When Bryn Martin was a tenured professor at the University of Idaho, he enjoyed training students in biological engineering, but he lamented the fact there were very few jobs in the field in Idaho. “When I left my full-time faculty position, I knew I wanted to stay connected with the university, and I really enjoyed working with the students,” said Martin, vice president of research, precision delivery and cerebrospinal fluid sciences at Alcyone Therapeutics. “They’re hard-working, and they bring ingenuity to the projects we’re working on.” Alcyone develops cutting-edge gene therapy to treat Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that occurs primarily in girls and leads to severe impairments. Martin’s research focuses on Alcyone’s precision delivery platform technology that harnesses the power of cerebral spinal fluid through bioengineering. The dosing and delivery technology is designed to maximize the delivery of the gene therapy to the brain. Every chance he gets, Martin seeks out Vandals to join his team developing this technology in downtown Moscow. All nine of the company’s Moscow-based employees are Vandals. Alcyone also participates in the U of I’s Co-Op program, in which students alternate semesters of academic study with terms of full-time employment. Martin says co-op Director John Mangiantini excels at matching students with opportunities, and at Alcyone, the undergraduates take on tough challenges. “We’re small, so the students really get immersed, and they get to do a lot of different things,” Martin said. “We have high expectations, but the students work hard, and at the end they have a lot to show for their time here.” If the FDA approves Alcyone’s proposed treatment, the company may grow quickly and likely increase its footprint in Moscow. They’re one of many local companies and organizations tapping into the U of I talent stream. Companies like Lightcast (formerly Emsi), Northwest River Supplies, Alturas Analytics and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories regularly hire both graduates and student interns. The Moscow School District, the City of Moscow and the Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, among many others, provide part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities for Vandals each year. “The diversity of employers has really exploded over the past 10 years,” said Eric Anderson, interim director of Career Services for the U of I. “Having access to those businesses is a big part of our recruitment pitch for students. We’re known as a place where students can come to get great experiences to tie into what they are learning in the classroom.” |