What made me happiest about completing the program was that I went from not really knowing anything about performing research to becoming a legitimate scientist with a strong resume.

 I completed my BA in Biology at University of California, Santa Cruz a couple of years after the 2008 economic crash. I had made the mistake of not already working in a lab during undergrad, so when I was looking for jobs in life science research after graduating I found that I was severely lacking in technical lab skills and networking contacts. My major concern was that I would not be able to find a job in either biotechnology or academic research, especially in a very competitive market.

I enrolled in the Stem Cell Technology and Biomanufacturing certificate programs to gain the technical lab skills that I needed to succeed as a researcher. The program provided many classes geared towards the background knowledge and direct application of common techniques used in modern biological research such as stem cell culture, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. There was an abundance of networking opportunities available through the program, as well as excellent career development resources.

My favorite aspects of the Biotech program are that it is run by excellent scientists who have many years of experience in both academia and industry, and that the classes are small and very hands-on. The instructors are approachable and take an active interest in the success of their students. The students themselves are from varied backgrounds – some have little to no biology experience but are interested in the field, while others already have quite a bit of experience and are looking to learn new techniques or find internship opportunities that they otherwise would not have access to. Regardless of background, everybody is brought up to about the same level by the end of the program. I felt a sense of progression and confidence in my abilities as the classes went on, and I was able to immediately apply what I had learned to my internship at PuraCath Medical where I worked concurrently.  

The technical skills, transferrable skills, and experience that I gained through the Biotech program and the internship were major factors in me getting hired as an Associate Scientist at Medtronic and later as a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. It is unlikely that I would have been able to secure those positions without the program.  

What advice would you offer to current and future students? What would you tell them to expect as a student of the Biotech program?

Put as much effort as you can into really understanding your subjects of study – not just how they work but why and what else you can do with them. It is also very important to take advantage of the networking opportunities available through the Biotech program, especially the internships. Establishing a successful career in life science research is not just a matter of what you know, but who you know.