Bioscience Technology

Information session presentation

slideshow presentation bioscience career technical education

Fontaine?Roberson,?Admissions?Specialist?Fontaine.Roberson@pcc.edu

What?is?biotechnology?

…the use of living cells, molecules, and biological systems to solve problems and make useful products. Learn more about career opportunities at oregonbio.org and biotech-careers.org.

dna syringe cell

 

The Biotech Industry: Companies Using Biotechnology Tools

worker at machine

  • A?pharmaceutical?company?developing?new?ways?to cure cancer
  • A?chemical?company?making?plastic?from?corn instead of petroleum
  • An?environmental?company?finding?new microorganisms to clean up oil spills
  • An?agricultural?company?developing drought-resistant crops
  • An?energy?company?using?fermentation?to?make ethanol for fuel.

Modern?Biotechnology?Products?include…

  • COVID-19?vaccine?made?from?mRNA?that?teaches?our?cells to produce antibodies for the virus
  • Cancer?treatments?that?introduce?new?genes?into cancerous cells to kill tumors
  • Tests?for?Covid-19?and?HIV?that?can?detect?antibodies without laboratory processes
  • Biologic?medicines?produced?inside?living?cells?that?can target specific diseases or body functions
  • Biofuels?made?by?bacteria?that?metabolize?plant?sugars and produce ethanol
  • Bioplastics?made?from?plants?rather than fossil fuels or toxic chemicals

Some?of?Our?Local?Biotech?Companies

  • Genentech, one of the first bioscience companies, has a manufacturing?facility?in?Hillsboro?where?they?produce?a?variety?of biologic medicines using DNA.
  • Absci discovers?and?manufactures?complex?biological?molecules?such as antibodies and insulin used for developing new medical treatments (Vancouver, WA)
  • Twist Bioscience,?makes?synthetic?DNA?used in research and drug development. (Wilsonville)
  • OHSU?specialized?core?labs?providing?research services for scientists

Employment?Outlook?for?Biotechnology

The?Oregon?Employment?Department?forecasts?above-average?employment?growth?in bioscience through 2027.

Looking?ahead,?in?the?next?12?months?life?sciences?companies?are?expecting?to?significantly ramp up their hiring of?manufacturing and production workers.*

Average?entry-level?wage?for?bioscience?technicians?in?the?Portland?area?is?approximately?$24?per?hour.

The?industry?average?salary?is?around?$70,000?annually.

*Coalition?of?State?Bioscience?Institutes

Educational?and?Career?Pathways

A?typical?misconception?about?the?life?sciences?is?that?it?is?an?industry?only?for?those?with?advanced science and engineering degrees — while in reality…

At its core, the life sciences industry is?an advanced manufacturing sector?that employs thousands in?occupations?that?often?require?postsecondary?certificates?or?associate’s?degrees?and?are?in-demand

  • One?in?three?life?sciences?occupations?is?in?a?middle-skills?role?(34%)*
  • Just?over?half?of industry occupational roles can be filled by individuals with less than a 4-year-degree

*According?to?the?CSBI?2023?Life?Sciences?Workforce?Report

Why?Choose?a?Career?in?Biotechnology?scientist in lab

  • Work?behind-the-scenes?on?the?cutting?edge?of healthcare and environmental innovation
  • Help?save?lives?and?cure?diseases
  • Entry-level?jobs?generally?requires?an?Associate’s Degree in Bioscience Technology.
Career?Advancement
  • Lab Supervisor
  • Product Specialist
  • Manager

Bioscience?Technology?at?PCCPCC students in lab

  • Associates?Degree:?2?year,?full-time?program?includes?internship?or?work?experience
  • Hands-on training in?laboratory?techniques?and?equipment?used?in?bioscience facilities (20 hrs/wk in lab)
  • Located?at?Rock?Creek?campus
  • Apply?for?either?Fall?or?Spring?Cohort
  • Transfer option to Portland State U.

Why?start?at?PCC?

  • Two?years?at?PCC?can?prepare?you?to?go?right?to?work?in?the?biotech?industry?or transfer to a 4-year college to?continue your education.
  • You’ll?gain?the?lab?experience?and?job?skills?training?that?you?might?not?get?with?a bachelor’s degree program.
  • Our program emphasizes?interpersonal?and?teamwork skills?and?hands-on lab training?(20?hrs./week)?learning?the?equipment?and?techniques?used?in?bioscience?facilities
  • Internship?opportunities?with?local?companies?and?institutions
  • Curriculum designed with input from Advisory Board of local biotech leaders

Getting?started

  1. Take?preparatory?courses?at?PCC?or transfer credits.
  2. Apply?to?the?BIT?program?at?any?time.
  3. Receive admissions to the BIT program?after?completing?preparatory?coursework.

See more: Apply to Bioscience Technology?

Associate?of?Applied?Science?–?Bioscience?Technology

An?Associate?of?Applied?Science?degree?(90?credits)?includes?general?education, basic?science foundation, and BIT coursework.

Year?One:?Program?prerequisites?and?General?Education

  • Take?math,?writing,?biology,?chemistry?and?general?education?courses
  • Apply?to?the?program?at?any?time

Begin?BIT?coursework?after?completing?biology?and?chemistry

  • Lab?safety,?lab?math,?instruments?and?techniques,?documentation?and?quality?control

Year?Two:?Hands-on?labs?skills?and?technique?courses

  • Lab?processes?used?in?research?and?biomanufacturing,?working?with?DNA,?cell cultures, and biologic molecules
  • Internships?and?work?experience

Learn?More

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