WPI hosts Worcester Public School biotech teachers to explore academic pathways

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In partnership with the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) district, the STEM Education Center organized a Biotech Day at WPI for educators to learn about the biotech facilities, academic programs, and state forecasts about the biotech industry. Participants had the opportunity to tour the Biomanufacturing Education & Training Center (BETC), Bioprocess Center, and CellTech Institute and see the instrumentation available. MBI and MassBioEd gave presentations on the State of the Industry in Worcester County and the Commonwealth.

Participants in a biotechnology lab listen to a presenter explaining equipment, with stainless steel instruments and lab components displayed during a guided tour.

Rich discussions among the Academic Biotech Ecosystem in Worcester were held with representatives from WPS, QCC, Worcester State, Clark University, UMass Medical, and WPI. Skills gained and needed across the academic pathways were shared and co-designed with the vision of connecting the academic programs to the workforce needs. The professional development for the high school educators was led by Donna Taylor of the STEM Education Center and Dave Mangus from WPS.

Participants in a classroom listen to a presenter and work together at a whiteboard, writing and discussing notes during a group activity.

Special thanks go to the WPI members who helped support the Biotech Day: Robert Dempski, Longkuan Xiang, Floyd Brownewell, Liaohai (Leo) Chen, Caleb Buckley, Eileen Earley, Eric Young, and James Eakin.

People

Robert Dempski

Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Our research integrates investigating the structure and function of targeted membrane proteins with development of mixed reality tools for workforce development. We combine biochemical and biophysical techniques to investigate the structure and function of two classes of membrane [...]

Longkuan Xiang

Bioprocess Scientist, Biology & Biotechnology

Floyd Brownewell

Professor of Practice, Biology & Biotechnology

I have enjoyed a blended career spanning research and development, heavy chemicals manufacturing, healthcare single use manufacturing, and academia. This experience has provided a unique interface between the theoretical and the practical. I understand the need for innovation and [...]

Liaohai Chen

Director, Practice Point & BETC/Affiliate Professor RBE, Vice Provost for Research

Liaohai Leo Chen earned his PhD in Chemistry from University of Rochester, New York in 1997. Following the graduation, he did his postdoc training in Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico for two years, and then became a technical staff in Los Alamos. In 2001, he mov [...]

Caleb Buckley

Lab Supervisor, PracticePoint

Eileen Earley

Accounting and Business Manager, PracticePoint

Eric Young

Associate Professor-Engineering, Chemical Engineering

My research is in the broad, interdisciplinary field of synthetic biology, which applies engineering principles to biology. Within this field, we apply chemical engineering tenets to reprogram the DNA of yeasts, bacteria, and fungi so their metabolism produces interesting molecul [...]

James Eakin

Associate Director-LEAP, Vice Provost for Research