In the Master's of Microbial Biotechnology (MMB) Professional Science Master's degree program, students learn by doing. Outside the classroom, they participate in internships and tackle industry cases. They receive training in science and business, in an environment where academia meets corporate world. Now, with the program's latest initiative, they'll learn how to build personal and effective relationships with high-level executives.

The "Adopt-a-Professional-Student" mentorship program, launched last fall, brings students directly into the corporate experience by pairing them with industry professionals who serve as mentors.

"The academic world and the industry world are two very different environments," says Dr. Lisbeth Hamer, assistant professor of microbiology and director of the MMB program. "When students get out into industry, they have to learn to serve a higher purpose [than themselves], be able to read the business plan and understand what the bottom line is. It's like learning a new language and a new behavior, especially for those who have never had prior industry training."

The N.C. State MMB program is a collaborative effort of the university's College of Management, Biotechnology Program, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Microbiology, and multiple companies and industry professionals in the Research Triangle Park and surrounding areas. The two-year program offers interdisciplinary academic and corporate training in business, biotechnology and microbiology.

The "Adopt-a-Professional-Student" mentoring program, Hamer says, adds a new dimension to the MMB program by giving students unique behind-the-scenes relationship experience with professionals in a wide variety of industries.

Developing professional relationships helps the students build understanding for the corporate lifestyle and professional conduct, as well as self-esteem in the interaction with industry leaders, she says. Many of the professionals involved in the program are among the top executives in their companies, including CEOs, vice presidents and directors. "This is initially very intimidating for students," Hamer says. "But soon they'll learn that their mentors are just normal people like everybody else."

The mentoring program is open to second-year MMB students on a voluntary basis, and six of the first set of students decided to participate this year. Hamer also is handpicking some first-year students who may have prior industry experience, or at least one semester under their belts, and seem "industry ready," in Hamer's words. The mentor relationships are officially projected to last until the students graduate, but Hamer hopes that many of the students will develop friendships that will extend well into their professional careers.

Feedback from the industry community has been tremendously positive, Hamer says, and most of the executives she approached were eager to become involved as mentors. They represent a wide variety of companies, from major pharmaceutical to start-up biotechnology.

Jaime Rain, a second-year MMB student participating in the mentoring program, says that after just one semester, the experience has proven to be invaluable.

"Through this program, I've had the chance to interact with an industry professional in a relaxed atmosphere and ask questions about how she got to where she is today or about salary expectations," Rain says. "I've also been able to seek advice about overall industry culture and expectations."

Jaime's mentor, Dr. Marcia Eisenberg, vice president for research and development at Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), says that the program is an opportunity for her to provide experience and guidance in an evolving industry - and tap into potential workforce.

"This program helps define what opportunities could be available [to students] and assures that there are interested individuals to fill those positions," Eisenberg says. "The industry gains from the experienced people coming out of this program."

-Suzanne Stanard