Developing a Highly Capable Biomanufacturing Technical Workforce in South Texas

德克萨斯州以合同为基础制造生物制品的公司的增长创造了当地和地区的劳动力需求。该项目建议通过开发高级生物制造证书和培训熟练和多样化的生物制造技术劳动力来服务于这个不断增长的生物制药制造行业。新证书的设计将包括互动和探究式实验室学习，并为学生提供生物技术/生物制造设备的真实世界经验。该项目还将实施新的招聘和保留战略，并为教育工作者提供与新证书相关的专业发展。该证书预计将服务于两年制大学生和高中生，以及影响大学教师和行业合作伙伴。该项目旨在为代表性不足的群体提供平等的机会，获得成功的生物制造职业，包括女性学生、西班牙裔学生和/或第一代大学生。该项目涉及德尔玛学院和德克萨斯农工大学的合作。该项目的技术优势包括建立并纳入实操、教师指导的培训模块，涵盖生物工艺操作、生物制品、疫苗、质量控制系统的上游和下游制造以及法规遵从性。该项目的目标包括：(1)通过应用行业培训和实验室轮换来改善学生的学习；(2)将严格和改进的生物制造课程制度化，以便在德尔玛学院产生长期影响，并作为其他机构的榜样；以及(3)通过与德克萨斯农工大学的密切合作，增加德尔玛学院新的生物技术项目的深度。该项目包括评估和评价项目活动的效果，从而增加了对STEM学生职业成功所必需的因素的了解。该项目将通过在线媒体和在国家会议上的发言进行传播。该项目旨在通过为学生提供新的教育和职业途径来造福社会，特别是为那些来自生物制造业尚未公平代表的群体的学生提供新的教育和职业途径。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注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优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The growth of Texas companies that manufacture biological products on a contract basis has created a local and regional workforce need. This project proposes to serve this growing biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry by developing an advanced biomanufacturing certificate and educating a skilled and diverse biomanufacturing technical workforce. The new certificate will be designed to incorporate interactive and inquiry-based laboratory learning and to provide students with real world experience with biotechnical/biomanufacturing equipment. The project will also implement new strategies for recruitment and retention and provide educators with professional development relevant to the new certificate. The certificate is expected to serve two-year college students and high school students, as well as impact university faculty and industry partners. The project aims to provide equitable access to successful biomanufacturing careers for under-represented groups, including students who are women, Hispanic, and/or first-generation college students.This project involves a collaboration between Del Mar College and Texas A & M University. The technical merit of the project includes building upon and incorporating hands-on, instructor-led training modules covering bioprocess operations, upstream and downstream manufacturing of biologics, vaccines, quality control systems, and regulatory compliance. The goals of the project include: (1) Improving student learning with applied industry training and laboratory rotations; (2) Institutionalizing a rigorous and improved biomanufacturing curriculum for long-term impact at Del Mar College and as a model for other institutions; and (3) Adding depth to the new Del Mar College biotechnology programs through strong collaborations with Texas A&M University. The project includes assessment and evaluation of the efficacy of project activities, thus adding to understanding of the factors necessary for student career success in STEM. The project will be disseminated through online media and presentations at national meetings. The project aims to benefit society by providing students with new educational and career pathways, particularly for students who are from groups that are not yet equitably represented in 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.