A significant gap exists in the biopharmaceutical industry between the academic development of students and the professional development of incumbent employees. This gap is further exacerbated by a tendency to immediately train new employees in a specific area or function both quickly and deeply based on the immediate workforce needs. This leaves students or new employees with very little systems level awareness, or understanding of what the biomanufacturing challenges and opportunities are beyond their initial area of exposure.
The initial silos that this process creates can last for many years of an employees career, and contribute to a lack of systems level thinking across an organization.
The most direct way to address this gap is to create a model that jointly delivers trainings with co-owned learning objectives, content and outcomes. This can be achieved by directly pairing in-house industry training programs with an academic component that is based on the individual strengths of the partners and clearly identified training needs/value for the target audience. A hybrid model of this type has the potential to create a clearly defined, sustainable pipeline of attendees that de-risks the value proposition for both academic and industry partners.
Playbook of best practices for reproducing this collaborative model between other partners.
Provide access to flexible and modular training resources that can address rapidly evolving areas in biomanufacturing.
This project delivered a new hybrid industry-academia training model designed to develop early system-level thinkers in biomanufacturing. By co-creating content between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and MilliporeSigma, the team produced a six-day pilot course and a full framework for an eight-day program covering critical technologies such as next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, proteomics, aseptic techniques, and traditional upstream/downstream processes. This approach bridges the gap between academic and industry training, providing participants with both technical skills and professional competencies like leadership, strategic networking, and effective communication. The inclusion of 17 e-learning modules ensures baseline knowledge and maximized hands-on learning during the course.
Measurable outcomes include the creation of 25 sessions, 17 digital modules, and a scalable framework for future offerings, with content accessible to NIIMBL members for continued impact. This model improves innovative operations by enabling flexible, modular training that addresses rapidly evolving biomanufacturing techniques while reducing risk for both academic and industry partners. It strengthens workforce readiness by fostering system-level thinking, enhancing technical proficiency, and creating sustainable pipelines for talent development—all critical for advancing biopharmaceutical manufacturing efficiency and innovation.
Created classroom and hands-on experimental content for the 6-day course: Introduction to New and Traditional Technologies in Biomanufacturing, Hands on Equipment Operation, Applications & Troubleshooting, Introduction to Data Analysis, Interpretation and Processes Case Studies, Sterile Aseptic Conditions.
Created 17 e-learning modules in the 4 disciplines (genomics, flow cytometry, proteomics, and aseptic techniques) to be used as pre-work.
New Model for Developing Early System Level Thinkers Using Hybrid Industry-Academia Training (PC3.1-225), NIIMBL Member Forum, Virtual, May 27, 2021.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
EMD Millipore Corporation
