Behind the scenes of biotech. Exclusive company visits.
You'll go behind the scenes on exclusive tours of leading biotech companies, meet their leadership teams and how they innovate and manage highly complex operations.
Biotechnology has disrupted the life sciences industry, especially the diagnostics and therapeutic industries. In addition to technical knowledge in managing this evolving industry, it will require extraordinary leadership and management skills.
In the Biotechnology Industry Immersion Field Study course, you'll gain a better understanding of the operation and sustainable practices in the biotechnology industry by direct interaction with industry leaders in their work environment.
Recent site visits included these global biotech leaders headquartered in Northern California:
- Genentech headquarters in South San Francisco. The world's first biotech pharmaceutical company, Genentech is now a member of the Roche Group, and has been delivering on the promise of biotechnology for more than 45 years, pursuing groundbreaking science to discover and develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases.
- BioMarin in Novato is a global biotech pharmaceutical company that has developed medicines to treat genetic conditions such as achondroplasia, severe hemophilia A and several rare diseases.
- Beckman Coulter in West Sacramento is a biotech diagnostics innovator that helps healthcare professionals provide better patient care by delivering the accurate diagnostic information they need.
- Novonesis in Davis is a biotech industrial company harnesses the power of enzymes, functional proteins and microorganisms to create all biosolutions that are transforming production, consumption and how we all live.
"It was amazing to be in the birthplace of biotechnology and see where some of the most innovative medicines are developed."
— Kathy Troung MBA 24 on visit to Genentech
Global Opportunities: International Study Trips and Consulting Projects
There are also opportunities to visit and connect with leading biotech executives and entrepreneurs as part of our International Study Practicum and Integrated Management Projects.
Just a few examples include:
- MBA students on an international study trip visited Chile, where they met with researches and business development staff of the UC Davis Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center and and toured Spora Biotech, a biotechnological company in Rengo, Chile, that creates solutions to impact climate change, animal abuse and humanitarian issues. Read blog
- MBA students on a trip to Germany to meet with client companies for their Integrated Management Practicum experience, visited the international headquarters of Bayer AG, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies and biomedical companies in the world.
Scenes from Site Visits
Our Biotech Industry Immersion combines theoretical learning with practical insights into company operations and executive strategies. Most recently in the Field Study course, UC Davis students experienced an insider’s view of Genentech, BioMarin, Beckman Coulter and Novonesis.
Click on photos to learn more.
Lecturer Hemant Vaidya (fifth from left) organized the UC Davis MBA site visits, starting with Genentech, a biotech firm focused on developing medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases.
UC Davis MBA students and Lecturer Hemant Vaidya (right) donned personal protective equipment at BioMarin, a biotechnology company that specializes in rare diseases.
The exclusive UC Davis site visit featured a stop at BioMarin, a global biotech leader with eight products aimed at treating life-threatening conditions.
Sunita Dhar (second from left), executive medical group director at Genentech and member of the Biotechnology Advisory Council for the industry immersion program, led the tour at Genentech’s offices.
UC Davis MBA students explore Novonesis' research and development facilities to learn more about sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing.
