Washington State’s biomanufacturing industry is a cornerstone of its growing economy, employing over 36,000 workers. Yet the region’s competitiveness and long-term growth is challenged by the lack of a skilled workforce.
Alleviate workforce shortages by establishing guided academic pathways for students and workers seeking careers in biomanufacturing.
Working with industry partners, the project aligns curriculum with industry workforce needs, creates modules and courses, and conducts an engagement campaign with high school and community college students and workers in need of retraining.
All course materials are non-proprietary and openly accessible.
Connected academic programs to industry requirements through competency mapping and gap analysis.
Developed a short course focused on cleanroom operations and bioreactor fundamentals.
Engaged students, educators, and professionals to create pathways for stackable credentials.
This project established a comprehensive framework to align academic programs with industry needs, mapping 94 validated competencies to 16 courses and identifying gaps through analysis. To address these gaps, the team developed a short course on Cleanroom Operation and Bioreactors, engaged 64 participants, and created curriculum frameworks, an outcomes report, and a marketing plan. By introducing stackable, industry-vetted credentials and fostering education-industry collaboration, the initiative lays the foundation for scalable workforce development and long-term competitiveness in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
94 competencies mapped to 16 courses; gaps identified for biomanufacturing readiness.
Conducted three focus groups with biotech companies to validate competencies and inform curriculum design.
Created a master course outline for “Cleanroom Operation and Bioreactors,” scheduled for launch in Fall 2020.
Engaged 64 individuals (45 high school students, 4 educators, 15 professionals) through training and outreach activities.
Stackable Credentials for Biotechnology Workforce Development (PC2.1-105), NIIMBL Member Forum, Virtual, February 27, 2020.0
Login to the NIIMBL member portal to access additional project information, including presentations, progress updates, reports, and more.
Not yet a member? Learn more about which level of NIIMBL membership is right for you and your organization.
Shoreline Community College
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Life Science Washington
