While individuals with no formal education or relevant work experience beyond high school may find employment in biotechnology-related industries, these positions typically provide little opportunity for advancement and are becoming increasingly rare.
Collegiate Options
Community colleges and universities both provide biotechnology-related training and education for full-time students as well as students who must balance school with family responsibilities and a full-time job. In considering your best strategy, it is always important to pursue your own personal interests:
- How will I pay for school?
- Can I go to school while working?
- Do I want to move away from home?
- How soon do I want to start working?
Biotechnology Training Initiatives in North Carolina
Many colleges in North Carolina offer specific programs, concentrations, and minors related to biotechnology. Individual college or department websites are a good starting place for information on such offerings. In addition, a unique partnership of government, industry, and educators has led to new training initiatives for biotechnology manufacturing:
- BioNetwork connects North Carolina community colleges across the state by providing specialized training, curricula, and equipment in response to the changing needs of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries. www.ncbionetwork.org
- The Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at North Carolina State University has been designed to provide students with hands-on experience with commercial biomanufacturing equipment and technologies. www.btec.ncsu.edu
- The Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) at North Carolina Central University has been designed to provide B.S. and advanced degrees related to biopharmaceutical science. www.nccu.edu/brite