Spring is blooming, just like the growth of biotechnology education!
This April saw an all-star lineup of coast-to-coast events promoting biotech education, industry, and careers. Check them out!
Indiana + East Tennessee = Biotech Ed Dream Team
On April 2nd, the Niswonger Foundation welcomed an Indiana group to their Greeneville, North Carolina headquarters for a day filled with discussions and learning about biotechnology education and career pathways.
Attending were representatives from Purdue University, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, BioCrossroads, and Heartland Bioworks.
The Niswonger Foundation shared how they helped jump start East Tennessee’s biotech training initiative and then developed a bioscience educational program for the region. Because local stakeholders are an important part of developing a regional biotech hub, Niswonger’s approach, experience, and lessons learned were invaluable to the Indiana folks.
They also enjoyed a visit to nearby Greeneville High School where biotech education has taken hold of many young imaginations! They met with teachers, administrators, and students and learned how Niswonger’s BioSTEM education program is being integrated at Greeneville High.
The Indiana group was encouraged and excited about expanding biotech education and industry in the Hoosier State! And the Niswonger Foundation was thrilled to share their insights and help them understand the successful process used in East Tennessee!
BioLeadership Summit at the Hoover Institute
On April 14th, the Hoover Institution at Stanford University hosted a summit bringing together private and public biotech leaders from across the country. A key objective of the summit was to deepen the audience’s understanding of biotechnology and biosecurity and to elevate biology as a strategic domain for the U.S.
Speakers in the Bio-Opportunities Across the Nation session included:
- Dr. Natalie Kuldell, Founder and Executive Director of BioBuilder Educational Foundation
- Doug Friedman, Founder and CEO of BioMADE
- Lee Lilley, Secretary of Commerce for the State of North Carolina
Dr. Kuldell shared the many ways in which BioBuilder is helping increase educational and career opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers. The insights she shared were enthusiastically received and many follow-on discussions were had (usually during coffee breaks)!
U.S. HR 8268 Introduced in Congress
April 14th also saw a new biotech education bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Biotechnology for All High School Students Act (HR 8268) is intended to increase access to hands-on biotechnology education that will help strengthen the future of health care, agriculture, the environment, and other industries critical to the U.S. economy and security.
The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), both members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
The bill would establish the National Biotechnology Education Consortium, bringing together the federal government, state and local partners, and biotechnology stakeholders to provide recommendations on how best to expand biotechnology education in high schools across the country. Priority would be given to schools with limited access to biotechnology resources.
BioBuilder is happy to see the growing momentum and support for biotech education in all regions of the country!
Maryland Collegiate STEM Conference
On April 18th, Dr. Kuldell spoke at the 11th annual Maryland Collegiate STEM Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference gathers STEM educators from community colleges and high schools to discuss strategies for improving STEM education and linking them to employment opportunities and higher education pathways.
Dr. Kuldell’s presentation focused on BioBuilder’s three pathways to bright futures in the life sciences:
- Curriculum-led pathway using the BioBuilder curriculum
- Workforce-led pathway using the BioTechBuilder program
- Club-led pathway using the BioBuilderClub program
She also provided insights on how each of these approaches can garner support from local and regional stakeholders, and shared examples of successes in Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Georgia.
It was a great day for the STEM educators as they learned how biotech education can be implemented in a variety of proven approaches with BioBuilder!
Boston University Graduate Women in Science and Engineering Luncheon
On April 21st, Dr. Kuldell was the keynote speaker at the Spring Luncheon of the Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE) at Boston University. GWISE is a student-led organization dedicated to supporting women in STEM through personal and professional development events.
Each year GWISE invites a keynote speaker who has meaningfully paved the way for women and girls in STEM. This year they asked Dr. Natalie Kuldell to be their speaker.
Dr. Kuldell shared the story of her STEM journey, key “Aha!” moments and turning points, and bold leaps that brought her to today and her passionate efforts to bring bioscience education to all high school students. (And by “all,” she really does mean every single one!) The young people found her story and that of BioBuilder eye-opening and inspiring!
Tennessee Future Forward Summit
April 30th was a busy day for BioBuilder. First, Dr. Kuldell attended the Future Forward Summit
in Nashville, TN. The event was hosted by the Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) which brings together leaders from education, business, and government to accelerate Tennessee’s progress in building well-designed education-to-career pathways. In other words, connecting education and opportunity.
The key areas of focus at this year’s summit included:
- K-12 Pathways to Economic Independence
- Postsecondary Credentials and Degrees That Deliver Value
- Employer-Led Partnerships that Strengthen Local Talent Pipelines
The lively presentations and discussions allowed Dr. Kuldell to share BioBuilder’s approach and success in helping Tennessee provide incredible opportunities to their students!
Georgia Life Sciences Institute
Also on April 30th, BioBuilder participated in a webinar for STEM educators hosted by the
Georgia Life Sciences Institute. The interactive webinar focused on how to build sustainable, hands-on life science experiences that prepare students for the future of biotechnology.
Attendees enjoyed hearing from industry and education leaders, including Chloe Franklin and Hiroko Kaczmarek from BioBuilder. Their presentation explored BioBuilder’s practical strategies for delivering high-impact biotechnology education, such as:
- How the BioBuilder curricula and programs lead to college and/or career readiness
- How the BioTechBuilder curriculum includes industry-aligned lab skills and analytical techniques
- Ways to implement a BioBuilder program in the classroom or after school
Chloe and Hiroko had a great time sharing about BioBuilder and helping the educators see a brighter future for their students!
Whew!
April has certainly been a busy month for BioBuilder and U.S. biotech education and industry! All of these happenings move the country closer to one key goal: biotech education for all high school students!
Catching up with BioBuilder Grads in CA
On April 14th, Dr. Kuldell was able to reconnect with two former BioBuilder students while at the BioLeadership Summit at the Hoover Institution in California. Alumni Will Kaegi and Alec Lourenco are both pursuing careers in synthetic biology, so the meet-up was extra-special for Dr. Kuldell!
Here’s a peek at what these two young men are now doing and how BioBuilder impacted their educational and career trajectories.
Will Kaegi
Will participated in several BioBuilder programs during high school, including the Summer Research Program and BioBuilderClub. He says the Summer Research Program had the greatest impact on his interest in synthetic biology. “I loved working with others who were passionate about synthetic biology on a collective project and seeing how each of us contributed fresh perspectives towards solving a common problem.”
Will is currently studying bioengineering at Stanford University. During the 2025 summer break, he did research in cancer biology at Northwestern University.
Because he so appreciated the mentorship and encouragement of the BioBuilder program leaders, Will hopes to pay that back and inspire others by becoming a BioBuilder Student Ambassador. “I hope to recruit mentors for BioBuilder programs and help connect more first-generation students with bioengineering opportunities.”
You can hear more from Will on BioBuilder’s most recent podcast episode.
Alec Lourenco
Alec was first introduced to BioBuilder in a high school workshop. Alec then attended Stanford University followed by Caltech, earning a BS in Engineering Physics and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.
Today, Alec is the Co-founder and CEO of Weekend, Inc., a biotech startup that is engineering protein ingredients to help reduce dietary levels of salt and sugar.
Alec attributes his passion for biotechnology to the high school BioBuilder workshop he did many years ago. That was music to Dr. Kuldell’s ears!