Class of 2022

The Academy Class of 2022 began on September 7th, 2021.  This is the sixth cohort to go through the Academy training program, and will be the first to utilize the new, state-of-the-art biomanufacturing learning enviornment.

Learn the Terms

Curious about what students learn in the lab? Read below and increase your knowledge on what makes Academy students ready for career success.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Considered one of the most fundamental skills in molecular biology and arguably the most important method in biotechnology, the polymerase chain reaction (commonly referred to as PCR) has been adapted in genetic and infectious disease diagnostics, DNA fingerprinting, research and discovery, and gene isolation. PCR is used to multiply small quantities of DNA into quantities that are large enough to measure and manipulate. At the Academy, students learn this method by using PCR to amplify genes from a cod fish, giving them the experience to apply this method in their future careers.

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of DNA: Another core skill set used universally in modern biological sciences with applications in enhanced forensic identification, diagnosis of genetic disease, creation of personalized therapeutics, detection of bacterial and viral disease, and much more. DNA sequencing is an extremely precise technique that resolves the exact order of nucleotides in a sample of DNA. At the Academy, students learn to prepare, run, and clean a sequencing instrument. Students are then introduced to sequencing data and the bioinformatics pipeline for analysis making them immediately employable in the workforce.

Cell Culture: A highly sought-after skill in laboratory sciences that allows students to connect their experience in molecular biology with bioprocessing. Students learn how to thaw cells derived from a master cell bank, count cells on a hemocytometer and Luna II automated system, feed and grow cells, and freeze cells down to create a working cell bank. Additionally, students are trained in proper techniques to prevent contamination. Students then apply these techniques to grow cells in our biomanufacturing learning environment. Cell culture has applications in vaccine production, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, toxicity studies, aging, and tissue engineering. In the class of 2021, 40% of our students were hired on to full-time employment for this skill alone.

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