Getting Started with Biotech
InnovATEBIO has a long history of helping two-year colleges start and develop biotechnology education programs. This page lists some of the questions we are asked and resources that may help. We will be adding links and resources to this page over time.
Is there a topic that you would like to know about? Contact us with your question and we'll add it.
Contents
1. Deciding whether to start a biotech program
3. How to learn new skills and provide faculty with professional development opportunities
4. Recruiting, retaining, and placing students
6. Creating opportunities for undergraduate research
7. How to work with InnovATEBIO to collaborate with colleagues across the United States
8. Learning about the biotech industry
1. Deciding whether to start a biotech program
Learn about your local industry. Is there a need for a biotech program in your area?
Building your advisory board
Survey students at your college - are they interested in biotech?
Develop a list of students who want to sign up for the program
Contact InnovATEBIO. We are happy to help.
2. Deciding what to teach - Basing decisions on the needs of your local employers
High School courses
Preparing students for the BACE
Resources for High School teachers
HOSA and Biotech
College courses
Learn what other biotech / biomanufacturing programs teach
Courses in a box - *note - access to some materials is restricted to faculty and may require logging in.
How does the BILT process work for designing curriculum?
3. How to learn new skills and provide faculty with professional development opportunities
Doing an externship / internship in industry
Other professional development opportunities
The InnovATEBIO Bioscience Leadership Institute
The Antibody Engineers Hackathon
4. Recruiting, retaining, and placing students
Getting the word out
Advertise your program at InnovATEBIO - all colleges and high schools that join InnovATEBIO as institutions have an InnovATEBIO program page.
Learn how to join InnovATEBIO as an institutional member.
Working with program alumni
Biotech Alumni Associations - examples at Austin Community College, City College of San Francisco, MiraCosta College
Using Biotech-Careers.org to raise awareness of careers in biotechnology
Preparing students for work
Writing resumés
Creating a LinkedIn profile
Communicating effectively with mentors
Helping students find internships
Other work-based learning opportunities
Apprenticeships
5. Finding funding
National Science Foundation (NSF) ATE grants for Undergraduate Education
The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program
The 2024 ATE solicitation - This describes important parts of the grant proposal.
Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
InnovATEBIO programs with ATE projects
Where to getting help writing an ATE grant
InnovATEBIO - InnovATEBIO team members are happy to advise groups preparing ATE proposals. Contact us.
NSF S-STEM grants
NSF Dear Colleague Letters
Current Dear Colleague Letters Active Dear Colleague Letters are listed in the 2024 ATE solicitation.
NSF SBIR supplements
6. Creating opportunities for undergraduate research
The InnovATEBIO Undergraduate Research Program
Publishing Student Research
7. How to work with InnovATEBIO to collaborate with colleagues across the United States
InnovATEBIO State Teams
The InnovATEBIO 2026 Biotech Workforce Hackathon - June 22-24th, 2026
Conferences
High Impact Technology Conference (HI TEC)