Bringing soul to science: the evolution of the life science workplace

The life sciences industry is undergoing transformation. The industry is centred around precision and technical performance, but the criterion for performance is widening and research organisations are beginning to ask deeper questions about what makes people thrive at work. The conversation has expanded beyond laboratory design and safety protocols to encompass experience, belonging and wellbeing.

At the same time, the pressure to innovate faster, collaborate across disciplines and attract world-class talent is intensifying. As hybrid work reshapes expectations, the most forward-thinking life science companies are reimagining their environments to support both scientific discovery and human potential.

These themes will take centre stage at the WORKTECH Life Science conference in Boston on Thursday 6 November 2025, which brings together workplace strategists, designers, technologists, and R&D leaders to explore the future of research environments. The event will examine how life science workplaces can blend scientific precision with emotional intelligence, which is an idea that is exemplified by Pfizer’s new workplace initiative, Project Soulful.

Ahead of the event, WORKTECH Academy interviewed Lee-Jung Kim, Pfizer’s Global Design and Change Management Lead, who will be speaking at the conference.

Connecting space with people

As a former engineer turned human-centred design expert, Kim has made it her mission to bring emotional depth into one of the world’s most science-driven organisations. Her latest initiative, ‘Project Soulful’, signals a shift in how Pfizer thinks about the workplace, not just as a productive environment, but as a living space that connects to human emotion.

At the heart of Project Soulful is the deceptively simple idea that the energy of a workplace isn’t created by infrastructure, but by people. The aim of the concept is to design spaces that are ‘soulful’ and give people permission to explore, reflect and feel at work.

From knowledge to wisdom

To achieve that, Kim’s team started to engage colleagues by conducting a series of deep empathy interviews. Through this, the team uncovered the subtler dimensions of how people experience work and space and where and how our feelings are shaped and shared. One of the key findings from the initial research was that employees weren’t necessarily craving more knowledge, they were seeking ‘wisdom’. As Kim explains, ‘Knowledge is something you can get from books and internet and even through conferences. Wisdom comes from other people’s lived experiences.’ Wisdom is shaped, shared, lived and deeply human.

Co-created approach

From these conversations, a new design concept began to take shape based on blending efficiency with energy levels or ‘vibe’. The concept is called ‘Metamorphosis Space’ – an environment inspired by nature’s own rhythms of transformation. Mimicking organic forms, these areas are designed for focus, contemplation and quiet concentration and they invite employees to pause and reconnect.

Metamorphasis space, Pfizer, Costa Rica office

Crucially, Project Soulful is a co-creation effort. Pfizer colleagues are not passive recipients of a design vision; they are co-authors of it. Each pilot space is shaped through workshops and dialogue to ensure it reflects local culture and collective values. Success, Kim says, will be measured not only in utilisation rates but in how much employees feel a sense of belonging and ownership over the space.

In an era when many organisations are still struggling to balance efficiency with empathy, Pfizer’s approach with Project Soulful offers a fresh model for what a human-centred workplace can be.

Find out more about Project Soulful and other world-class class studies of life science workplaces at the upcoming WORKTECH Boston conference.