Montgomery College Awarded $350,000 from National Science Foundation to Advance Biopharmaceutical Technician Education

Montgomery College has been awarded a $350,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for its project,New to ATE:Improving Biopharmaceutical Technician Education with Cell and Gene Therapy Credentials (NSF 2155187),that begins July 1, 2022.

The Biopharmaceutical Technician Education project will address the rapidly-growing demand in the Montgomery College service area for biotechnology technicians, especially in cell and gene therapy. The principal investigators will work closely with industry partners to develop a cell and gene therapy course, a cell and gene therapy certificate program, and two micro-credentials that document specific cell and gene therapy skills. The course and certificate program will produce workforce-ready cell and gene therapy technicians, and the micro-credentials will establish a baseline skillset for entry-level employment.

The NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is the premiere source of funding focused on community colleges by NSF. The project goal is to increase the number of work-ready biopharmaceutical technicians, especially in the emerging field of cell and gene therapy.The project has three objectives:

1. Create a four-credit course,Principles of Cell and Gene Therapy Technologyand corresponding lab, leading to a novel Cell and Gene Therapy certificate.

2. Collaborate with industry to develop two micro-credentials, representing a standardized recognition for a high degree of proficiency for a specific skill. We will target two in-demand entry-level skills that are required of biotechnicians: micropipetting and aseptic technique for mammalian cell culture.

3. Increase enrollment of local high school students, nontraditional students, and underrepresented and underserved students in the Biotechnology, Biomanufacturing, and Cell and Gene Therapy credit and certificate programs, with a focus on the new Cell and Gene Therapy certificate.

Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College, lauded the award, noting that, “This generous NSF award to Montgomery College represents a milestone in biotechnology education and workforce development: ATE will expand opportunities for local residents to gain entry to in-demand jobs in biopharmaceuticals. The program’s outreach to underserved populations, and its focus on developing new curricula and certifications, will strengthen students’ readiness for employment and enhance their potential career pathways.”

The project principal investigator (PI) is Dr. Collins Jones, Co-PIs are Professor Padmavathi Tangirala, Dr. Lori Kelman, all professors in Montgomery College’s Biotechnology program, and Dr. James Sniezek, Instructional Dean of Chemical and Biological Sciences.

Dr. Jones, principal investigator, has initiated numerous curricular innovations, and has adapted the College’s program to be responsive to employer/industry needs. Professor Tangirala, co-principal investigator, acquired significant industry experience before joining the MC faculty. Dr. Kelman, co-principal investigator, has substantial teaching experience, and is editor ofBIOS, the journal of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Society, and works closely with Montgomery County Public Schools through her participation in the Montgomery County Collaboration Board Program Advisory Council for Biotechnology.

The program will focus on recruiting students in the East County area, and also will provide a 10-week biotechnology boot camp for MCPS high school counselors and science faculty.

通常，NSF每年向教育和人力资源部门25%的申请人提供资助，这意味着申请人经常申请不止一次。学院的BTE提案一经提交即获通过。

The proposal was developed as part of MC’s participation in the Mentor-Connect program (NSF 184085). The team that developed the proposal included the project leadership and Dr. Patricia Maloney, Manager of Grants and Sponsored Programs.

For further information, see theNSF project abstractor contact Dr. Jones atcollins.jones@montgomerycollege.edu.

About Montgomery College
世界杯摩洛哥vs克罗地亚欧赔蒙哥马利学院是一所公立、开放招生的社区大学，校园位于日耳曼敦、罗克维尔和塔科马公园/银泉，以及遍布马里兰州蒙哥马利县的劳动力发展/继续教育中心和非现场课程。该学院每年通过超过100个研究领域的学分和非学分课程为近54,000名学生提供服务。

About TheNational Science Foundation
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