Pipeline Development

Igniting STEM Career Passion in Students

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Ben Johnson

Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations  | BioSTL

Science Coach Pipeline is a STEM workforce development program that connects 6th-12th grade students and teachers to a STEM career pathway. Over the course of the school year, students go through an immersive career introduction experience, while simultaneously completing original research, some of which might address a real-life problem in the designated industry.

Science Coach is able to tailor the program for any company, college, or industry that seeks to develop a workforce pipeline or to address a current or anticipated workforce shortage issue. Current and past programs have been done in partnership with Quest Diagnostics (Medical Laboratory Science), Goldfarb School of Nursing (Nursing Research), Cigna Corporation (Medical Laboratory Science), The Saigh Foundation, Washington University School of Engineering (Engineering) and BioSTL (Biosciences Core Skills).

How It Works

Science Coach Role

We provide the infrastructure and handle the following:

  • Participant recruitment
  • Program finance management
  • Teachers and company/college/industry coordination
  • Communications among collaborators
  • Data collection and outcome analysis

Partner Role

The collaborating organization provides the following:

  • Background on real-world challenges in the given industry as possible research topics
  • Virtual or in person career presentation
  • Hands on opportunities for students and teachers to learn about the career in more depth
  • Tours and job shadowing
  • Mentors and subject matter experts for student research projects
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Jasmin Patel 

Chief Growth & Innovation Officer | Science Coach

Why It Works

By systematically increasing the exposure to and experiential depth of the career, while connecting high school education prerequisites and post-secondary schools offering that degree, students move from an interest to proficiency to persistence in that career. Specific attention is given to career onboarding alternatives through certification, hybrid college/work opportunities, and/or innovative recruitment programs offered by local businesses.

Science Coach tailors the Pipeline program based on the needs and preferences of an employer, with the following elements being customizable:

  • STEM career focus
  • Level of funding
  • Number of teacher and students participating
  • Grade levels included
Contact Us to Learn More

Quest Diagnostics & Science Coach Partnership

    • “Science Coach enables Quest to connect with students in those pivotal high school years where they are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Over the course of the school year, students are introduced to the range of job opportunities in the Medical Laboratory Science field, all while completing an authentic research project. This type of in-depth exposure to STEM careers helps students discover a STEM passion they may not have had prior to the program. It certainly opens their eyes to careers they likely never knew existed. Developing a pipeline of talented, engaged future scientists in such a creative way fits very well with Quest’s vision and approach to developing tomorrow’s workforce.”

    Douglas E. Hamilton, DLM (ASCP)CM, DBA, MBA, MIM, BS
    Vice President Laboratory Operations, Great Midwest Region
    Quest Diagnostics