How To Grow (Almost) Anything: A National Network for Enabling and Scaling EWD in Biomanufacturing 

Member: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Project dates: 2026 – present

This project will train the next generation of bioindustrial manufacturing talent by building on MIT and Harvard’s synthetic biology course “How To Grow (Almost) Anything” (HTGAA). Members will create and implement a custom curriculum that will include hands-on lab modules, weekly lectures and recitations, and individual and network-wide final projects that reflect current and emerging needs in the bioindustrial manufacturing sector. The curriculum will be informed by an Industry Council.  

This project combines industry-driven curriculum design with a distributed, national network model. The project will launch eight regional “HTGAA nodes” across the East, South, Midwest, and West regions, including academic institutions and nonprofit community biology laboratories. These nodes will serve as local hubs for both in-person and virtual learners, making cutting-edge bioindustrial manufacturing education accessible to students from varied backgrounds and geographies. 

In addition to the curriculum, the project will design and launch the HTGAA Careers Program, connecting HTGAA students, alumni, and teaching assistants to mentorship, internships, apprenticeships, and other career opportunities through the Industry Council. The program will culminate in a national Showcase and regional in-person Career Days, where students will present their work and engage directly with industry leaders and local community groups. 

This initiative will create open-source educational content and a replicable model for workforce development in bioindustrial manufacturing. By working closely with industry partners and prioritizing accessibility and scale, the project will help grow a skilled and inclusive talent pipeline to meet the U.S. bioeconomy’s projected demand of 1.1 million new workers by 2030. 

Members will be able to access curriculum content, student portfolios, and other sharable resources. 

Funding source: U.S. Department of Defense