Beginnings: Experiential Learning for Emerging Biotechnology Careers

生物技术是一个新兴和迅速发展的领域，对训练有素的入门级职位的需求很高。随着该领域的不断扩大，训练有素的生物技术工作者填补高薪工作的短缺只会加剧，除非为个人进入生物技术劳动力建立新的途径。该项目将通过创新和身临其境的体验，吸引来自生物技术领域社区学院的非传统学生，来发展和多样化这支劳动力队伍。与大型研究密集型机构的同龄人相比，社区学院的学生在获得体验式学习机会方面处于劣势，但我们国家不断发展的生物技术产业的成功取决于熟练的劳动力。该项目将帮助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、高等教育和非营利研究与培训机构之间建立了创新的合作伙伴关系，为解决未来生物技术挑战的多元化劳动力铺平了道路。攻读副学士学位和可叠加证书的学生是理想的潜在劳动力，有助于满足对熟练生物技术工人日益增长的需求。体验式学习机会，如行业培训和实习，为这些学生提供了一个有效的生物技术职业生涯。该项目采用团队方法招募、准备、认证、指导和培训体验式学习路径的参与者。哈德森阿尔法生物技术研究所将与亚拉巴马社区学院系统、卡尔霍恩社区学院和德雷克州立社区技术学院合作招募参与者，并为参与者提供学位学分。HudsonAlpha将为生物技术助理资格考试（BACE）和认证提供基于实验室的培训和支持。北亚拉巴马的一个生物技术公司网络将为学员提供实习经验和指导。联合这些实体将进一步发展多元化，有竞争力的劳动力，为学生创造新的途径，了解生物技术的职业生涯，并参加应用学习计划，进入门槛更低。项目成果将深入了解为社区大学观众提供体验式学习的有效性，以及提供环绕式参与者支持如何影响学生在新兴技术领域的参与和坚持。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事会资助的NSF ExLENT计划保持一致，因为它旨在为来自不同专业和教育背景的个人提供体验式学习机会，以增加他们对以下内容的兴趣和访问：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进行评估，被认为值得支持和更广泛的影响审查标准。

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.