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?

  • Fundamental, virtual training in laboratory techniques used across biotechnology industries
  • Demonstrations, instructor-generated modules and student-based simulated training
  • Covers micropipetting, making and buffering solutions along with cell culture and basic genetic engineering
  • Taught by URI Pharmacy Development Institute
  • 8 modules, typically takes 3-4 hours to complete
  • Certificate of Completion

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.

    • External Content Credit
  • 3

    Lab Safety

    • Good Laboratory Practice

    • Video (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • Lab Safety Interactive

    • Interactive (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • Extras
  • 4

    1. Cleaning & Monitoring

    • 1.1: Overview

    • 1.2: Assessment

    • 1.3: Review
  • 5

    2. Documentation

    • 2.1: Overview

    • 2.2.1: Deliberate Documentation

    • 2.2.2: Interactive - Deliberate Documentation (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • 2.3.1: Batch Documents

    • 2.3.2: Interactive - Batch Documents (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • 2.4: Assessment

    • 2.5: Review
  • 6

    3. Preparation

    • 3.1: Overview

    • 3.2.1: Biosafety Cabinet

    • 3.2.2: Video - Biosafety Cabinet (Source: Harvard Campus Services)

    • 3.3: Assessment

    • 3.4: Review
  • 7

    4. Measurement

    • 4.1: Overview

    • 4.2.1: Molarity and Serial Dilution

    • 4.2.2: Video - Molarity and Serial Dilution (Source: LabExchange)

    • 4.3.1: Introduction to the Micropipette

    • 4.3.2: Interactive - Introduction to the Micropipette (Source: LabExchange)

    • 4.3.3: Instructions for Simulation - Introduction to the Micropipette

    • 4.3.4: Simulation - Introduction to the Micropipette (Source: LabExchange)

    • 4.4.1: Determining Glassware Accuracy

    • 4.4.2: Interactive - Determining Glassware Accuracy (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • 4.5.1: Performance Verification of a Balance

    • 4.5.2: Interactive - Performance Verification of a Balance (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • 4.6: Assessment

    • 4.7: Review
  • 8

    5. Mixing

    • 5.1: Overview

    • 5.2: Assessment

    • 5.3: Review
  • 9

    6. Packaging & Quality Control

    • 6.1: Overview

    • 6.2.1: Bacterial Growth in the Lab

    • 6.2.2: Video - Bacterial Growth in the Lab (Source: LabExchange)

    • 6.3.1: Environmental Monitoring

    • 6.3.2: Interactive - Environmental Monitoring (Source: NC Bionetwork)

    • 6.4: Assessment

    • 6.5: Review
  • 10

    Pulling it all together

    • Media Preparation

    • Interactive - Media Preparation (Source: NC Bionetwork)