At Ultragenyx, we believe that investing in future generations of scientists is essential to advancing biotechnology and leading the future of rare disease medicine. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Biotech Partners, an independent non-profit organization that focuses on helping students underrepresented in the field of biotechnology attain personal, academic, and professional development experiences through in-classroom instruction and paid internships within the biotech and health industries.

Two Ultragenyx team members leading our partnership with Biotech Partners, Tahje Washington and Arjun Natesan, share their insights on how we’re empowering high school students through hands-on experience and mentorship in the biotech industry. Their perspectives in the Q&A below highlight the impact of early exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers and the value of investing in future talent.

Can you share more about Biotech Partners and Ultragenyx’s partnership with them?

Tahje Washington: Established in 1993, the mission of Biotech Partners is to inspire and motivate youth with personal, academic and professional development experiences that increase passion for higher education and access to fulfilling science careers. They accomplish this through a mix of classroom instruction and helping facilitate paid internships in the biotech and health industries and have had great success.

Ultragenyx is involved in both type of initiatives: we visit high school campuses in the California Bay Area to share with students what it’s like to work in the industry and offer coaching on interviews and resume-writing, as well as welcome summer interns to campus for hands-on experiences.

This year, we welcomed 10 high school interns across our Novato, Brisbane and South San Francisco campuses. These students gained hands-on experience in areas like technical development where they explored upstream and downstream processes and human resources, where they helped enhance internal materials and resources.

How did the partnership with Biotech Partners come about?

Arjun Natesan: It started with volunteering. I joined Biotech Partners to help students at Oakland Technical and Berkeley High Schools prepare for interviews and build strong resumes. What stood out to me was the program’s holistic approach, providing not just academic support, but wrap-around resources that enable unparalleled opportunities to influence the trajectory of a student’s future.

After working with these students and seeing their tremendous potential first-hand, I was inspired to learn more and get more involved. I then joined the board of Biotech Partners and now serve as board president.

Biotech Partners has a long-standing history in the Bay Area biotech community – 32 years and counting! I’ve met alumni from the early days, and they shared how this program shaped their careers and the impact it had on their life. One alum described how they were able to graduate with in demand skills needed to land a job in the industry which changed the trajectory of their career. This influenced how they were able to support their family financially, and they continue to encourage young people from their communities to explore this field.

That impact resonated deeply with me. I brought the mission, vision and goals of Biotech Partners to the Ultragenyx team, and we found alignment with our own mission and vision. We are proud to be a partner in helping shape the next generation of biotech leaders.

What made Biotech Partners the right partner for this initiative? What shared values or goals brought your organizations together?

Arjun Natesan: Both organizations believe that sharing knowledge helps advance the field. At Ultragenyx, we co-host Rare Bootcamp, where we make essential information such as practical know-how and education available to patients, caregivers, and advocates interested in developing their own rare disease treatments. At Biotech Partners, they conduct and publish research to share best practices and evidence-backed insights on how to engage with various communities and train other similar organizations to support their success.

We have a shared value of generosity for our fields, and this value helps fuel scientific advancements and workforce development.

It’s truly inspiring how our most senior leaders make time to participate and connect with the interns. Their involvement reflects a genuine commitment to nurturing the next generation of biotech talent.

How does this program support a broader community and workforce development goals?

Tahje Washington: This program empowers youth across the California Bay Area with professional and technical skills essential for biotech careers. It’s amazing to witness the transformation the students go through – from arriving shy and unsure, to confidently contributing in meetings and engaging with teams.

As their confidence grows, so does their investment in their future. Many become advocates for the business and ambassadors for STEM in their schools and communities. The experience doesn’t just prepare them for careers in biotech—it opens doors to any field they choose to pursue. The result is students who are driven to make change, returning to their classrooms and communities with a new perspective and broadened horizon.

How do you envision the long-term impact of this collaboration on your company and the community?

Arjun Natesan: The demand for talent in the biotech industry remains high, and we see this partnership as a strategic investment in the future workforce. Long-term, our goal is to build a pipeline of students who return to Ultragenyx in a full-time capacity and have thriving careers.

We understand that the path to a career in this field can be lengthy, but we also know giving students this opportunity in high school exposes them to industry and science earlier, so they can make informed decisions about their future. For many of these students, access to resources and professional development has been limited, so it’s critical that we help bridge that gap and help prepare these students as best possible.

This collaboration not only benefits the students but also strengthens our community. By cultivating talent from diverse backgrounds, we’re fostering a more inclusive and innovative workforce—one that’s equipped to tackle the scientific challenges ahead.

If another company is interested in partnering with Biotech Partners, where do they go to get more information?

For more information visit https://www.biotechpartners.org/ or reach out to Lynda Gayden [email protected].