QUICK LINKS:

 2026 SMDP Biotech DRAFT Agenda

 2026 SMDP Biotech Scholar Biographies

 2026 SMDP Biotech Mentor Biographies

 SMDP Mentoring Plan

 SMDP Expense Reimbursement Form

SMDP Virtual Mentor Debrief Agenda

In-person SMDP Biotech 2026 Training Session
Scholars and Mentors will attend an in-person SMDP Biotech training session in San Diego, 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 dae is on Saturday, June 20th 

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

Sunday, June 21st: The Lane
7:30am-5:15pm SMDP Biotech Training Session

Sunday, June 21st: Admiral Hornblower Yacht
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: The Lane
7:00-1:00 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

How to Dress and What to Bring? 
Business attire with comfortable shoes. Scholars, bring 50 business cards and 10 copies of your Resume. Mentors, we encourage you to bring plenty of business cards as well.

Photo, Bio & Video
Scholars - Please send your biography and photo by email by end of day, Friday, May 22nd to scholars@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.

Scholars (Not Mentors) Must Also Submit a Video - 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 22nd.  Download WhatsApp on your phone and add +202 510-5729, Michael May. Once you have added Michael, you will be able to send him the video on WhatsApp. Please include your full name in your initial WhatsApp message so he can identify you.

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 Elisabeth by email: evalerio@icpdprograms.org

ICPD will cover the following costs for the 2026 SMDP Biotech Scholars:
meals and lodging during the training program
a $500 travel allowance will be provided to scholars after the training session.

Mentors are responsible for arranging their own travel, hotel accommodations and ground transportation during their stay in San Diego.

Orientation Calls for SMDP Scholars & Mentors
Scholars and Mentors attend a 45-minute orientation web meeting to be held on the following dates (a meeting registration link will be sent to all Scholars and Mentors prior to the meeting):

Mentors May 27, 2026 at 9-9:45am Pacific Time
Scholars May 27, 2026 at 10-10:45am Pacific Time
Mentors Jun 3, 2026 at 9-9:45am Pacific Time (this is an alternative session for the 2026 SMDP Biotech Mentors who are not able to attend the May 27th session)

Pre-session Primers for SMDP Scholars
Calendar invites will be sent to all Scholars

Scholars May 29, 2026 at 9-10:30am Pacific Time
How to Develop a High Impact Resume & Cover Letter

Scholars Jun 3, 2026 at 10-11am Pacific Time
The Power of Personal Brand & How to Articulate Your Value

Personalized Mentoring Plans
As part of the SMDP Biotech Training Session, Scholars will complete a personalized mentoring plan with the help of their mentors. The mentoring plan is created on the SMDP portal (during the in-person training session) 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 20th 2026 and continues until June 20th 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. New Mentor Moments are published on the SMDP portal each week on Wednesdays.

Addresses Where to go:
Host Hotel - Springhill Suites San Diego Bayfront, 900 Bayfront Ct, San Diego, CA 92101

Scholars: a shared room has been reserved for you 
Mentors: you will make your own arrangements for accommodation

Casual Dinner (Welcoming the Incoming Cohort) - Saturday, June 20th
at The Lane, 900 Bayfront Ct, San Diego, CA 92101
Scholars & Mentors you're already on the guest list

SMDP Biotech Training Session - Day 1, Sunday, June 21st
at The Lane, 900 Bayfront Ct, San Diego, CA 92101
Scholars and Mentors must attend this in-person training 7:30am - 5:30pm

Annual Celenbration of SMPD Biotech, Sunday, June 21st
on the Admiral Hornblower Yacht, Pier 1, Hornblower Landing, 1800 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.  
Scholars & Mentors, you’re already on the guest list and do not need to rsvp. Boarding begins at 5:30pm The ship will depart promptly at 6pm.  

SMDP Biotech Training Session Day 2, Monday, June 22nd
at The Lane, 900 Bayfront Ct, San Diego, CA 92101
Scholars and Mentors will attend this in-person training 7am - 1pm.

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 evalerio@icpdprograms.org indicating that you would like to attend BIO. Your registration information will be provided ahead of the SMDP Biotech 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 scholars@smdpnetwork.org 

Have a question
Contact scholars@smdpnetwork.org