Blue Jay BioTech Pathway
BioTech is where science, innovation, healthcare, and technology meet.
The BioTech Pathway helps Johns Hopkins undergraduates explore careers across biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, health technology, bioengineering, research and development, clinical innovation, regulatory affairs, commercialization, and other science-driven fields.
Whether you are interested in lab-based research, product development, data and bioinformatics, clinical research, health innovation, biotech startups, or non-technical roles that support scientific discovery, this pathway gives you a place to begin and a structure to move forward.
Through programs, coaching, alumni connections, employer events, industry experiences, and pathway-specific resources, you can explore your options, build relevant skills, and prepare for internships, jobs, and meaningful work in biotech and the life sciences. ou can explore your options, build relevant skills, and prepare for internships, jobs, and meaningful careers in finance.
Industry Overview
BioTech careers exist across science, healthcare, technology, business, and innovation.
Some students pursue roles at biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical firms, medical device companies, diagnostics organizations, research institutions, health tech startups, or organizations developing new therapies, tools, platforms, and technologies. Others use the same scientific, analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills in consulting, venture capital, public health, policy, regulatory affairs, commercialization, or operations.
The sector you work in and the function you perform both shape your career path. You might be a research associate at a biotech company, a bioinformatics analyst in a health innovation organization, a clinical research coordinator supporting trials, a regulatory affairs associate helping products move through approval processes, a process development associate supporting manufacturing, or a product-focused team member helping bring scientific discoveries to market.
Lab research is one door, but it is not the only door. The BioTech Pathway is designed to help you understand the full range of possibilities and identify the roles, organizations, and environments that align with your skills, interests, values, and goals.
Who This Pathway Is For
This pathway is for any Hopkins undergraduate curious about biotech, life sciences, health innovation, or science-driven careers, whether you already have research experience or are just beginning to explore.
You may be a strong fit for this pathway if you are:
Studying biology, biomedical engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, biophysics, neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, public health, chemistry, computer science, data science, applied math, or another science, engineering, or quantitative field.
These majors often connect directly to roles in research and development, bioinformatics, clinical research, quality, regulatory affairs, process development, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and health technology.
Coming from an adjacent or interdisciplinary background.
BioTech is increasingly connected to business, policy, ethics, data, design, entrepreneurship, global health, communications, and access to care. With intentional skill-building, projects, coursework, research, and coaching, students from many academic backgrounds can explore roles that support science, innovation, and healthcare impact.
Curious but unsure where to start.
You do not need to know whether you want to work in a lab, join a startup, support clinical trials, pursue regulatory work, explore bioinformatics, or enter consulting to begin. Attending a Pathway event, joining BioTech Industry Week, participating in a Curiosity Conversation with an alum, exploring a research experience, or learning about one industry role can all be meaningful first steps.
Navigating your path with different access points or constraints.
First-generation, limited-income, international, transfer, student-athlete, and other students may enter the pathway at different moments and with different needs. The BioTech Pathway is designed to offer flexible entry points, practical guidance, and support that meets you where you are.
Programs and Opportunities
The BioTech Pathway connects students to programs and experiences designed to support exploration, preparation, and recruiting.
Through this pathway, students can learn about:
- BioTech industry programs
- Employer information sessions and recruiting events
- BioTech Internship Academy
- BioTech Industry Week events
- BioTech Trek, site visits, and experiential opportunities when available
- Alumni and employer conversations focused on biotech, life sciences, health innovation, and related fields
Explore, Prepare, Launch: Your Roadmap
You do not have to follow one perfect timeline to pursue biotech or life sciences. Students enter this pathway at different points, and your next step may depend on your class year, major, prior experience, research background, and career interests.
Explore: Learn what biotech and life sciences careers can look like across industries. Attend events, join student organizations, talk with alumni, participate in BioTech Industry Week, explore research opportunities, learn about different roles, and begin identifying areas that interest you. This stage is especially useful for first-year students, sophomores, transfer students, and anyone still deciding where they want to focus.
Prepare: Build the skills, experiences, materials, and relationships that make you a stronger candidate. This may include coursework, research, lab experience, independent projects, data or technical skill-building, resume refinement, mock interviews, networking, BioTech Internship Academy, or participation in BioTech Trek. This stage is especially important for sophomores and juniors preparing for internship recruiting, but students can begin preparing at any point.
Launch: Take action on internship or full-time recruiting. Engage with employers, apply early, prepare for technical and behavioral interviews, seek referrals, connect with alumni, evaluate opportunities, and build a strategy for your transition from Hopkins to your next experience. This stage is especially relevant for juniors pursuing internships and seniors pursuing full-time roles, post-graduate research roles, fellowships, rotational programs, or other next steps in biotech and the life sciences.
Alumni Connections
Alumni can help you better understand what biotech and life sciences work looks like, how different roles and sectors compare, and what choices helped them move from Hopkins into their careers.
Through OneHop, LinkedIn, and pathway programs, you can connect with alumni for Curiosity Conversations, mentoring, event participation, and career insight.
These conversations are not about asking for a job. They are a way to ask better questions, learn from real career paths, understand how people navigate the industry, and build confidence as you explore your own next steps.
Employer Connections
The BioTech Pathway helps students engage with employers across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, health tech, research and development, clinical research, regulatory affairs, quality, manufacturing, consulting, startups, and other life sciences fields.
Employer events may include information sessions, coffee chats, industry panels, resume reviews, site visits, BioTech Trek opportunities, career fairs, recruiting events, and programs designed to help students understand employer expectations.
Because internship and full-time recruiting timelines can vary across biotech and life sciences employers, signing up for the pathway can help you stay informed about upcoming events, application timelines, and opportunities to prepare.
Download the BioTech Playbook
The BioTech Playbook gives you a deeper guide to the pathway, including industry context, common roles, recruiting timelines, class-year checklists, skill-building strategies, alumni outreach guidance, and resources to help you take action.
Use the playbook as a reference whether you are just beginning to explore or actively preparing for internship or full-time recruiting
Take Your Next Step
Not sure where to begin? Start with one action.
Sign Up for the BioTech Pathway
Receive updates about upcoming programs, employer events, BioTech Internship Academy, pathway resources, and opportunities connected to biotech and the life sciences.
Schedule an Appointment with a BioTech Life Design Educator
Talk through your interests, questions, resume, search strategy, research experience, skill-building, recruiting preparation, or next steps.
Apply for the BioTech Internship Academy
Build your strategy, strengthen your materials, prepare for recruiting, and connect with structured support.
Participate in BioTech Industry Series
Explore industry themes, employer perspectives, alumni stories, emerging roles, and opportunities across biotech and the life sciences.
Join the BioTech Trek
Gain exposure to organizations, workplaces, and professionals working across biotech, life sciences, health innovation, and related fields.
See Upcoming BioTech Events
Explore workshops, alumni programs, employer events, and pathway opportunities.
Download the BioTech Playbook
Use the full guide to understand roles, timelines, skills, and resources for your finance career journey.