Scott Rapoport

Histocell

Professional background
‘I got a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. Then I received a master’s degree in Bioengineering and a PhD in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. To complete my academic training, I was awarded a postgraduate fellowship to join the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. My academic background and professional experience enabled me to work in biomaterials projects. On completing my postdoctoral studies, I got a job at Tengion, a company specialising in regenerative medicine based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I was working at Tengion when I got this job offer from Histocell.’

What decided you to come to Bizkaia?
‘Bizkaia is entering a very interesting phase. It is on its way to becoming a top biotech location. I thought about coming to Spain because the country is growing exponentially in the field of biotechnology. The Government of Spain and the Basque Government are fostering research because it is bound to have an impact on economic growth. I thought Bizkaia was an excellent choice.’

Relocation service
‘I find it difficult to tell what you feel when you arrive in a foreign country. Even without knowing the language, you need to adapt to your new environment. You must solve a number of questions such as finding a place to live, getting your ID, choosing a health service and deciding on the means of transport you will use. Bizkaia Talent helped me with all this. They provided all the information I needed and helped a lot. I would give them top rating and recommend their services to anyone coming from abroad.

Country of origin: USA