How Pitt is preparing Greater Hazelwood residents for emerging life sciences jobs

Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitment in Greater Hazelwood is launching the Life Sciences Bridge Program, a paid 50-hour job readiness program that introduces young adults living in the Pittsburgh neighborhood to entry-level roles in the life sciences.

The program is open to Greater Hazelwood residents ages 18 to 24 without a college degree. Participants will earn a $1,100 stipend while exploring the emerging industry through site visits, hands-on activities and career conversations. Applications are open for the inaugural cohort, which will run February-April 2026.

The cohort will receive support from several community partners: Davis Consulting Solutions, a Hazelwood-based firm, will design and deliver the program curriculum and coordinate industry speakers; Catapult Greater Pittsburgh will provide wraparound supports including child care, transportation and housing stability resources; and Equity Systems Consulting will offer one-on-one career navigation after the workshop.

Heidi Ward, the director of Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitment in Greater Hazelwood, said this program grew out of a two-year engagement process funded by the Heinz Endowments. Through community meetings and the 2024 Kaleidoscope Summit, the University heard from residents, who said they wanted a clearer understanding of the life sciences industry and the types of jobs available without a college degree.

“It’s such a multifaceted career, and it’s kind of hard to even know how to approach it,” Ward said. “We think it’s really important that we create some type of exploratory, paid training opportunity for young adults so that they can at least feel more confident saying, ‘I want to go into the life sciences.’”

The program also aligns with the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan, where employment is a top priority, she added. And although Pitt BioForge, which promises to transform how precision biological medicines are made and drive innovation in the region. is still several years from opening, Ward said it is another catalyst for the program.

Ward said the program is also designed to help participants feel welcomed in a field where they may not see themselves represented. Its main goal, she said, is to remove barriers and ensure participants have a pathway towards a rewarding career.

“You have to make a living if you're going to actually be able to thrive in this environment that we’re in,” Ward said. “If we can just help young adults find employment, I count that as a win.”