Back to the Lab: How B.C.’s Bioscience Reskilling Program Helped Shadi Alami Return to a Career in Life Sciences

For Shadi Alami, returning to the laboratory wasn’t about starting over. It was about finding the confidence—and the opportunity—to put years of education and experience back to work.

With a master’s degree in clinical microbiology and several years of laboratory experience, Shadi already had a strong scientific foundation. But after nearly two years away from the lab, she was ready to return.

“I wanted to refresh my technical skills and regain my confidence before returning to the workforce,” says Shadi. “The BC Reskilling Program at the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) provided the perfect opportunity to renew and strengthen my laboratory skills, gain hands-on experience with industry-standard techniques, and prepare myself for my next role.”

Building skills—and confidence

CASTL’s BC Bioscience Reskilling Program helps unemployed and underemployed British Columbians develop practical skills for careers in the province’s growing life sciences sector.

For Shadi, the combination of technical learning and hands-on laboratory experience was exactly what she needed.

“The instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, and the hands-on training closely reflected real laboratory environments,” she says. “I especially valued the opportunity to work with equipment and techniques commonly used in the biotech industry, as well as learning about current industry practices and quality standards.”

Through the program, Shadi gained hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, bioreactor operations, upstream and downstream bioprocessing, chromatography and aseptic laboratory practices. Resume and interview workshops also helped her communicate her experience more effectively to employers and approach her job search with greater confidence.

The program also addressed another part of returning to the workforce: knowing how to communicate those skills to an employer.

Resume and interview workshops helped Shadi strengthen the way she presented her experience and approach the job search with greater confidence.

From training to industry experience

A highlight of Shadi’s experience was the opportunity to engage with local BC industry employers like SignalChem Biotech where she learned about their products and operations.

“This experience helped me better understand industry expectations and increased my confidence in returning to a laboratory role,” she says.

For Shadi, the experience also demonstrated something more personal: after two years away from the laboratory, she was ready to return.

Putting her skills back to work in B.C.

After completing the BC Bioscience Reskilling Program, Shadi was hired as a Laboratory Technologist at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she now supports microbiology research and quality assurance projects.

The skills she developed are now part of her day-to-day work. She applies aseptic techniques, quality practices, accurate documentation and troubleshooting while supporting microbiology projects and preparing quality assessment samples.

She saw the value of her training firsthand when she joined a new project involving the production and quality assessment of microbiology proficiency testing samples. Some of the procedures were new to her. But the ability to learn, adapt and work confidently in a laboratory environment was not.

“The practical training and confidence I gained at CASTL helped me quickly learn new techniques, adapt to the laboratory workflow, and contribute effectively to the team,” she says. “The program reinforced my ability to work safely, follow standardized procedures, and confidently take on new laboratory responsibilities.”

Creating pathways into B.C.’s life sciences workforce

Shadi’s journey demonstrates what reskilling can make possible: connecting people who already have valuable knowledge and potential with the practical, industry-aligned skills needed to participate in B.C.’s life sciences workforce.

“I would highly recommend the CASTL BC Reskilling Program to anyone looking to build or refresh their laboratory skills and pursue a career in the Canadian biotechnology or life sciences sector,” she says.

“It gave me the confidence and experience I needed to successfully return to the laboratory workforce in Canada.”

About the BC Bioscience Reskilling Program

CASTL’s free, 10-week BC Bioscience Reskilling Program helps unemployed and underemployed British Columbians develop practical, industry-aligned skills for careers in the province’s life sciences sector. The program combines online learning, hands-on training at CASTL’s GMP-simulated facility on the BCIT Richmond campus, as well as opportunities for industry exposure and networking.

Learn more.