QUICK LINKS:

 2026 SMDP Biotech Agenda

 2026 SMDP Biotech Scholar Biographies

 2026 SMDP Biotech Mentor Biographies

 SMDP Mentoring Plan

 SMDP Expense Reimbursement Form

SMDP Virtual Mentor Debrief Agenda

SMDP Biotech Pairings

Orientation calls
Scholars and Mentors attend a 45-minute orientation web meeting to be held on the following dates:

Mentors May 13, 2026 at 9am PT
Scholars May 13, 2026 at 10am PT

A meeting link will be sent to you prior to the meeting

Pre-session Primers - SCHOLARS ONLY
May 14 @9am Pacific - The Power of Personal Brand & How to Articulate Your Value

May 15 @9am Pacific - How to Develop a High Impact Resume

In-person training session
Scholars and Mentors will attend an in-person SMDP Biotech training session in Boston, June 20th through 25th. Details for your participation will be sent to you prior to the event.

Schedule at a Glance 
SMDP Scholars, your hotel Check-in is on Saturday, June 20th 

Saturday, June 20th: TBD
6:00pm - 8pm Casual Event for 2026 Scholars and Mentors

Sunday, June 21st: TBD
7:00am-5:30pm SMDP Biotech Training Session

Sunday, June 21st: TBD
5:30pm - 8:30pm Annual Celebration of SMDP Biotech Reception  
(By invitation only. For the 2026 SMDP Biotech Scholars and Mentors, there is no need to RSVP, your names are already on the guest list.)

Monday, June 22nd: TBD
7:00-12:30 SMDP Biotech Training Session
1-3:30pm Lunch and Site-visit @ TBD

3:30pm SMDP Scholars depart for the 2026 BIO International Convention
7-9pm BIO International Welcome Reception at San Diego Convention Center

Tuesday, June 23rd: San Diego Convention Center
7am-6:30pm BIO International Convention

Wednesday, June 24th: San Diego Convention Center 
7am - 6pm BIO International Convention
7pm-9pm BIO International Closing Reception TBD

Thursday, June 25th: San Diego Convention Center 
9am - noon BIO International Convention

Photo, bio & video
Please send your biography and photo by email by end of day, Friday, May 8th. to Dustie Savage at dsavage@icpdprograms.org.

The biography should provide a brief professional introduction written in 3rd person and can include one line about your personal interests/hobbies. It should outline your career background, education, and any information you would like the program participants to know about you. 

The photo should be jpg format, your head and shoulders only, with a plain background behind you.

The video can be recorded using a cell phone and should be 30-seconds or less. In the video, please include your name, title, organization and one fun fact about yourself  (you’ve been cage diving with sharks, salsa dancer, love to cook, etc). The video should be sent via Whatsapp by end of day, Friday, May 8th.  Download WhatsApp on your phone and add +805-907-6393 Dustielyn Savage. Once you added Dustie, you will be able to send her the video on WhatsApp.

Logistics 
Make your own arrangements for travel. Plan to arrive in San Diego by mid afternoon on Saturday, June 20th.

Scholars: Plan to depart from San Diego on Thursday, June 25th. 

Mentors: Plan to depart after the SMDP Biotech Training Session ends on Monday, June 22nd. Optionally you can attend the BIO International Convention June 22-25. Please notify us if you plan to attend BIO International, or if you have any questions about travel. Contact Dustie by email: dsavage@icpdprograms.org

ICPD will cover the following costs for the Scholars:
meals and lodging during the training program
a $500 travel allowance will be given to scholars after the program

Mentors will be responsible for air travel, hotel accommodations, ground transportation.

How to dress and what to bring? 
Business attire with comfortable shoes. Scholars, bring 100 business cards and 10 copies of your Resume. Mentors, we encourage you to bring plenty of business cards as well.

Personalized mentoring plan
As part of the SMDP training session, Scholars will complete a personalized mentoring plan with the help of their mentors. The mentoring plan is created on the SMDP portal and can be reviewed/edited online.

SMDP mentorship
Mentee/Mentee pairing will be announced during the virtual SMDP Biotech training session on Sunday, June 20th. Each SMDP Biotech Scholar is paired with an industry mentor and will receive one year of mentoring. The SMDP biotech Mentorship period begins June 20, 2026 and continues until June 14, 2027.

Year-long virtual mentoring
Following the virtual training session, the SMDP Scholar/Mentor pairs will meet virtually for an hour, once a month at times that they agree upon. 

The SMDP Portal: Used to manage your mentoring plan and access ongoing career training materials. A profile is created for all SMDP participants, so you  can log on to connect with other Scholars, Mentors and company representatives. You'll receive your username and password for the SMDP Mentoring Portal by email prior to the SMDP Biotech training session.

An orientation for the SMDP Portal will also be provided during the SMDP Biotech training session.

Mentoring Updates: Scholars meet virtually with mentors for at least one hour per month. Following each monthly mentoring meeting, Scholars submit a mentoring update on the SMDP Portal.

Weekly Mentor Moment: As part of their monthly mentoring meetings Scholars and Mentors select and discuss a recent Mentor Moment topic A new Mentor Moment is added to the SMDP each week on Wednesdays.

Addresses Where to go:
Host Hotel - TBD

Scholars, a shared room has been reserved for you 
Mentors you will arrange your own accommodation

Casual Event, Saturday, June 20th,TBD
Scholars & Mentors you're on the list

SMDP Biotech Training Session- Day 1, Sunday, June 21st, TBD
Scholars and Mentors must attend this in-person training. 7:00am - 6:00pm

Reception Sunday, June 21st, TBD.  Scholars & Mentors, you’re already on the guest list and do not need to rsvp.

SMDP Biotech Training Session Day 2, Monday, June 22nd, TBD
Scholars and Mentors will attend this in-person training. 7:00am - 12:30pm.

Site-Visits and Lunch, Monday, June 22nd, 1-3:30pm hosted by: TBD

2026 BIO International Convention will be held at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Scholars, you do NOT need to contact BIO for this. Mentors, simply send an email to dsavage@icpdprograms.org indicating that you would like to attend BIO. Your registraiton information will be provided during the SMDP Biotech Wrap-up Training Session.

A vegetarian option will be available at all SMDP hosted events.  If you have more specific dietary restrictions, please plan on bringing your own food.  If you have concerns, please send an email to dsavage@icpdprograms.org 

Have a question
Contact Dustie Savage: dsavage@icpdprograms.org