Biotechnology Certificate Program

Overview

Our program prepares students for careers as entry-level technicians in biotechnology and life sciences laboratories. Over the course of two 11-week semesters, followed by a 12-week paid-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. 

Upcoming Events

Alumni return to speak to Class of 2021
February 11, 2021

Class of 2021 begins internships
March 8, 2021

Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony
June 3, 2021

Program Details

  • Small class size fosters one-on-one coaching
  • Open to residents of greater Cape Ann region
  • Age range: 18 – 26 years old
  • Full-time program: 8:00a 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 three years of the program, 81% of students enrolled have graduated and 84% 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:

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute
  • Synlogic Therapeutics
  • Sherlock Biosciences
  • Takeda
  • UMass Medical School
  • Pandion Therapeutics
  • Bluefin Biomedicine
  • Brammer Bio

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