Biotechnology Certificate Program
Our program prepares students for careers as entry-level technicians in biotechnology and life sciences laboratories. Over a 7-month program, divided into two semesters and coupled with a 12-week paid industry internship, students master the cutting-edge technical skills, instrumentation, and quality control measures required to work as entry-level lab technicians. Each semester follows a thoughtful workflow that incorporates practice of industrial methods to prepare students for work in the thriving biosciences economy. In addition to hands-on technical laboratory training, students are mentored by industry professionals and learn valuable career skills including communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and time management.
All tuition and fees will be waived in their entirety for students in the program. Stipends may be available to some students to help with living expenses, and a laptop computer is supplied to all enrolling students and gifted to graduates upon successful completion of the program.
Program Details
- Small class size fosters one-on-one coaching
- Open to residents of greater Cape Ann region
- Age range: 18 – 30 years old
- Full-time program: 8:30a to 2:30p, Monday – Friday, September through February
- Full-time, guaranteed, paid-internship, March through May
Career Skills
- Foster life skills required for professional employment
- Establish critical thinking and rhetoric through journal article discussions
- Assist with internship and job application process
- Teach professional written and oral communications
- Introduce different types of labs through field trips and guest speakers
Internships
- Full-time, three-month, paid-experience
- Work at prestigious biotech companies
- Mentorship from professional scientists
- Develop new laboratory skills
- Network with industry leaders
Curriculum Overview
Semester 1: DNA Techniques
Introduces standard laboratory practices and instrumentation in a molecular biology workflow where students will:
- Develop skills including lab safety, follow detailed protocols, and maintain a written lab notebook
- Practice fundamental techniques such as pipetting and preparation of solutions
- Extract, amplify, and sequence DNA
- Collect and analyze data
- Present results to colleagues
- Read, analyze, and engage in discussions on scientific journals
Semester 2: Proteins, Genetic Engineering, and Bioprocessing
Expands laboratory skills and techniques through a bioprocessing workflow where students will:
- Recognize and follow standard lab maintenance, organization, and safety practices
- Prepare consistent solutions, media, and plates for growing cells
- Engineer bacterial cells to produce a protein of interest
- Generate cell banks and confirm productivity of engineered cells
- Demonstrate proficiency in batching, sampling, and decontaminating fermentation processes, while maintaining complete batch records
- Practice upstream and downstream processing and purification of a protein product
- Incorporate process analytical technologies to monitor mammalian cell cultures in single-use bioreactors
Program Outcomes
Over the first four years of the program, 78% of students enrolled have graduated and 90% of our graduates have begun working in the biotechnology industry or enrolled in college to study science. Annual starting salaries of our recent graduates range from $34,000 to $56,000.
Our alumni have been hired full-time at companies on the North Shore, Boston, and Cambridge, including:
Gloucester Biotechnology Academy has established agreements with Salem State University and North Shore Community College to award credits to graduates of our program who are accepted into these institutions to pursue a degree in science.
Program Gallery
