Founded on April 17th, 2023, BPX has since grown into a close-knit, professional community dedicated to immersing students in biotech and pharmaceutical industries in just a few short semesters.

“As underclassmen, we weren’t satisfied with the extracurriculars available for students interested in the industry side of the life sciences. Integrating our backgrounds in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, BPX was born. Modeled after other professional societies at USC, we envisioned a close-knit, interdisciplinary community of like-minded students who aspired to be leaders, innovators, researchers, and creators in their respective sectors. These ideals were embodied in our core pillars: Cultivation, Connection, and Progression, such that our members would be best prepared for the future with a strong network, professional development, and a project portfolio reflective of their interests. In addition to our focus on professional growth, BPX is also deeply committed to fostering a strong sense of community, creating a space where members can build lasting friendships, collaborate, and enjoy a supportive social environment. Since then, BPX has grown and overtaken the life sciences niche at USC, and we’ve even expanded nationally. BPX has become a community and home for students in biopharma, business, tech, and beyond.” - Kenny Phung and Ky Duong ‘25, founding members of BPX

Meet The Founding Members

  • Andre Rodrigues

    B.S. Physics, M.S. Computer Science
    Graduated 2025

  • Ashley Nguyen

    B.S. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, M.S. Public Health
    Graduated 2025

  • Grace Farley

    B.S. Pharmacology and Drug Development, Minor in Dance
    Graduated 2025

  • Jake Haviland

    B.S. International Relations and Global Economics, Minor in Business Finance
    Graduated 2025

  • Joseph Kim

    B.S. Quantitative Biology, M.S. Applied Data Science
    Graduated 2025

  • Julia Baerenstecher

    B.S. Biological Sciences, Minor in AI Applications
    Graduating 2026

  • Kenneth Phung

    B.S. in Biological Sciences (Biotechnology)
    Graduated 2025

  • Ky Duong

    B.S. Pharmacology and Drug Development, M.S. Management of Drug Development
    Graduated 2025

  • Rich Qian

    B.S. Biological Sciences (Biotechnology), Minor in Healthcare Studies
    Graduated 2025

  • Shannon Uppal

    B.S. Health and Human Sciences, Minor in Forensics and Criminality
    Graduated 2025