Talent & Workforce

An innovation ecosystem cannot thrive and achieve its potential without an inclusive community of talented scientists, innovators, and seasoned entrepreneurs engaged in all aspects of discovery and commercialization. Through a variety of initiatives, BioSTL engages in developing and attracting diverse talent to help drive St. Louis’ 21st century economy.

STEMSTL

On behalf of the St. Louis region, BioSTL secured membership in, and technical support from, the national STEM Learning Systems Initiative. The locally-named STEMSTL is a collaborative consortium committed to equitable access to high-quality STEM learning for all students from birth through college and career. With a youth-centered focus and a commitment to transparency, information sharing, data-driven decision making, and continuous improvement, STEMSTL is advancing regional STEM collaboration toward a common vision and agenda, shared planning and measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, and continuous communication that deepens students’ engagement with STEM and prepares them to thrive in a globally connected, technology-driven world.

Visit StemSTL.org →

Pathways

Are you looking for a well-paid, meaningful career? A collaboration between the Building Illinois’ Bioeconomy (BIB) Consortium, BioSTL, and the St. Louis Community College highlights education and training programs that can lead to jobs in a growing biotech economy and focused on sustaining the environment. This collaboration has helped clarify pathways allowing you to access living-wage careers and options to progress along each pathway with stackable credentialing and earn-and-learn possibilities. Use the diagrams in the links below to see what level of education and training earns you the equivalent career and income.

Labor Market Analysis

BioSTL has completed the first comprehesive Labor Market Analysis for commercial bioscience in the St. Louis region, examining job demand and projecting what it will look like over the next 10 years in order to better prepare St. Louis and its workforce for jobs today and in the future.

Bioscience, comprised of plant, life, and medical sciences, are foundational to the St. Louis regional economy and its innovative capacity. These industries account for more than 19,000 payroll jobs – with average annual earnings at more than $116,000 – in 800 bioscience firms. The Analysis focuses on commercial biosciences and, notably, does not include employment generated by universities or hospitals where significant bioscience research does take place.

Training & Credentialing

BioSTL, in partnership with BioNexus KC and MOBIO, leads the Bioscience Industry Occupational Training & Equity Collaborative Hub (BIOTECH) to support industry-led, inclusive workforce development statewide, including across the St. Louis Metro. The BIOTECH hub connects education, industry, government, and community partners to design and implement programs that train and recruit individuals for key bioscience occupations. This platform strengthens Missouri’s bioscience innovation capacity and supports underrepresented and underserved communities to secure quality employment in the bioscience sector.

Talent & Workforce Team

Brittany Whitley

Director of Regional Workforce Strategy

Angi Taylor

Angi Taylor

Manager, Talent and Workforce Engagement

Gabriel Desince

Workforce Program Coordinator

Kate Polokonis

Kate Polokonis

Executive Director, STEMSTL

Mayra Taylor Garcia

Mayra Taylor Garcia

Programs Manager, STEMSTL

Courtney Shaw

Business Systems Analyst