Harford Receives Grant for Biomanufacturing Equipment from Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. and BioMADE

Scientific Bioprocessing, Inc. (SBI) and BioMADE granted 23 community and technical colleges a total of $368,000 for state-of-the-art bioprocessing equipment through the SBI Digitally Simplified Bioprocessing Fellowship. Harford Community College (Harford) was one of the community colleges selected and will receive equipment valued at approximately $16,000.

This equipment will enable students in the newly revised Biotechnology program to replicate experiences found in biomanufacturing facilities, including the addition of training modules in upstream processing. Upstream processing consists of steps related to the development of microorganisms, nutrient preparation, cell culture, cell separation and harvesting. Utilizing this equipment will enable faculty to expand work already being done in the Harford BIOTECH Pathways program, which seeks to increase the diversity and number of Harford graduates employed in industry by providing education programs aligned with the skills industry partners want and via student recruitment centered on community engagement.

The equipment will support student learning in the new AAS in Biotechnology degree program, preparing students for careers in biomedical research, biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, biofuels, biomanufacturing, and more. Providing a real-life experience for students while in the program will increase their employability after graduation. “This equipment will make a significant and valuable impact for community and technical colleges,” said Thomas Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer at BioMADE. “Many companies are struggling to fill biomanufacturing jobs right now. This equipment will help train and prepare students to fill much-needed roles. Together, we are strengthening the foundation of the biomanufacturing workforce.”

Part of the fellowship award is the inclusion of the College as a BioMADE member, which will increase access to resources related to career awareness and workforce development. Harford’s Associate Professor of Biology and Biotechnology Jaclyn Madden said, “Additional collaboration facilitated by BioMADE and partnerships between community colleges and corporations like SBI are important to our shared goal of developing a well-educated and diverse biomanufacturing workforce, and I look forward to working with BioMADE members.”