Developing a Biotechnology Degree Program to Train Skilled Biotechnicians in Chicago

该项目旨在帮助满足芝加哥地区对生物技术人员日益增长的需求。 生物技术的工业应用范围从农业到制造业。 它也是此类应用所需的基础研究开发的重要工具。对生物技术人员的需求在全国范围内不断增长，这些工作的工资高于平均工资。无论其具体用途如何，生物技术的工作涉及共同的实验室设备，技术和监管记录保存。 因此，经过培训的生物技术人员可以很容易地在不同的应用领域进行转移，例如从基础研究到生物燃料制造。 与许多其他STEM领域一样，生物技术劳动力缺乏多样性。然而，多样化的员工队伍是一种可以改善问题解决和创新的资产。 因此，除了增加训练有素的生物技术人员的人数外，该项目还着重于扩大对生物技术的参与，该项目由肯尼迪国王学院牵头，该学院是芝加哥最贫困的城市地区之一，主要由黑人组成。该项目的主要目标是开发一个新的生物技术副学士学位课程。 该学位课程将使学生获得区域产业所需的生物技术技能。为此，项目小组将与行业咨询理事会合作，调整和更新现有课程，使其更好地符合行业标准。该咨询理事会还将帮助教师了解行业需求，并为学生提供实习机会。研究表明，以课程为基础的本科研究经验可以提高科学思维，科学身份和解决问题的能力。 因此，项目团队将开发一个基于课程的本科生研究经验，在普通生物学，在生物技术计划的基础课程。主动学习方法将被纳入该计划的课程。项目团队还将与当地高中顾问合作，开发生物技术职业途径图和咨询工具，以提高高中生对生物技术的兴趣。此外，肯尼迪国王学院将为高中生举办一年一度的生物技术职业日。为了帮助从生物技术尚未得到公平代表的社区招收学生，项目小组将为高中生建立一个暑期生物技术项目。项目评估的结果将告知行业和教育利益相关者如何有效地修改和扩展现有基础，以减少全面部署新学位所需的时间和费用。 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。

This project aims to help fill the growing demand for biotechnicians in the Chicago area. Biotechnology has industrial applications that range from agriculture to manufacturing. It is also a crucial tool in the basic research development needed for such applications. The demand for biotechnicians is growing across the nation and these jobs pay higher than average wages. Regardless of its specific uses, the work of biotechnology involves common laboratory equipment, techniques, and regulatory record keeping. As a result, trained biotechnicians can readily transfer across different application areas, for example from basic research to biofuel manufacturing. As in many other STEM fields, the biotechnology workforce lacks diversity. However, a diverse workforce is an asset that can improve problem-solving and innovation. Consequently, in addition to increasing the number of trained biotechnicians, this project also focuses on broadening participation in biotechnology.The project is led by Kennedy King College, a primarily Black institution in one of the most impoverished urban areas of Chicago. The project’s major goal is to develop a new associate degree program in Biotechnology. This degree program will enable students to gain biotechnology skills that are needed by regional industries. To this end, the project team will work with an industry advisory council to adapt and update existing courses to better align with industry standards. This advisory council will also help faculty remain current about industry needs, as well as provide students with internship opportunities. Research shows that course-based undergraduate research experiences can improve scientific thinking, scientific identity, and problem-solving skills. Therefore, the project team will develop a course-based undergraduate research experience in General Biology, a foundational course in the biotechnology program. Active learning pedagogies will be incorporated into courses within the program. The project team will also partner with local high school advisors to develop a biotechnology career pathway map and advisory tools to increase high school student interest in biotechnology. In addition, Kennedy King College will host an annual Biotechnology Career Day for high school students. To help recruit students from communities that are not yet equitably represented in biotechnology, the project team will establish a summer biotechnology program for high school students. Results from project evaluation will inform industry and education stakeholders about how to effectively modify and expand an existing foundation to decrease the time and expense needed to fully deploy a new degree. 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.