The new academic year is underway for most students, and that means two of BioBuilder’s most popular programs are also ready for takeoff!
This year’s High School Apprenticeship Challenge kicks off on Saturday, October 5th. The HSAC is designed to provide students the opportunity to build technical knowledge, lab techniques and skills, research-based thinking, and professional skills to prepare them for post-secondary careers or academic pursuits in biotechnology.
Over the course of 10 weeks, the students engage in online lectures and interactive discussions on Thursdays from 4–6 pm. This is when they gain content knowledge needed for a career in biotechnology by studying topics such as terminology, scientific documentation, making solutions, growing cells, DNA, and proteins. They also learn and practice essential professional skills such as collaboration, written and oral communication, and responsibility.
HSAC instructors are professional scientists who are committed to teaching and mentoring the next generation of biotech professionals.
On Saturdays they meet up at BioBuilder’s Learning Lab @ Ginkgo from 9 am to 2 pm. This is when they learn and practice hands-on laboratory techniques and work with their fellow students on a professional level.
The instructors also hold online office hours on Tuesdays from 4:30–5:30 pm to answer student questions and provide other support to help them succeed.
The Learning Lab @ Ginkgo in Boston’s Seaport District is a fully equipped bioengineering lab and teaching space where students, educators, and current workers can get hands-on experience and workforce training for 21st century biotechnology.
During the final week, students have the opportunity to test for microcredentials through the Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI). There is no cost to students who take advantage of this opportunity. BCSI microcredentials are industry-recognized certifications that validate their proficiency in essential biological and biotechnological lab skills. (Try saying that sentence ten times fast!) Imagine being a high school senior who graduates already having workforce ready skills and the credentials to prove it!
This year, thanks to a Pathmaker grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, students who complete the program receive a $1,000 stipend. Those who are interested in pursuing work in biotech after high school also have the opportunity to interview with local companies that have committed to having open entry level positions for which the apprentices can apply.
HSAC applications are still being accepted through Monday, September 30. To be eligible for the program, students must be:
- at least 18 years old by June 1st, 2025
- a senior at a Massachusetts public high school
- from historically underrepresented groups or economically disadvantaged
- committed to pursuing a career in the life sciences
If you are interested in applying, head over to the online application now!
It’s time for another group of BioBuilderClub teams to start clubbing! So far, 14 teams from seven U.S. states have registered. They are a mix of new and returning teams, and some are continuing to develop ongoing projects. It will be exciting to see what projects they undertake or advance this year!
Registration is open until January 24, 2025. But why wait? Register now to maximize your learning and fun!
BioBuilderClub officially kicks off on October 15th with an “all hands” meeting via Zoom. This year, in addition to mentoring from professional scientists, teams will also enjoy support from “near peer” mentors – MIT undergraduate students.
We offer many thanks to our returning sponsors who give generously to our teams, for example:
- a $100 coupon for each team from Carolina Biological Supply for general lab supplies
- each team is entered into a monthly drawing to receive a cold-storage unit from K2 Scientific
- access to free reagents from New England Biolabs
Fast forward to the Final Assembly that is scheduled for March 13, 2025. That’s when the teams will present their projects and findings either in-person or via our livestream. Each team’s work will be documented in the BioBuilderClub Project Library.
Plus, many teams submit papers about their projects to BioTreks, the peer reviewed journal for high school synthetic biologists. The October 2024 issue of BioTreks is due out any day and we just happen to know that it includes 31 papers from last season’s BioBuilderClub teams. We suspect that next year’s BioTreks edition will also be packed with BioBuilderClub papers!
and behind these programs... our incredibly hardworking and talented staff! Thank you Kayla, Kerrie, Chloe and Kateri for your leadership. <3
Are you or someone you know interested in joining the fun? Reach out to BioBuilder for more information.
Device Dude
The microcredentialing offered by the Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI) is a significant part of helping students prepare to enter the biotechnology industry. It is also significant for the biotech industry because it gives companies the assurance that applicants have specific knowledge and hands-on skills.
To accurately confer such microcredentials, BCSI relies on its Certified Evaluators to conduct in-lab assessments of applicants’ knowledge and skills.
Certified Evaluators play a vital role in shaping the next generation of bioscience professionals and making a lasting impact on the bioscience community and burgeoning bioeconomy.
BCSI Certified Evaluators must meet specific requirements, including:
- Have a strong background in bioscience or a related field
- Be trained in BCSI’s assessment methodologies
- Be committed to uphold BCSI’s standards of excellence
They also undergo in-person training on BCSI’s microcredentials and assessment methods and criteria. Angela Consani led a a 2-day evaluator training event on September 26th and 27th in Burlington, MA, and she posted about it on LinkedIn. Read that post here. Twelve people participated in the training and received their Certified Evaluator credentials.
Another training event is scheduled for November 21-22 in Round Rock, TX, and more will be scheduled at various locations as interest grows.
Are you interested in joining the BCSI Certified Evaluator community? Learn more and begin the application process here. It will expand your professional impact for years to come!
