NIIMBL opens student applications for 2026 eXperience across five locations

NEWARK, Del., Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is pleased to announce student applications are now open for the 2026 NIIMBL eXperience, an immersive program for first- and second-year college students to explore careers in the biopharmaceutical industry. This year, students can apply to one of five programs across the United States:

• Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust (May 31 – June 6)
• Santa Clara University (California) (June 21 – 27)
• University of Houston (Texas) (June 7 – 13)
• The Wistar Institute (Pennsylvania) (June 21 – 27)
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) (May 31 – June 6)

The NIIMBL eXperience is a weeklong, all-expenses-paid program designed to introduce students to biopharmaceutical careers through hands-on activities, facility tours, and networking with industry professionals. The program builds industry awareness and strengthens the workforce pipeline by connecting companies with talented students who could eventually fill critical manufacturing and process development roles.

The program has reached hundreds of students from nearly 150 academic institutions across the country since 2019. After participating in the NIIMBL eXperience, students have gone on to secure internships at many leading biomanufacturers, including Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and MilliporeSigma.

"The NIIMBL eXperience has been a fantastic opportunity for students to understand the career possibilities the biopharma industry can provide and for industry to find up and coming talent," said John Balchunas, NIIMBL Workforce Director. "We are looking forward to fostering more connections across the country in 2026."

To apply, students must be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States and actively enrolled in a degree program with fewer than 60 credits. Students are encouraged to apply to the program in the region that most closely aligns with their residence.

Academic organizations are invited to share this opportunity with their students.

"For me, the most important benefit I received from participating in the eXperience program was gaining real life experience and hands-on experience with professionals. It helped me better understand the career paths and also gave me the extraordinary opportunity to connect with professionals and peers who share my interest," said a 2025 NIIMBL eXperience participant.

In May 2025, NIIMBL issued a Request for Applications seeking applications from NIIMBL members to host the NIIMBL eXperience in their region. NIIMBL awarded funding to launch the 2026 NIIMBL eXperience program in five locations.

Visit NIIMBL.org to learn more about the NIIMBL eXperience program and to apply for the 2026 cohort. The application period closes February 5, 2026.

All funding is subject to project agreement negotiations.

About NIIMBL
The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of standards that enable more efficient and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness in this industry. NIIMBL is part of Manufacturing USA®, a network of federally sponsored manufacturing innovation institutes, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce with significant additional support from its members.

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SOURCE National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL)