Whether you’re displaced due to COVID-19, a returning veteran, want to upskill for a better career, or a student interested in exploring the future, this course will get you started on the path to science and a rewarding, future-proof career. And it’s not just for science nerds – biotechnology offers many different opportunities to make a positive difference in the world around you through science and innovation.


The work is fascinating and potentially life-saving


Key benefits

  • Learn sought-after skills and gain a competitive advantage
  • Open doors to a good, family-sustaining career
  • Make connections to employers looking for talent in STEM fields


Why biotech

  • Rapidly growing field with constant breakthroughs
  • Nearly 500 bioscience companies in RI & need for skilled professionals rising
  • Entry-level salary $37-40K, average annual wage $92K


What is biotech?

  • Use of natural/biological processes by industry to manufacture products such as medicine and food
  • Includes marine, agricultural, climate and medical arenas
  • Many types of work available: R&D, product strategy, manufacturing, policymaking, software engineering, sales & tech support, finance, business management, project management, patient care.


What's involved?

  • Virtual training from URI Pharmacy Development Institute in the STEM fields
  • 6 class modules, typically takes 10 hours to complete
  • Delves into current trends in biotechnology spanning aquaculture, biological therapies, genetic engineering, medical devices, and pharmaceutical, antibiotic and vaccine development
  • Earn a Certificate of Completion


What will this course provide?

  • Introduction to Biotechnology will provide participants with an overview of the biotechnology industry in Rhode Island and beyond.

  • Exciting scientific fields such as marine, agriculture and biomedical biotechnologies will be presented.

  • Additionally, participants will learn about the range of job types and employment opportunities within the biotechnology industry.


After this course you will

  • Participants will know the scientific bases of cutting-edge therapies, vaccines, and environmentally focused biotechnologies.

  • Upon course completion you will have knowledge of the roles that biotechnology plays in our every day lives and pathways to employment in various biotechnology industries will have been gained.




Instructor

Our courses are developed by content experts
with years of experience in delivering online eduction

Coordinator of Training

Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, Ph.D.

Dr. Zielinski-Habershaw has extensive biopharmaceutical experience in both academia and the private sector, covering all aspects of the biopharmaceutical and biomedical industry. She came to the PDI in 2019 after a two-year stint in business development at Advanced BioScience Laboratories in Rockville, MD. This is her second stint with the University of Rhode Island, having previously served as Co-Director of Biotechnology Manufacturing at the university. She has also served as a Director with the Center for Biological Engineering at Brown University, a Contract MSL with Medtronic Endovascular in California, and a Medical Writer with CRBard, Inc. in Warwick. Dr. Zielinski-Habershaw’s varied experience is a valuable benefit to the industry partners she works with as Coordinator of Training for the PDI.

Content Outline

  • 1

    How to use our platform

    • Quick tutorial
  • 2

    Course Overview

    • Introduction

    • Instructor: Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, Ph.D.

    • Career Links
  • 3

    1.1: What exactly is biotechnology?

    • 1.1 Presentation

    • 1.1 Extras
  • 4

    1.2: Marine Biotechnology

    • 1. 2 Presentation
  • 5

    1.3: Agricultural biotechnology

    • 1.3 Presentation
  • 6

    1.4: Medical biotechnology: Medical devices and prosthetics

    • 1.4 Presentation

    • 1.4 Assessment

    • 1. 4 Extras
  • 7

    2: From snake oil to aspirin and the beginnings of pharmaceuticals

    • 2 Presentation

    • 2 Assessment

    • Extras
  • 8

    3.1: Are your medications natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic?

    • 3.1 Presentation

    • 3.1 Extras
  • 9

    3.2: The serendipity of the discovery penicillin

    • 3.2 Presentation

    • 3.2 Assessment

    • 3.2 Extras
  • 10

    4: Vaccines then and now

    • 4 Presentation

    • 4 Assessment

    • 4 Extras
  • 11

    5: Empirical to stratified to personalized medicines & The serendipity of the discovery penicillin

    • 5 Presentation

    • 5 Assessment

    • 5 Extras
  • 12

    6: Genetic Engineering

    • 6 Presentation

    • 6 Assessment

    • 6 Extras