Volunteers / Mentors

Industry volunteers are indispensable to the success of Biotech Partners programs. By welcoming co-op or intern students into their laboratories, volunteer mentors benefit from the students’ contributions to their team. But more importantly, mentors recognize that they are contributing to the professional development of a young person who is experiencing his or her first workplace experience.

Volunteer mentors receive significant public recognition by the Biotech Partners organization, and are recognized internally for their contributions in meeting their companies’ professional and community support objectives.  

The Mentor’s Role

Biotech Partners mentors dedicate their time and provide assistance in curriculum development and technical support for the program. This includes working with the Biotech Partners staff to develop a practical work plan for the student, and receiving counseling and advice from the staff.

Mentors often discover that helping a young person get a start in the working world is rewarding both personally and professionally – particularly if the Biotech Partners graduate is later hired in the same organization.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or if you would like to learn about other volunteer opportunities, please contact Sakura Lee, Program Manager, at (510) 705-7793.

Mentor Spotlight

Glenn Yamasaki, one of many Biotech Partners mentors at Bayer HealthCare, is deeply committed to helping young people reach their potential. In 2007, Glenn received the Biotech Partners Outstanding Mentor Award for his dedication to youth and five years of service as a supervisor of our high school summer interns and community college students.

“I know my co-workers and I make a difference in the lives of the students. The range of what the students have to learn is vast, but it’s amazing how adaptable and energetic they can be.  Interns have been involved in drug discovery research, including assay development and quality control.”