TRENTON, N.J., JUNE 17, 2013 – The Christie Administration launched Life Sciences Week in New Jersey today, bringing together employers, job-seekers, entrepreneurs, educators and students to increase understanding of the important contributions the industry makes in the lives of people worldwide and to highlight companies that are advancing medical research, patients care, and contributing to the Garden State’s economy.

Today’s International BioPartnering Conference is the first in a series of activities taking place Monday, June 17, 2013 through Friday, June 21, 2013. Life Sciences Week, organized by the state Life Sciences Talent Network through BioNJ, will hold events in the northern, central, and southern regions of the state.

“With our highly educated and highly skilled workforce, New Jersey is an ideal location for the life sciences industry,” said Commissioner Harold J. Wirths of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD). “Our more than 375 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies have been instrumental in developing many of the medicines and vaccines to make our world healthier. That is why New Jersey is known as the medicine chest of the world.”

Commissioner Wirths joined by Debbie Hart, President and CEO of BioNJ; Vicki Gaddy, Vice President of the Life Sciences Talent Network at BioNJ; and Assistant Labor Commissioner Jeffrey Stoller officially launched Life Sciences Week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the International BioPartnering Conference held at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Following brief remarks at the conference’s noon plenary session, Commissioner Wirths presented Debbie Hart and Vicki Gaddy with a proclamation from Governor Christie pronouncing June 17, 2013 through Jun 21, 2013, Life Sciences Week.

“Every day dedicated men and women go to their jobs in New Jersey’s life science companies to play a part in the discovery and development of new and innovative medicine and therapies,” said Hart. “Life Sciences Week is dedicated to the bravery of patients and their families and the contributions that our companies have and will continue to make to improve the health and lives of people everywhere.”

The New Jersey Life Sciences Talent Network, created by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and operated by BioNJ, connects New Jersey's Professionals with Careers in Pharma, Biotech, Medical Device Technology, Clinical Operations, and Medical Diagnostics. The Life Sciences Talent Network supports Employers with Talent Acquisition & Recruitment, Talent Pipeline Development, and Business Outreach. BioNJ is singularly focused on advancing the growth and prosperity of New Jersey’s biotechnology cluster through advocacy initiatives directed at State and federal public policy issues and networking and educational programs that bring the community together.

The Life Sciences Talent Network is one of six (6) Talent Networks launched by LWD in 2011 to center around industry clusters that are driving the state’s economy. More than half of New Jersey workers are employed in those six industry clusters, which account for more than two-thirds of wages paid in New Jersey. The six industry clusters include Life Sciences, Transportation, Logistics and Distribution; Health Care; Advanced Manufacturing; Financial Services; and Technology and Entrepreneurship.

On June 10, 2013, LWD unveiled two new Talent Networks created in direct response to Superstorm Sandy and the economic challenges posed by the storm. The Recovery Talent Network is designed to assess the overall needs of impacted employers; and the Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Talent Network will assist employers in a major New Jersey industry cluster that suffered set-backs due to Sandy.

“Our Talent Networks create an avenue for employers to identify the skills they need to find in prospective employees so that our educational and training institutions can train and prepare our workforce for those emerging jobs in our growing economy,” said Commissioner Wirths.

Highlights of Life Sciences Week include:

June 18 – Executive Alliance for Life Science Meeting at NJEDA Technology Center in North Brunswick 

Dedicated to providing startup and incubator companies free consulting and advice from seasoned industry experts 

June 20 – Students2Science Field Trip

Newark’s Maria Varisco Rogers Charter School students visit S2S Technical Center Lab (East Hanover, Morris County)

June 20 – Coriell Institute for Medical Research Tour in Camden

Public invited to facility tour (limited to 40 participants)

June 21 – Life Sciences Career Fair at Rutgers University Douglass Campus

Designed to connect life sciences job-seekers with employers, industry recruiters, headhunters, education providers, and career counselors, and professional organizations.

For a full schedule of activities during Life Sciences Week go to http://www.bionjtalentnetwork.org or contact Bill O’Donnell, BioNJ Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications at BODonnell@BioNJ.org or (O) 609-890-3185; (C) 609-218-0046.

For more information about New Jersey’s Talent Networks, please visit: http://careerconnections.nj.gov/careerconnections/for_businesses.shtml or contact Judy Formalarie, Talent Network Project Manager at: judith.formalarie@dol.state.nj.us or (609) 984-4178. 

 
New Jersey Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths (left) joined by Debbie Hart (center), President and CEO of BioNJ; and Assistant Labor Commissioner Jeffrey Stoller (right) launch Life Sciences Week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the International BioPartnering Conference held at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Life Sciences Week, organized by the state Life Sciences Talent Network through BioNJ, runs June 17 through June 21, 2013.