The Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) recruits matriculated predoctoral students from BTP training faculty labs within five degree-granting programs (Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science & Engineering, Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Molecular & Cellular Biology). Traineeships are typically awarded to students to support their second and third years of study. Students complete a prescribed curriculum over two years and may elect to obtain a graduate certificate in Cellular Engineering. All traineeship-supported students will complete an industrial internship, typically of 10–15 weeks duration. U.S. citizens are eligible for NIH-supported traineeships, while all students from BTP labs are eligible for UMass-supported traineeships.
The objectives of the BTP are to:
- Create a scholarly and social infrastructure to facilitate new and strengthen existing interdisciplinary networks at UMass, particularly those at the interface of engineering and the life sciences;
- Educate students in the fundamentals of quantitative biotechnology through new lecture and laboratory courses;
- Train students to appreciate the impact of biotechnology commercially through a tailored industrial internship and regular interactions with industrial personnel;
- Provide students with opportunities to improve interdisciplinary communication, expand career opportunities, and sharpen professional skills; and
- Increase the number of students, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups groups, who pursue careers in biotechnology.