Emerging Leaders in STEM is a fast-paced, hands-on accelerated biotechnology course that introduces high school and college students to high-demand STEM careers. Participants will learn advanced biotech laboratory skills, connect with peers with similar interests, and meet luminaries from across the spectrum of STEM careers. College-age mentors lead high school students through career and STEM lab activities while developing relationships to help support each other as they pursue their STEM goals. The free program runs May to July each year.
Read more about the Spring 2025 program coming to Maryland and Texas!
What You’ll Get From This Program
- Meet amazing STEM luminaries during virtual sessions (May)
- Build confidence in biotechnology topics
- Complete advanced laboratory skills training in areas such as genetic engineering and synthetic biology during our week-long laboratory intensive (June/July)
- Earn a completion certificate to boost college applications and your résumé
- Earn a stipend upon course completion
- Make friends with similar interests
Emerging Leaders registration is open to all students currently in high school or college (ages 14-22).
Hear from Addison Arredondo, a member of our Emerging Leaders Class of 2024.
Now more than 300 alumnae strong, Learning Undefeated’s Emerging Leaders program develops internship- and apprenticeship-ready future employees with advanced biotechnology skills typically learned in college courses. Through this rigorous, hybrid learning experience, students meet STEM luminaries from a diverse set of backgrounds, learn advanced techniques using professional laboratory equipment, build career readiness and networking skills, and develop friendships that will support their journey in STEM.
The hybrid program model culminates with a two-week advanced laboratory workshops taught in person onboard one of Learning Undefeated’s mobile laboratories.
Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology was purpose-designed in 2020 to build an agile and resilient workforce of the future through exploration of high-growth military and civilian career areas in biotechnology. Nearly than 400 participants have already completed the program, and many return a second year to serve as mentors to the high school students.
Cohort Seven: Spring 2024
During the summer of 2024, Learning Undefeated brought its Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology course to Palo Alto College in San Antonio, Texas. Students first participated in virtual learning sessions before convening in person on the MXLab. Hear from Addison Arredondo, a high school senior who completed the program, about what it’s like to discover your STEM passions.
Advanced content includes synthetic biology and gene editing. The four-month course also helps students succeed in STEM by increasing their science capital in the areas of knowledge, attitude, experiences, and social contacts and networks.
Cohort Six: Spring 2023
Cohort Six, Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology program paired 80+ high school and college students from across the Washington, DC area. The near-peer mentorship model builds confidence and connects students with professionals from STEM careers, with a focus on DOD-connected careers in STEM fields. Hear from some of our program alumnae what they thought of this experience >
Advanced content includes synthetic biology and gene editing. The four-month course also helps students succeed in STEM by increasing their science capital in the areas of knowledge, attitude, experiences, and social contacts and networks.
Cohort Five: Spring 2023
In summer 2023, Learning Undefeated gave Colorado high school and college students the chance to compete in a “Shark Tank” style engineering competition to build, refine, and pitch a product they developed themselves. During the five-day Emerging Leaders in Engineering workshop, participants learned to read schematics, build circuits, and load code while navigating budget, size, time, and materials requirements.
Competition elements included woodworking, 3D printing, Arduino and Tinkercad as the participants designed, built, and ultimately “pitched” their product idea to a panel of judges. This program took place on the Colorado Springs campus of new partner Keysight, and we are grateful for their support.
Cohort Four: Spring 2022
Cohort Four, Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology program pairs high school and college students as near-peer mentors and connects them with professionals from STEM careers in Maryland and across the greater Washington, DC area, with a focus on DOD-connected careers in STEM fields. Meet one of our cohort four alumnae, who returned to serve as a peer educator for this program.
Cohort Three: Spring 2022
Cohort Three, Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology program pairs high school and college students as near-peer mentors and connects them with professionals from STEM careers in Delaware. In-person laboratory experiences will include insider tours of AstraZeneca’s biomanufacturing facility in Newark.
Cohort Two: Fall 2021
Cohort Two, Emerging Leaders in Biotech + Cyber, program paired high school and college students as near-peer mentors and connected them with professionals from STEM careers in Montgomery County, Maryland. Participants learned advanced laboratory techniques and cybersecurity skills while building career readiness and networking skills. This cohort focused on the high-growth industries biopharma, cybersecurity and biotechnology.
Cohort One: Summer 2021
Read our blog post to learn more about the biotechnology curriculum from our 2021 pilot cohort. During virtual sessions, participants heard from luminaries in the biotechnology fields, many of whom are creating new solutions for DOD and military service members. Speaker themes focus on unique challenges faced by STEM professionals, and ways students can build their confidence to overcome barriers in the field.
