Education and Workforce Development Projects

The bioindustrial manufacturing sector is poised for significant growth in the coming decade and will need a trained and prepared workforce. BioMADE is building the workforce of the future by working with K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and professional development organizations.

Photo above © Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Professional Development

Projects that keep the expanding workforce on the cutting-edge of skills and knowledge.

Active Projects

  • BioMADE and Delgado Community College are developing pioneering new industry-driven curricula for bioindustrial manufacturing that will build the technical workforce needed to support this growing sector. Learn more here.

    Members: BioMADE, Delgado Community College

  • This project will develop an apprenticeship training program for biomanufacturing operators in a pilot plant environment. This work will result in trained apprentices and a blueprint to translate the apprenticeship program to other facilities across the U.S. Learn more here.

    Members: Manus, University of Georgia

  • Industry and education leaders will partner to develop BioSuiteVR, a virtual reality (VR) training platform that will deliver impactful and efficient training for bioindustrial manufacturing. Trainees will be placed in an immersive VR environment featuring fully functioning bioindustrial manufacturing equipment. Learn more here.

    Members: GraspXR, XpeRience Science, and BioSciences Core Skills Institute

  • This project is launching a pilot-scale biomanufacturing education and workforce development program. Using Dakota BioWorx’s state-of-the art pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility, students will learn at a scale that represents full-scale modern biomanufacturing operations rather than lab-scale techniques. Learn more here.

    Members: Dakota BioWorx, South Dakota Biotech 

  • By working with multiple community colleges in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, this project will provide comprehensive career preparation through personalized industry mentorship, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and company tours. Learn more here.

    Members: Biocom California Institute, Ohlone College, Skyline College 

Completed Projects

  • The ALAKAʻI project established a Hawaiian bioeconomy academy to develop industry-relevant training for delivery in Hawaiʻi and across the United States. Learn more here.

    Members: University of Hawai‘i, Hilo and National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center

  • This project raised awareness of BioMADE, current and emerging career opportunities, and the social and global impact that bioindustrial manufacturing can bring – to individuals, to educational institutions, to the national economy, and to our overall quality of life. Learn more here.

    Members: STEMconnector, University of California, Davis

  • This project created a Biosecurity Sequence Screening Training Course for Bioengineers that will increase awareness of the proactive safety measures needed to sustainably grow the bioindustrial manufacturing sector. Learn more here.

    Members: Signature Science, Rice University, Aclid

  • Through this project, BioMADE established new career pathways in bioindustrial manufacturing, including hands-on job training programs that were piloted in northern California. The project included mentorship programs, first-of-its-kind Warfighter-to-Scientist Workshops, and professional development workshops. Combined, these programs responded to regional and national needs for a pipeline of workers trained in bioindustrial manufacturing and served nearly 125 participants. Learn more here.

    Organization: BioMADE

© University of Georgia

Community Colleges and Universities

Projects that bridge the gap between postsecondary education and industry needs.

Active Projects

  • A new Biomanufacturing Project Management Certificate Program created by this project will help create a resilient workforce skilled at both guiding diverse teams and fostering innovation in biomanufacturing. Learn more here.

    Members: Binghamton University and National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center

  • This project is establishing a comprehensive career pathway to equip traditional and non-traditional high school and college students with the skills necessary to succeed in the bioindustrial manufacturing industry. Learn more here.

    Members: East Tennessee State University, Niswonger Foundation

  • This project 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. Learn more here.

    Member: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

  • NC BioMISSION's core objectives include partnering with industry leaders to build a robust curriculum; launching a flexible undergraduate certificate program; providing a capstone industry experience; and integrating data analytics, data science, and machine learning. Learn more here.

    Member: University of North Carolina, Greensboro 

  • This project will expand, implement, and publicly share a scalable biomanufacturing training model to prepare thousands of undergraduate students for careers in the bioindustrial manufacturing economy. Learn more here.

    Members: University of California, Davis, MiraCosta College, Modesto Junior College

Completed Projects

  • Through BioMADE’s first Academic Challenge, teams of undergraduate students from universities and community colleges worked together to propose, design, and explore solutions for biomanufactured production of food ingredients. Learn more here.

    Organization: BioMADE

  • Through this project, University of Georgia and Albany State University created instructions and training modules for a Do-It-Yourself bioreactor made with off-the-shelf parts. Learn more here.

    Members: University of Georgia and Albany State University

  • Through this project, a team of experts at the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University created a unique course that provides a comprehensive introduction to biomanufacturing and its role in the industrial biotechnology landscape. Learn more here.

    Member: North Carolina State University

  • This project raised awareness of biomanufacturing job opportunities by introducing students to biomanufacturing during their freshman year of college. Members can access the course syllabus, curriculum, and the micro-credentials skills list and learn more here.

    Members: University of Texas, Austin, Austin Community College

  • This project helped build a clear pathway for students to enter careers in biomanufacturing, starting in middle school and high school, and continuing into Utah’s public colleges and universities. Learn more here.

    Members: Utah STEM Foundation, Talent Ready Utah, Checkerspot, Technology Holding, Utah Valley University, Salt Lake Community College

© BlueHalo

K-12 Education

Projects that expose students to biotechnology tools and their real-world applications.

Active Projects

Stay tuned!

Completed Projects

  • Forty Dayton, OH-area students participated in this unique summer camp experience to introduce students to the basics of biotechnology and biomanufacturing, explore education and career opportunities, and bridge the gap between current curricula and industry-relevant skills. Learn more here.

    Members: UES, Inc. and BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute

  • 285 students from 11 states around the country built foundational skills and competencies needed for a career in biotechnology and bioindustrial manufacturing. Learn more here.

    Members: BioBuilder, Ars BioTechnica, East Tennessee State University, Daicel Arbor Biosciences

  • Through immersive, hands-on experiences with cutting-edge nanotechnology, participants of this course – mostly educators and veterans – were introduced to DNA sequencing, the power of microbes, regenerative farming, and more. Learn more here.

    Members: University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Forsyth Technical Community College, Genome Insights

  • Through this project, member BioBuilder enhanced, refined, and finalized a “biotechnology-in-a-box" curriculum that prepares high school students to enter the bioindustrial manufacturing workforce. Learn more here.

    Members: BioBuilder, Worcester Public Schools, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Twist Bioscience