Building a Quality Control Bioanalytical Lab Technician Pipeline Through Biotechnology Education and Industry Partnerships

This project will strengthen the skilled technical workforce needed for the growing life sciences industry in eastern North Carolina. Specifically, the project will prepare quality control bioanalytical lab technicians for careers in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device production, and product quality. Through partnerships with regional employers, the project will align biotechnology education with current industry needs and provide students with opportunities to develop laboratory skills used in quality control and environmental monitoring. Expected outcomes include increased enrollment and graduation, expanded paid internship opportunities, stronger student engagement, and improved placement of graduates into life sciences technician positions. Project deliverables will include revised course materials, laboratory activities, outreach strategies, and student engagement practices. The goals of the project are to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation in an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program in biotechnology; enhance the curriculum to align with current industry-specific laboratory skills; and strengthen the capacity of faculty to deliver updated, industry-informed instruction. Activities will include outreach and recruitment, student and alumni engagement, expanded internships, faculty externships, professional development, and updates to courses in industrial microbiology and bioprocess techniques. The project will integrate industry-vetted standard operating procedures and laboratory activities focusing on environmental monitoring, kinetic endotoxin testing, bioburden testing, and quality control practices. A Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) will guide curriculum alignment with regional workforce needs, and the project evaluation will cover implementation, student outcomes, workforce readiness, employer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. The project will advance understanding of how community colleges can use industry partnerships, work-based learning, student support structures, and competency-driven laboratory instruction to build sustainable technician pipelines in biotechnology and life sciences. Results of the project will be disseminated through state, regional, and national technician education networks, including biotechnology education conferences, Advanced Technological Education venues, and national resource repositories. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program, which 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.