Stephanie, a lab technician at the NIH, discusses her career path from pre-vet studies to a biotech certificate at Montgomery College. At the NIH, Stepnhanie works with patients from around the world, processing blood and bone marrow for clinical trials. Stephanie highlights the importance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and being flexible in the workplace. She advises those interested in biotech to pursue their passions and embrace continuous learning, as her experience at NIH has been both challenging and rewarding.

MC Biotech Program: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/programs/biotechnology/index.html

Careers at the NIH: https://hr.nih.gov/careers/career-fields/student-recent-graduate-careers

In this episode you’ll meet Devyn, a lab tech at Pharmaron in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Devyn was inspired by cancer in her family history to pursue a career in science. Devyn attended Montgomery College, where she learned skills like homogenization and traceability, which helped her secure her job at Pharmaron. Devyn advises students to embrace mistakes and maintain routines for better time management.

AJ is a quality assurance specialist at BIOQUAL in Rockville, Maryland. AJ shares how his interest in epidemiology led him to a career in biotech. AJ chose Montgomery College for its strong biotech program, and low cost tuition. At BIOQUAL, AJ works on data generation, SOP development, and auditing processes. AJ emphasizes the value of networking, continuous professional growth, and hands-on experience for aspiring biotech students. AJ encourages students to actively seek opportunities and build meaningful industry connections.

MC Biotech Program: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/programs/biotechnology/index.html

Careers at BIOQUAL: https://bioqual.com/why-join-bioqual/

In this episode, you’ll meet Lena, a Renasant Bio scientist, whose journey into biotech began in 2014. Lena credits the Bridge to Biotech program at City College of San Francisco for building hero biotech knowledge and lab skills. Over the years, Lena gained experience at four biotech companies- specializing in assay development and high-throughput imaging. Lena’s advice to community college students is to be flexible, stay resilient, and let personal drive guide you past early challenges.

Stephanie, a lab technician at the NIH, discusses her career path from pre-vet studies to a biotech certificate at Montgomery College. At the NIH, Stepnhanie works with patients from around the world, processing blood and bone marrow for clinical trials. Stephanie highlights the importance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and being flexible in the workplace. She advises those interested in biotech to pursue their passions and embrace continuous learning, as her experience at NIH has been both challenging and rewarding.

Jennifer works in biotech at Novo Nordisk in Clayton, North Carolina. She pursued biotechnology through a program at Johnston Community College. Jennifer's professional roles evolved from entry-level production to management, leveraging her skills and the company's training programs. She emphasized the importance of practical experience and professional growth opportunities within Novo Nordisk. Jennifer advised aspiring biotechnologists to stay focused, believe in themselves, and take advantage of educational and career development opportunities.

Johnston Community College BioWork Certificate Program: https://www.johnstoncc.edu/programs/biowork.php

Careers at Novo Nordisk: https://www.novonordisk.com/careers/find-a-job.html

Dalton is a technician at Grifols Therapeutics in Clayton, North Carolina. Dalton shares his journey from high school to his current role, highlighting the impact of the BioWork class he took in high school. He details his daily responsibilities, including working in buffer prep and the importance of detailed reporting. Dalton shares his experience of adjusting to a rotating shift schedule and the pride he feels in contributing to life-saving work. Dalton advises aspiring biotech professionals to be passionate, dedicated, and curious.

Johnston Community College BioWork Certificate Program: https://www.johnstoncc.edu/programs/biowork.php

Careers at Grifols: https://www.grifols.com/en/careers

Eroica, a lab assistant at Austin Community College (ACC), discusses her journey into biotechnology. Initially interested in biology and graphic design, Eroica discovered biotech through a recommended course. Her role involves cleaning, material prep, and demos, which she enjoys. She collaborates with UT Austin on projects with students and highlights the importance of connections, citing a pivotal meeting on a plane between her father and a biotech leader that led her to the biotech program at ACC. Eroica advises students to seize opportunities and value connections.

Austin Community College Biotechnology Program: ​​https://programs.austincc.edu/science-engineering-and-math/biotechnology/