Integrating Biotechnology and Applied Engineering to Meet Emerging Advanced Technological Workforce Needs

北卡罗来纳州东部快速发展的生物制造业对熟练技术人员的需求不断增长。 例如，在未来八年内，诺和诺德计划投资18亿美元建立一个生产设施，并雇用800名员工，其中约500名将是维护和工艺技术人员。此外，Grifols还计划投资3.75亿美元用于生产设施升级，并计划雇用约500名技术人员。该项目将通过将应用工程和生物技术的概念和技能融入两个现有的应用科学副学士课程来帮助满足这些劳动力需求。 为此，将与两家生物制造公司密切合作开发四个新课程。 这些课程将应用工程主题整合到生物工艺技术AAS程序和生物技术主题到应用工程AAS程序。 此外，这两个AAS计划将通过增加行业标准DeltaV分布式控制系统软件的认证来增强。 在项目结束时，预计第一批约15名学生将完成生物技术/应用工程课程，完成实习，并准备作为生物制造技术人员工作。 大约75%的所有北卡罗来纳州的生物制造都位于一个小时的中央约翰斯顿社区学院校园，使学院成为这个项目的理想地点。 因此，该项目有可能直接促进国家对训练有素的高级技术劳动力的需求。该项目将追求三个目标：1）开发和实施一个新的课程，将生物制造和应用工程相结合; 2）开发一个从大学到工业的多技能人才管道;和3）在学院的劳动力发展中心的模拟毒品制造环境中提供实践教育。 在两家当地生物制造公司的支持下，该设施将通过额外的自动化机械和更新的设计来增强，以创建使用DeltaV行业软件控制设备模拟药物生产的学习环境，类似于现代生物制造设施。在应用工程轨道的学生将学习故障排除和维修这些设施中的生产设备，生物加工技术轨道的学生将学习通过监测生产过程中的pH值，温度和药物浓度等条件来制造生命科学产品。通过在这种环境中练习，学生将获得更好的机械和生物技术技能。项目协调员将为学生提供职业指导，参与高中生的外联活动，并与行业合作开发实习机会，以确保项目完成后的就业。 通过融合应用工程和生物制造，该项目可以提供一个可转移的模型，以更好地为学生准备在现代生物制造技术岗位。 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 rapidly expanding biomanufacturing industries in eastern North Carolina have a growing need for skilled technicians. For example, over the next eight years, Novo Nordisk plans to invest in a $1.8 billion production facility and to hire 800 employees, approximately 500 of whom will be maintenance and process technicians. In addition, Grifols plans to invest $375 million in production facility upgrades and plans to hire approximately 500 technicians. This project will help meet these workforce needs by blending concepts and skills of applied engineering and biotechnology into two existing Associate of Applied Science programs. To this end, four new courses will be developed in close partnership with two biomanufacturing companies. These courses will integrate applied engineering topics into the Bioprocess Technology AAS program and biotechnology topics into the Applied Engineering AAS program. In addition, both AAS programs will be enhanced by the addition of certification in the industry-standard DeltaV distributed control system software. At project conclusion, it is expected that the first cohort of approximately 15 students will have completed the biotechnology/applied engineering programs, completed internships, and be ready for work as biomanufacturing technicians. Approximately 75% of all of North Carolina's biomanufacturing is located with one hour of the central Johnston Community College campus, making the College an ideal location for this project. Thus, this project has the potential to directly contribute to the national need for a highly-trained advanced technical workforce.The project will pursue three goals: 1) develop and implement a new curriculum that integrates biomanufacturing and applied engineering; 2) develop a multi-skilled talent pipeline from college to industry; and 3) provide hands-on education in a simulated drug manufacturing environment at the College's Workforce Development Center. With support from two local biomanufacturing companies, this facility will be enhanced with additional automated machinery and an updated design to create learning environment that simulates drug production using DeltaV industry software to control equipment, similar to that of a modern biomanufacturing facility. Students on the Applied Engineering track will learn to troubleshoot and repair production equipment in these facilities, and students on the Bioprocessing Technology track will learn to manufacture life science products by monitoring conditions such as pH, temperature, and drug concentration during production. By practicing in this environment, students will gain better skills in mechanical and biological techniques. The project coordinator will provide students with career coaching, engage in outreach to high school students, and work with industries to develop internship opportunities that will ensure employment upon program completion. By blending applied engineering and biomanufacturing, this project could provide a transferable model to better prepare students for skilled technical positions in modern biomanufacturing. 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.