Beginnings: Experiential Learning for Emerging Biotechnology Careers

生物技术是一个新兴和快速发展的领域，对训练有素的入门级职位的需求量很大。除非为个人进入生物技术劳动力建立新的途径，否则受过培训的生物技术工作者填补高薪工作的短缺只会随着该领域的继续扩大而加剧。该项目将通过一种创新和身临其境的体验，吸引社区大学的非传统学生参与生物技术领域的工作，从而扩大和多样化这一劳动力。与大型研究密集型机构的同龄人相比，社区大学的学生在获得体验式学习机会方面处于劣势，但我国不断增长的生物技术行业的成功依赖于熟练的劳动力。这个项目将帮助来自两年制院校的学生获得宝贵的应用学习和专业技能，为他们在工业实验室的职业生涯做好准备。该项目在工业界、专上教育和一家非营利性研究和培训机构之间建立了创新的合作伙伴关系，为建立一支多元化的劳动力队伍铺平道路，以应对未来的生物技术挑战。攻读副学士学位和可堆叠证书的学生是理想的未来劳动力，以帮助满足对熟练生物技术工人日益增长的需求。针对行业的培训和实习等体验式学习机会为这些学生提供了进入生物技术职业生涯的有效途径。该项目使用团队方法来招募、准备、认证、指导和培训体验学习路径中的参与者。哈德逊·阿尔法生物技术研究所将与阿拉巴马州社区学院系统、卡尔霍恩社区学院和德雷克州立社区与技术学院合作，招募参与者并为参与者提供学位积分。HudsonAlpha将为生物技师助理认证考试(BACE)和认证提供基于实验室的培训和支持。北阿拉巴马州的生物技术公司网络将为学员提供实习经验和指导。联合这些实体将为学生创造新的途径，让他们了解生物技术职业生涯，并参与门槛更低的应用学习计划，从而进一步发展一支多样化、有竞争力的劳动力队伍。项目成果将深入了解为社区大学受众提供体验式学习的有效性，以及提供全方位参与者支持如何影响学生在新兴技术领域的参与度和持久性。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事资助的NSF ExLENT计划保持一致，因为它寻求支持来自不同专业和教育背景的个人的体验式学习机会，以增加他们对新兴技术领域的兴趣和获得职业道路的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Biotechnology is an emerging and rapidly developing field with high unmet demand for well-trained entry-level positions. The shortage of trained biotechnology workers to fill well-paid jobs will only be exacerbated as the field continues to expand unless new pathways are established for individuals to enter the biotech workforce. This project will grow and diversify this workforce through an innovative and immersive experience that engages non-traditional students from community colleges in the field of biotechnology. Compared to peers at larger research-intensive institutions, students from community colleges are at a disadvantage in securing experiential learning opportunities, yet the success of our nation’s growing biotechnology industry depends upon a skilled workforce. This project will help students from two-year institutions gain invaluable applied learning and professional skills, preparing them for careers in industry laboratories. This project builds an innovative partnership between industry, post-secondary education, and a non-profit research and training institute to pave the way for a diverse workforce equipped to solve tomorrow’s biotechnology challenges.Students pursuing associate degrees and stackable certificates are an ideal prospective workforce to help meet the growing demand for skilled biotechnology workers. Experiential learning opportunities such as industry-aligned training and internships provide these students an efficient on-ramp to a career in biotechnology. This project utilizes a team approach to recruit, prepare, certify, mentor, and train participants in an experiential learning path. HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will work with the Alabama Community College System, Calhoun Community College, and Drake State Community & Technical College to recruit participants and provide degree credit for participation. HudsonAlpha will provide laboratory-based training and support for the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE) and certification. A network of biotechnology companies in North Alabama will provide trainees with internship experiences and mentorship. Uniting these entities will further the development of a diverse, competitive workforce by creating new pathways for students to learn about biotechnology careers and participate in an applied learning program with fewer barriers to entry. Project outcomes will give insight into the effectiveness of offering experiential learning for a community college audience and how the provision of wrap-around participant support can impact student participation and persistence in emerging technology fields. This project aligns with the NSF ExLENT Program, funded by the NSF TIP and EDU Directorates, as it seeks to support experiential learning opportunities for individuals from diverse professional and educational backgrounds to increase their interest in, and their access to, career pathways in emerging technology fields.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.