Building Connections to Meet Biotechnology Industry Demands through Technical Education

对熟练的生物科学实验室技术人员的需求日益增长，这对爱荷华州未来的经济成功至关重要。增加生物技术劳动力也被认为是影响美国经济和国家利益的重要因素。在接下来的十年中，对合格的入门级生物技术实验室技术人员的需求预计将继续增长。为了满足生物技术行业不断发展的需求，重要的是让高中生了解在这个学习领域为他们提供的许多机会。将高中生介绍到职业领域并让他们继续从事教育事业的最有效方法之一是与该行业的专业人士直接互动。得梅因地区社区学院(DMACC)的这个为期三年的项目将提供一个科学学院的机会，允许高中生通过课堂访问、招聘会和现场参观直接与生物技术行业专业人员互动，从而使学生接触到该领域内的许多职业选择。这种方法对于接触那些在生物技术领域追求职业的代表性不足的人群特别有效。此外，还将举办暑期讲习班，教育高中教师在课堂上使用生物技术方法和生物信息学。工作坊还将为教师提供机会，通过实地参观和与行业专业人士交谈来了解生物技术行业。除了高中外展活动外，还将建立一个商业和工业领导小组，以评估和修改DMACC的生物技术课程。该团队将确保完成AS/生物技术实验室方法证书的学生接受直接适用于生物技术入门职业的高质量实践技术培训，并确保学生发展教育基础，以支持他们在生物技术行业中未来的角色发展。作为DMACC生物技术计划课程更新的一部分，将开发一门入门科学计算课程，并将更新设备以符合行业标准。通过学院、研讨会和会议，让行业合作伙伴、中学和中学后教育工作者以及生物技术专业人员学习和参与不断增长的项目，旨在促进STEM劳动力的发展，并增加该领域机会的公平性。该项目的目标是增加进入生物技术劳动力途径的学生总数，并确保生物技术教育经验与行业需求保持一致。在这个为期三年的项目期间，预计将有大约75名高中生参加科学学院，预计48名教师将在暑期研讨会期间接受指导、与行业合作伙伴建立网络和生物技术活动材料，以便在他们的学校为学生复制这些经验。作为通过这些资助活动提供的外展和教育的结果，预计将有85名学生完成DMACC的AS/生物技术实验室方法证书组合学位。为了确保生物技术项目与不断发展的行业保持一致，项目教师将在咨询业务和行业领导团队的指导下接受尖端技术和设备方面的培训。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 growing demand for skilled bioscience lab technicians is important to the future economic success of Iowa. Increasing the biotechnology workforce is also recognized as a vital factor in the U.S. economy and national interests. The need for qualified, entry-level biotechnology laboratory technicians is expected to continue to grow through the upcoming decade. In order to meet the evolving needs of the biotechnology industry, it is important to inform high-school students about the many opportunities available to them within this field of study. One of the most effective methods for introducing high-school students to a career field and keeping them engaged in the pursuit of education is direct interaction with professionals in the industry. This three-year project from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) will provide a Science Academy opportunity, allowing for high-school students to interact directly with biotechnology industry professionals through classroom visits, career fairs, and on-site tours, thus exposing students to the many career options available within the field. This method is especially effective for reaching populations who have been underrepresented in their pursuit of careers in biotechnology. Additionally, a Summer Workshop will be developed to educate high-school teachers on the use of biotechnology methods and bioinformatics in the classroom. The workshop will also provide opportunities for teachers to learn about the biotechnology industry through on-site tours and talks with industry professionals. Alongside high school outreach activities, a Business and Industry Leadership Team will be established to evaluate and modify DMACC’s biotechnology curriculum. This team will ensure that students completing the AS/Biotechnology Laboratory Methods Certificate receive high-quality, hands-on technical training that is directly applicable to entry level careers in biotechnology, and that students develop an educational foundation to support future growth in their roles within the biotechnology industry. As part of the DMACC Biotechnology Program curriculum updates, an introductory scientific computing course will be developed and equipment will be updated to align with industry standards. Integrating industry partners, secondary and postsecondary educators, and biotechnical professionals to learn and participate in growing programs such as this through academies, workshops, and conferences is designed to advance the STEM workforce and increase equity in opportunities in the field. The project goal is to increase the overall number of students entering the biotechnology workforce pathway and to ensure that biotechnology educational experiences align with industry needs. Approximately 75 high school students are expected to participate in the Science Academy throughout the duration of this three-year project, and an anticipated 48 teachers will receive instruction, networking with industry partners, and biotechnology activity materials during the Summer Workshop, to replicate these experiences for students at their schools. As a result of outreach and education provided through these grant activities, 85 students are expected to complete DMACC’s AS/Biotechnology Laboratory Methods Certificate combination degree. In order to ensure that the Biotechnology program remains astride with evolving industry, project faculty will receive training in cutting edge techniques and equipment, as directed by the advisory Business and Industry Leadership Team. 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.