ARUP Laboratories Honored for Successful Returnship Program

ARUP Laboratories’ returnship program helps experienced professionals relaunch their careers and has earned recognition for the program’s impact. ARUP has received the Best of BioHive Returnship Champion of the Year award, which recognizes the company’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for professionals returning to the workforce.

The award was presented during a Thursday evening gala at The Depot in Salt Lake City that capped off the annual BioHive Live Conference.

Claire Adam, SPHR, and Rachel Lovato, MS, Human Resources (HR) senior business partners at ARUP, accepted the award. Both played key roles in implementing ARUP’s returnship program, which provides short-term, paid opportunities for professionals, including veterans, who are returning to work after having had an employment gap of at least one year.

Adam had tears in her eyes the day she learned ARUP would receive the award and later said the recognition was especially meaningful.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see employees thrive and make an impact,” Adam said. “Seeing the returnship program flourish and grow makes me proud of ARUP for supporting an initiative that also supports our community.”

ARUP launched its returnship program in 2024 and has welcomed 11 participants. To date, six have been hired into permanent positions, including Daniel Waeger, a graphic designer who took a professional break after becoming a father. Waeger previously worked in Germany and Australia and took on consulting projects before applying for the returnship.

“The diverse backgrounds and expertise at ARUP appealed to me,” he said. “I was given real work and projects, and I felt like I was contributing from day one.”

Janani Sankar, MS, also transitioned to a full-time role as a research associate with the ARUP Institute for Research and Innovation in Diagnostic and Precision Medicine™ after completing a returnship and described a similarly welcoming experience.

“I was included in meetings and discussions from the beginning, and the returnship taught me that my skills and experience were still valuable,” Sankar said. As her confidence grew, Sankar began championing the returnship program more broadly.

“The people at ARUP have been incredibly supportive, and now I have the opportunity to impact lives beyond my own,” Sankar said.

That impact on the individual and beyond is also what inspired ARUP to invest in the program. Tracy George, MD, ARUP’s chief scientific officer and Innovation Business Unit president, spearheaded the returnship program in collaboration with ARUP’s HR team and guidance from BioHive’s Women in Technology and Science (WITS) community, for which she serves as a board member. George said returners bring perspectives and strengths that benefit the entire organization.

“Whether they were caring for a child, supporting an aging parent, or serving our country, returners bring translatable skills and a wealth of knowledge,” George said. “Returnships are a win for the individual and a win for ARUP.”

George noted that ARUP’s program stands out because it supports professionals across the life sciences ecosystem, not only in scientific roles, but also in areas such as business development, finance, and marketing. BioHive’s Board of Directors and leadership cited this broad approach as one reason ARUP was selected for the award.

“Utah’s life sciences industry is growing faster than the workforce,” George said, “Returnships help us connect talented people with meaningful opportunities.”

Anyone interested in a returnship at ARUP can apply for an open position on this job board or submit an interest form to help HR customize opportunities for selected returnees and match them with an appropriate department.

Learn more about the returnship program.

Media, media@aruplab.com