Dual Credit High School-Community College DNA Sequencing and Genomics Project

美国生物技术行业对基于DNA测序技术的工作需求不断增加。美国DNA测序市场预计2020年为28亿美元，到2027年将增长到50亿美元，复合年增长率为16.6%。需要经过专门培训的生物技术人员来运行DNA测序仪器，以填补这一不断增长的部门的工作。德克萨斯州目前有63个DNA测序设施，其中60个位于这个劳动力教育项目的250英里范围内。为了满足行业对这一领域训练有素的技术人员的需求，奥斯汀社区学院将与奥斯汀独立学区文科和科学学院高中合作，开发DNA测序和基因组学设施。该项目将创建一个以工业和研究为基础的双学分（高中和社区学院）学术课程，重点是入门级生物技术培训的DNA测序技术。该项目旨在为代表性不足的少数民族学生提供公平的机会，使他们能够接受现实世界的劳动力培训。学生将学习实验室技术，拥有研究经验，发展工作技能，接受行业级仪器培训，并接触工业和学术界作为职业途径。 因此，项目团队预计该项目将为高中和两年制社区大学学生进入生物技术人员队伍奠定学术和技术基础。 该项目将通过提供行业级DNA测序技术，为两年制社区大学和双学分高中和生物技术学生提供基于研究的实践和现实世界的劳动力经验。该项目旨在通过建立校园工业和学术界指导的研究实习，提高传统上代表性不足的少数民族学生在生物技术培训计划中的招聘，保留和证书完成率。项目目标是：1）仪器行业级DNA测序技术的收购，以建立一个双学分，高中校园为基础的DNA测序和基因组学设施; 2）修改和更新奥斯汀社区学院生物技术一级证书课程，包括DNA测序和基因组技术仪器技术员的能力和机会，为真正的学生-由行业和学术合作伙伴指导的领导研究; 3）通过建立以DNA测序和基因组学研究为基础的行业和学术实习导师网络，为双学分高中生物技术学生增加招聘，保留，在STEM生物技术培训项目中，传统上代表性不足的少数民族学生的证书完成率;和4）的方法在InnovATEBIO国家中心成员网络内发展伙伴关系，以支持该社区的DNA测序和基因组学技术人员培训需求并广泛传播该项目的研究结果。该项目将让生物技术专业的学生参与真正的学生驱动的DNA测序研究，同时与生物技术行业的专业人士，高中教师，社区学院教师和大学研究人员合作。此外，该项目预计将在这一关键领域确立劳动力培训的最佳做法。 它将在全国范围内传播项目成果，作为其他高中和高等教育机构在DNA测序技术人员培训方面创建类似学术课程的可扩展模式。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The United States Biotechnology Industry has increasing demand for jobs based on DNA sequencing technology. The U.S. DNA sequencing market is estimated at $2.8 billion dollars for 2020 and on-track to grow to $5 billion by 2027, a compound annual growth rate of 16.6%. Biotechnicians with specialized training to run DNA sequencing instrumentation are needed to fill the jobs in this growing sector. Texas currently has 63 DNA sequencing facilities, 60 of which are located within 250 miles of this workforce education project. To fulfill industry needs for trained technicians in this field, Austin Community College will collaborate with the Austin Independent School District Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School to develop a DNA sequencing and genomics facility. The project will create an industry and research-based dual credit (high school and community college) academic program that focuses on DNA sequencing technology for entry-level biotechnician training. The project is designed to provide equitable access of underrepresented minority students to real-world workforce training. Students will learn laboratory techniques, have research experiences, develop job skills, receive industry-level instrumentation training, and be exposed to industry and academia as career pathways. As a result, the project team expects the project will lay the academic and technical foundation for high school and two-year community college students to enter the biotechnician workforce. The project will provide research-based, hands-on, and real-world workforce experience for two-year community college and dual credit high school and biotechnology students by providing access to industry-level DNA sequencing technology. The project aims to increase the recruitment, retention, and certificate completion rates for traditionally underrepresented minority students in biotechnician training programs by establishing on-campus industry and academia mentored research internships. Project goals are: 1) Instrumentation acquisition of industry-level DNA sequencing technologies to establish a dual credit, high school campus-based DNA sequencing and genomics facility; 2) Modifications and updates to course curricula for the Level-I Certificate in Biotechnology from Austin Community College to include DNA sequencing and genomics technology instrumentation technician competencies and opportunities for authentic student-led research mentored by industry and academic partners; 3) Program development through establishing a DNA sequencing and genomics research-based industry and academic internship mentor network for dual credit high school biotechnology students to increase the recruitment, retention, and certificate completion rates for traditionally underrepresented minority students in STEM biotechnician training programs; and 4) Development of partnerships within the InnovATEBIO National Center member network to support the DNA sequencing and genomics technician training needs of this community and to broadly disseminate the findings of this project. The project will engage biotechnology students in authentic student-driven DNA sequencing research while working with biotechnology industry professionals, high school teachers, community college faculty, and university researchers. Furthermore, the project expects to establish best practices in workforce training in this critical area. It will disseminate project outcomes nationally as a scalable model for other high school and higher education institutions looking to create similar academic programs in DNA sequencing technology technician training. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.