Expanding the Biotechnology Pipeline to Adults Seeking Reemployment

加州生物科学部门雇佣了30多万名熟练技术人员，以及至少60万名相关工人。尽管大流行对该州的许多企业产生了负面影响，但生物科学部门仍在继续扩大，包括开发、测试、治疗和预防COVID-19感染的努力。洛杉矶使命学院的这个项目侧重于两个紧迫的需求：由于大流行，行业对生物技术实验室助理和技术人员的迫切需求，以及许多失业人员寻找新的可持续就业机会的需求。在过去十年中，对生物技术工作者的需求一直在增长，而大流行导致的对实验室技术人员、实验室助理和生物技术人员的需求只会扩大这种需求。与此同时，由于经济和社会条件的变化，失业率和工作不安全感的增加，使流离失所的工人寻求不同的、更可持续的就业选择。该项目旨在为这些人提供获得生物技术认证的途径。该项目重点关注退伍军人和来自STEM中代表性不足的社区的个人，旨在为高需求、高增长的行业提供就业机会，增加人才库。该项目将调整现有的生物技术证书和副学士学位课程，并为这些课程提供新的支持，专门为重新进入的成人学习者提供支持。新的支持将包括一个通往生物技术的桥梁讲习班，旨在加强在科学课程中取得成功所需的学术技能，以及一个通往就业的桥梁讲习班，为学生在该行业的就业做好准备。现有的支持，如辅导、咨询、就业准备服务和行业实习将被修改，以帮助成年学生更快地进入职场，同时在此过程中获得行业认可的证书。该项目还将进行研究和评估，以确定具体的途径、策略和活动如何影响参与者成功完成项目并在生物技术行业就业。研究结果有望提高人们对如何对成年人进行再培训并帮助他们在生物技术行业找到工作的认识。该项目的调查结果将分发给全国读者，以协助其他组织为寻求再就业的成年人创造通往技术职业的途径。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。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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 California bioscience sector employs more 300,000 skilled technicians, as well as at least an additional 600,000 related workers. Though the pandemic has negatively impacted many businesses across the state, the bioscience sector continues to expand, including efforts to develop, test, treat, and prevent COVID-19 infection. This project at Los Angeles Mission College focuses on two pressing needs: the acute industry demand for biotechnology lab assistants and technicians due to the pandemic, and the need of many individuals who lost their jobs to find new, sustainable employment. The demand for biotechnology workers has been growing for the past ten years, and the pandemic-driven demand for lab technicians, lab assistants and biotechnology technicians has only amplified it. At the same time, increased unemployment and job insecurity due to changing economic and social conditions are making displaced workers seek different, more sustainable employment options. The project aims to create a pathway for these individuals into biotechnology certification. With a focus on inclusion of veterans and individuals from communities that are underrepresented in STEM, the project aims to provide employment opportunities and increase the talent pool for a high demand, high growth sector.The project will adapt the existing biotechnology certificates and Associate of Science degree programs and supplement these programs with new supports specifically to serve re-entering adult learners. The new supports will include a Bridge to Biotech workshop aimed at strengthening academic skills needed to succeed in science courses, and a Bridge to Employment workshop that prepares students for employment in the industry. Existing supports, such as tutoring, counseling, job readiness services, and industry internships will be modified to help adult students enter the workplace more quickly, while earning industry-recognized certifications along the way. The project will also conduct research and evaluation to determine how specific pathways, strategies, and activities affect participants’ success in completing the program and obtaining employment in biotechnology industry. The results are expected to increase knowledge about what works in retraining adults and helping them secure employment in the biotechnology industry. The project findings will be disseminated to a national audience to assist other organizations in creating pathways to technology careers for adults seeking reemployment. The 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.