As society grows and technology continues to innovate and advance, STEM becomes an even more critical field. The four fields of STEM, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, entail many transferable skills, sharing an emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving. With a  high demand for jobs in STEM, people may wonder, “Is STEM for me?”. JIR encourages students looking for their next career step to consider STEM and encourages students to gain experience in the field by offering internships, work- experience, and shadowing opportunities. 

Jobs incorporating fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are growing, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in STEM are projected to increase an additional 11% from 2020 to 2030. Bridget Long, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, questions whether or not young adults are ready to meet the “evolving and growing landscape of STEM professionals” due to a lack of opportunities and exposure for adolescents (O’Rourke, 2021). Jackson ImmunoResearch is eager to encourage and inspire students to find out what the world of STEM is like before they commit by offering outreach and shadowing opportunities at their lab in Westgrove, PA.

One group that Jackson ImmunoResearch recently hosted was a group of high school students enrolled in agricultural class. Students engaged in a presentation where they were introduced to the company, production, and application. The students then took a tour of the facility, where they saw “a day in the life” of the production lab. Although only a brief view into lab life at JIR, we’d like to think the students experienced a snapshot of what a job in the lab might entail, and we hope we piqued their interest to research a career in STEM further. One of the students had the opportunity to come back and shadow for a day.

Jackson ImmunoResearch recently had a Sophomore from Washington and Jefferson College shadow the laboratory staff for the day. They spent the day learning the process of Phycoerythrin conjugation and were able to explore the world of our lab technicians. As a major in Biology and Forensics with decisions about post-grad pathways looming, an opportunity to see the inner workings of a STEM pathway was insightful, particularly being able to talk to people who had taken a similar journey.  

Jackson ImmunoResearch wants to continue encouraging more students to consider a career in STEM. If you or someone you know is interested in work experience, an internship, or a shadowing opportunity, please contact us at sales@jacksonimmuno.com or tech@jacksonimmuno.com.

1.     O’Rourke, B. (2021, November 19). Increasing access and opportunity in stem crucial, say experts. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/11/increasing-access-and-opportunity-in-stem-crucial-say-experts/#:~:text=Long%20cited%20the%20U.S.%20Bureau,percent%20from%202020%20to%202030.