Pipelines and Pipets: Biotechnician Training and Undergraduate Research

该项目正在建立一个新的生物技术学位选项和一个新的生物技术证书，以满足生命科学、相关健康和生物技术行业对更高技能、入门级实验室技术人员的需求，并正在与行业合作伙伴和行业协会密切合作，制定这些计划。新的生物技术学位选择和生物技术证书旨在纳入相关的、真实的实验室技术应用，这些技术是生物技术人员所需的技能。正在开发的课程具有足够的严谨性，也可以为四年制课程提供转学分。智力优势：早期本科研究已被证明可以提高科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科的留存率和学术成就，以及劳动力竞争力；然而，由于缺乏机构能力或社区学院学生普遍存在的资金和时间限制，该项目目标社区学院的学生在获得这些经验方面往往处于不利地位。为了弥补这一差距，该学院正在将为支持该项目而开发的课程，以及现有的科学和数学课程，与探究式学习方法和实验室练习等研究相结合，以促进生物技术研究和其他STEM学科的成功。该学院还为学生创造了新的机会，让他们参与工作场所的实习和校园暑期研究，提供更密集的体验并培养实用技能。教师的专业发展提高了将探究性学习融入科学和数学课程的教学能力。购买行业标准设备提供必要的实验室配置，以交付生物技术计划并培养学生所需的行业能力。为支持这些方案而开发的新课程和整个科学和数学部振兴的课程都是以类似研究的经验为基础的，这些经验提供了一种手段，使学生能够以一种帮助他们在学术上取得成功的方式参与学习，并向他们传授真正全面的技术培训所需的科学探究技能。更广泛的影响：这个本科生研究项目是其他社区大学的典范，这些大学在向生物技术和STEM学生提供研究驱动的教育方面也面临着类似的挑战。为了确保该项目产生更广泛的影响，学院制定了一项全面的传播计划，向地方、地区和国家层面的利益相关者通报与该倡议相关的成果。区域和州分配渠道包括社区学院和州立大学联合体的成员资格，这些联盟的既定目标是在机构之间和同事之间分享经验和推广最佳做法。作为马萨诸塞州州长STEM咨询委员会对提高理科专业留校率、毕业率和转校率的示范项目认可的获得者，该学院拥有既定的资质和来自相关当局的支持，以确保该项目的调查结果被英联邦各地的机构听取和注意。在国家层面上，该计划将通过诸如年度NSF ATE会议和ATE Central等可访问的渠道来宣传这些发现，并寻求通过在学术会议上发表演讲和张贴海报来展示这些发现的机会。

This project is establishing a new biotechnology degree option and a new biotechnology certificate to respond to life science, allied health and biotechnology industry needs for more highly skilled, entry level laboratory technicians and is working closely with industry partners and industry associations to develop these programs. The new biotechnology degree option and biotechnology certificate are designed to incorporate relevant, real world applications of laboratory techniques that are required skills for biotechnicians. The courses being developed have sufficient rigor to also offer transfer credit to a four-year program.Intellectual Merit: Early undergraduate research has been shown to improve retention and academic success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and workforce competitiveness; however, the community college students this project targets are often at a disadvantage in gaining these experiences due to lack of institutional capacity or financial and time constraints common among students at community colleges. To overcome this gap, the college is infusing courses developed in support of this project, along with existing science and mathematics curriculum, with inquiry-based learning methodologies and research like laboratory exercises that promote success in biotechnology studies and other STEM disciplines. The college is also creating new opportunities for students to engage in workplace internships and on campus summer research that provide more intensive experiences and build practical skills. Professional development for faculty enhances teaching capacity to integrate inquiry based learning into science and mathematics curriculum. Acquisition of industry standard equipment provides the laboratory configuration necessary to deliver the biotechnology programs and develop industry required competencies in students. New courses developed in support of these programs and revitalized curricula throughout the Division of Science and Mathematics are grounded in research-like experiences that provide a means to engage students in learning in a way that helps them to be academically successful and teaches them the scientific inquiry skills needed for a truly comprehensive technical training. Broader Impact: This undergraduate research program is a model for other community colleges that are similarly challenged to provide research driven education to biotechnology and STEM students. To ensure the broader impact of the project, the college has developed a thorough dissemination plan to inform stakeholders at the local, regional, and national level on outcomes related to this initiative. Regional and state distribution channels include membership in consortia of community colleges and state universities that have the established goals of sharing experiences and promoting best practices between institutions and among colleagues. As the recipient of a model program endorsement from the Massachusetts Governor's STEM Advisory Council for its work in improving retention, graduation, and transfer rates among science majors, the college has the established credentials and support from appropriate authorities to ensure that findings from this project are both heard and heeded by institutions across the Commonwealth. On a national level, the plan is to promote the findings through accessible channels such as the annual NSF ATE conference and ATE Central, as well as seek opportunities to present findings through presentations and posters at academic conferences.