InnovATEBIO Hubs
Create Enliven Support
National Biotechnology Education Center
NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program
InnovATEBIO Hubs
We developed a hub concept as an antidote to a traditional center. Each Hub is a “go-to” place for specific expertise to create and support high school and college biotech programs and student career pathways. Our decentralized infrastructure shares leadership among a unique team with a wide range of experience. We are a service and resource organization. We are ready to help you.
InnovATEBIO Hubs are here for you
Alumni Network
We help schools develop or expand their alumni networks and industry contacts. We encourage alumni to support bioscience workforce development and help them stay connected with biotech programs through professional development opportunities–such as building interview and presentation skills.
Biomanufacturing
We are a community of practice for community college faculty and partner institutions engaging in biomanufacturing education and training. The community supports programs as they introduce, strengthen, or scale biomanufacturing content in their courses.
Biotech Careers and Entrepreneurship
We increase student interest in biotech-related careers by providing job descriptions, day-in-the-life stories, blogs about biotech, job boards, and one of the largest biotech employer databases. We provide clear career pathways, with an emphasis on entry-level positions.
Genomics
We focus on emerging technologies in gene and genome analysis–especially DNA sequencing, DNA barcoding, metabarcoding, and synthetic biology. We strive to make these technologies feasible and affordable for course-based research in high schools and colleges.
High School Pathways
We help high school teachers start and sustain workforce-oriented biotechnology programs and to incorporate biotechnology into existing biology courses. We also help state educational agencies and school districts adopt best practices for establishing CTE biotech programs.
Industry and Workforce Development
We work with partners across the country to develop best practices for professional development and skill standards for the technical workforce. In addition, we have a skills development laboratory that functions as an incubator for emerging companies.
Supply Chain
We help community colleges develop manufacturing supply chain projects in which students follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manufacture a finished product biotech reagents and kits. These products are distributed to high school or college customers.
Undergraduate Research
We expand opportunities for students to engage in real-world science research. Our inquiry-based teaching model focuses on providing course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) as part of novel, introductory courses.
Workplace Navigation
We collaborate with community college programs to integrate these skills into instruction and work-based learning, allowing students to interpret what professionalism looks like in various settings, strengthen workplace relationships, and adapt as roles and expectations evolve. We also connect programs to national resources that support students in transitioning from academic training to the workforce.
Who we serve
Community Colleges
InnovATEBIO is dedicated to advancing biotechnology education at community colleges nationwide. We provide leadership and support to train a highly skilled technical workforce for the biotechnology industry. Our initiatives include:
Biomanufacturing: Through our deep connections to industry, our Biomanufacturing Hub can assist community colleges in training the next generation of bioscience technicians, helping faculty to design courses and programs in biopharmaceutical, industrial, or advanced therapy biomanufacturing.
Biotechnology Curriculum and Program Development: We assist faculty in developing and strengthening biomanufacturing and genomics content in their courses. Our Genomics Hub makes emerging technologies, such as DNA barcoding and bioinformatics, accessible and affordable for community college curricula.
Alumni Networking: Community colleges will also benefit from our expertise in biotech networking. Our Alumni Network Hub specializes in helping bioscience programs to build, nurture and engage their graduate communities, boosting recruitment and retainment, and cement biotechnology industry connections.
Faculty Support: We offer professional development, mentoring, and resources to help faculty incorporate industry-relevant research experiences into their existing biotechnology curriculum.
Undergraduate Research: We are committed to expanding undergraduate research opportunities so that students can engage in meaningful, real-world science. Our Undergraduate Research Hub supports the development of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) with a biotech industry focus.
Supply Chain Programs: We help community colleges develop biotechnology supply chain projects through the Supply Chain Hub, where students learn hands-on supply chain operation and management, bridging the skills gap between the biology classroom and the bioscience industry.
High Schools
Our High School Pathways Hub supports high school teachers in starting and sustaining workforce-oriented biotechnology programs. We provide curriculum development resources for STEM educators to embed biotechnology into existing biology and chemistry courses and help establish career and technical education (CTE) and non-CTE biotechnology programs. Our support for high schools includes:
Teacher Professional Development: We offer continuous training and mentoring for teachers, particularly those who are less familiar with hands-on lab instruction in biotechnology.
Curriculum Development Resources: We offer skill-standards-based curriculum for dual credit biotechnology programs to introduce biotech concepts into the classroom.
Program Development: We assist in building biotechnology training pathways from high school to community college, assistance with equipment purchasing and setup, and provide guidance on establishing competency badging.
Biotechnology Industry Partners
InnovATEBIO serves as a crucial link between STEM education and the biotechnology industry. We work to ensure that the training and education provided at the community college and high school level are aligned with the needs of the workforce. Our industry-focused initiatives include:
Industry Collaboration: We have deep connections to the bioscience industry and work with employers and Bio-Trade Associations to understand the needs of the skilled technical workforce, including in emerging fields like cell and gene therapy and biomedical devices.
Workforce Development: Our Industry & Workforce Development Hub collaborates with academic and industry partners to provideprofessional development for educators and to develop and update skill standards for the bioscience industry.
Career and Entrepreneurship: The Biotech Careers and Entrepreneurship Hub provides a wealth of resources for students, including career descriptions, bioscience job boards, and a large database of biotech employers, to raise awareness of career opportunities and provide clear pathways to entry-level positions, and even encourage early-stage thinking towards biotech entrepreneurship.