Collin College has unveiled a groundbreaking program for those looking to break into entry-level positions in the biotechnology field.
Aptly named the biotechnology boot camp, the certificate program offers a robust curriculum designed to cater to the industry’s needs, according to a news release from the college.
This upcoming fall semester, students enrolled for courses online or in person will take three classes on Mondays and Wednesdays: Introduction to Biotechnology I, Introduction to Biotechnology II, and Quality Assurances for the Biosciences.
Moreover, participants can apply for a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to have their tuition fees fully covered by federal tax dollars.
It is also possible to request funds through this grant to help pay for the biotechnician assistant credentialing exam.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, the EDA grant is worth $8.8 million. It is coordinated by Dallas College to the benefit of partner institutions like Collin College, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Tarrant County College.
These taxpayer dollars were allocated to help bolster the future biotech workforce in North Texas.
The overall goal is to add 1,100 biotech workers, especially clinical lab technicians and pharmaceutical manufacturing operators, to meet local demand.
With the EDA grant being extended to support students in Collin College’s new boot camp, those wishing to receive a crash course in biotechnology can do so regardless of financial constraints.
The grant also includes hiring commitments from local employers, including Children’s Medical Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, McKesson, Medical City-HCA Healthcare, Tenet Health, Texas Health Resources, and Evolve Biologics. Each entity has agreed to provide new hires a wage of at least $15 an hour.
Dallas-Fort Worth was recently highlighted as one of the top 10 tech talent markets in North America, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, ranked the metroplex ninth in a review of the largest markets for “depth, vitality, and attractiveness to companies seeking tech talent and to tech workers seeking employment.”
