Sources of Emerging U.S. Life Sciences Research Talent

Identifying sources of emerging talent is critical to fueling a growth industry like life sciences.

Figure 10 shows where the most graduates in biological and biomedical sciences are originating, including a breakdown of those with general biology degrees and those with more specialized training, such as genetics, biotechnology and computational biology.

New York/New Jersey produced the most biological and biomedical sciences graduates in 2021 (8,800), followed by Los Angeles/Orange County (5,900), Washington, D.C./Baltimore (5,200) and Boston/Cambridge (4,900). All four leading markets are coastal life sciences hubs with world-renowned research universities.

Figure 10: Top 25 Markets Issuing Degrees in Biological & Biomedical Sciences by Subtype, 2021

Source: IPEDs, CBRE Research, Q2 2023.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Tampa experienced significant five-year growth in biological and biomedical sciences graduates in 2021. However, the metro with the fastest growth rate of new life sciences graduates was Phoenix, followed by Riverside/San Bernardino and Houston (Figure 11).

Figure 11: 2016-2021 Growth of Biological & Biomedical Sciences Degrees Earned by Market

Source: IPEDs, CBRE Research, Q2 2023.

Certain markets tend to produce more graduates with specialized biological and biomedical degrees. For example, Washington, D.C./Baltimore has an outsized number of graduates specializing in biotechnology, the San Francisco Bay Area in cell/cellular biology and anatomical sciences and Los Angeles/Orange County in microbiological sciences and immunology. Among smaller markets, Sacramento has a focus primarily on genetics and, to a lesser extent, microbiological sciences and immunology (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Top 5 Markets for Number of Specialized Biological & Biomedical Sciences Graduates, 2021

Source: IPEDS, CBRE Research 2023.

Markets that produce the largest numbers of specialized biological and biomedical sciences research talent generally receive the most National Institutes of Health funding. This funding enhances a market's life sciences research ecosystem and perpetuates its cycle of talent development (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Specialty Degrees Conferred in Biological & Biomedical Sciences & NIH Funding by Metro

Source: IPEDs, NIH, CBRE Research, Q2 2023.