Taking this statistic very seriously, Wolfe Laboratories regularly hosts highly interactive site visits for youth involved with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley’s Math, Science and Technology initiative (MSTi) where Wolfe’s scientists with teaching backgrounds interact with middle school girls to explore different career options in the sciences, help motive the youth, and teach them valuable leadership skills in the process.

The United Way’s MSTi currently serves nearly 600 students in 33 science clubs throughout the region and aims to help underprivileged youth foster a lifelong curiosity in the sciences and to prepare young people for rewarding careers in math, science, and technology-related fields.  Many of the youth involved with MSTi also work with similar programs like TERC’s Muscles, Lungs, Blood, and Guts, which takes students beyond the classroom to introduce them to careers in science through interactive science activities that develop their critical thinking and research skills.

With a strong belief about the importance of investing in the future of biopharma’s talent pipeline, Dr. Janet Wolfe, President and Founder of Wolfe Laboratories, received the 2009 Leadership Award from Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST) and is a 2009 finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Program, making her an exceptional mentor to younger generations who lack educational and motivational support.

During this year’s site visit at Wolfe’s facility, Janet personally greeted girls from the Gately Youth Center in Cambridge to discuss female careers in the sciences and leadership roles in the workplace.  Suited up in colorful goggles, gloves, and lab coats the youth were guided on a full facility tour and participated in hands-on size exclusion chromatography experiments.  Two of Wolfe’s scientists, Verona Outerbridge and Scott Michaels, led the girls in experiments using real laboratory equipment and instruments.

"My favorite part of the site visit was the experiments and mixing everything together in the lab,” said 11-year-old MSTi member, Staisha Foster-Jarvis.  “It made me want to become a scientist when I'm older.  I can't wait to go back and tell all the other kids about how much fun we had."

After being awarded with individual diplomas of achievement, marketing professionals, Margarita Hunter and Margot Anderson, mentored and taught the girls about other possible job opportunities in the biopharma industry.  By exploring careers in marketing, the girls learned marketing concepts and how to apply them to the life science industry.  Through introducing multiple disciplines and career options within the sciences, WLI’s leaders focused on the value of achieving a background in science and how to obtain career placement through education, leadership, personal drive, and perseverance. 

“I’ve been to many site visits and am happy to say that this was one of the best,” noted Jennifer Ring, Development Manager at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “The hands-on experiments and breaking everything down into basic principles allowed the girls to actively participate, understand larger scientific concepts, and see how science can be cool. We really appreciate the support of Wolfe Laboratories and volunteers from the field that make these opportunities possible.”

WLI’s commitment to investing in the future talent of the biopharma industry does not end there.  Through hosting the 2009 Wolfe Biopharma Conference and United Way Fundraiser, Filling Biopharma’s Pipeline, WLI donated all registration fees to the United Ways’ MSTi and other youth programs.  WLI plans to host its 2^nd Annual Biopharma Conference, entitled Emerging Markets: 2020 Vision^TM, on April 8, 2010.  Once more, Wolfe Laboratories will donate all proceeds raised on behalf of this event to MSTi for the continuation of educational programs that motivate and teach younger generations about the importance of pursuing careers in the sciences.

About Wolfe Laboratories, Inc. (WLI)
WLI is a biopharmaceutical development company that offers customized translational research services and comprehensive IND-enabling programs for biologics and small molecules.  Through its development services in ADMET and CMC areas, as well as cGLP and cGMP testing, the company brings value to its clients by rapidly providing high quality project planning and execution through its experienced staff and management team.  Drug Development Done Right.  On Time.