Luira Leite is an incoming freshman at the University of Massachusetts Boston Honors College, where she will be studying biochemistry. Her passion for research and promoting inclusivity in STEM began when she participated in the LEAH Daly STEM Exploration Summer Internship program with MassBioEd in 2023, while attending Everett High School. This passion led her to teach English learners at her high school basic laboratory skills in their native language —an initiative aimed at breaking down language barriers in science education. Currently, she is an intern at the Broad Institute, where she conducts research in vector engineering. 

Amy Wiebe has been teaching Biology for over twenty years. For the past two years, Amy has been a tremendous champion for MassBioEd’s ACCESS program. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that hands-on labs and real-world biotechnology applications are implemented into all biology classrooms at Stoughton High School, building three lab experiences into the General Biology curriculum. Amy is also an advisor for the after-school club, HOSA (Health Organization Students of America). As advisor of this program, she has coordinated with the MassBioEd team to offer additional out-of-school hands-on labs, summer internship workshops, career panels, and a field trip to MilliporeSigma for interested students. She hopes to continue the growth of opportunity and experiences for her students at Stoughton High School.

Jared Auclair serves as the Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. Appointed in December 2024, Jared leads all academic and administrative functions of the college. Among many other roles, Jared directs the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab (BATL) which hosts MassBioEd’s apprenticeship training program. Jared has worked with the apprenticeship program from its start to develop and prepare the curriculum for the Biomanufacturing Technician and Lab Support Specialist apprenticeships. Jared has been a tremendous supporter of MassBioEd’s BioTeach program, including the program as a partner in building out BioConnects, the New England region’s collaboration to expand biotechnology education and manufacturing across the New England states. He is a recognized leader in biotechnology education, an advocate for lifelong learning and diverse learning approaches, including micro-credentialing and certificate programs, and has been a leader in pushing state programs to support STEM education.

With more than a decade of experience at Northeastern, starting first as a post-doc and most recently, Vice Provost Research Economic Development and Director of Bioinnovation, Jared is a champion of innovation and collaboration and deeply values the promise that the College of Professional Studies brings to students as one of Northeastern’s most diverse and dynamic colleges committed to meet students where they are. Prior to his role as Vice Provost Research Economic Development, Jared served as the Associate Dean of Professional Programs and Graduate Affairs in the College of Science, and still holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. His past experience with the College of Professional Studies includes leadership on a variety of economic and workforce development and research programs, including PlusOne, a dynamic program that gives students the opportunity to accelerate their education by earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. 

With an extensive leadership background, Jared’s passion for progress drives essential strategic initiatives for the College of Professional Studies. His focus on strengthening the connections between education, research, and community, along with fostering a global mindset is core to the College of Professional Studies’ commitment to delivering a world-class experiential education tailored to students’ needs. Prior to joining Northeastern, Jared held a variety of research and consulting roles for leading biopharmaceutical firms. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a PhD in Biomedical Science from the University of Massachusetts Medical. 

MilliporeSigma is a leading life science company with a strong, longstanding commitment to advancing STEM education. The company actively supports a wide range of STEM-focused organizations and operates its own innovative education initiatives, including the Curiosity Cube – a mobile science lab – and Curiosity Labs, which bring hands-on science experiences to young students in classrooms and communities.

As a dedicated partner of MassBioEd, MilliporeSigma plays a vital role in inspiring the next generation of life sciences professionals. The company supports career exploration for students through summer program visits and generously donates video production resources, enhancing outreach and education efforts. MilliporeSigma’s CEO was honored with a leadership award in 2018, reflecting the company’s deep-rooted commitment to educational advancement and industry leadership.