Inn & Suites Lansing West
900 N Canal Road, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: (517) 999-7900
Visit Hotel Website
Fairfield Inn & Suites Lansing West
810 Delta Commerce Drive, Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: (517) 886-1066
Visit Hotel Website
The BioTalent Summit is a statewide forum connecting educators, employers, and workforce leaders to strengthen Michigan’s life sciences talent pipeline. Discussions will focus on aligning education and industry needs, closing talent gaps, and developing strategies to recruit and retain top biosciences talent.
Partner with MichBio to showcase your organization’s commitment to workforce development and connect directly with the people shaping Michigan’s biosciences future.
Questions on sponsorship, exhibitor or marketing opportunities, please contact Emily Brockman or Jamie Krajny.
questions? please contact us.