Educating for Impact: Translating Science Curriculum into Industry-Ready Skills for the Cell and Immunotherapy Technician Workforce

The report describes a strategy that colleges can use to respond to the workforce needs of immunotherapy employers without creating a new career education program. 

The report contains:

• A case study from the University of Washington Bothell.

• A summary of the concepts and techniques taught in foundational science courses that are most relevant to the background knowledge and skills that immunotherapy technicians need in order to succeed in the workplace.

• An outline for a short course (Applied Immunotherapy) that focuses on the technical and professional skills required for employment in the immunotherapy field.

• Summaries of the benefits to students, faculty, college and employers related to using this short course approach in the workforce development context.

• Steps in the process of building mutually beneficial college/employer partnerships.

Report authors: Dr. Guy Hamilton, Director, Center for Biotechnology Innovation & Training, University of Washington, Bothell and John Carrese, Consultant

Funding for the report and Shoreline Community College's Immunotherapy Biohub came from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education program (NSF Award #2054990). The Immunotherapy Biohub focuses on educating technicians for advanced-technology fields such as immunotherapy and biomanufacturing. 

The Immunotherapy Biohub previously published a Labor Market Analysis: Cell and Immunotherapy Technician Workforce. As outlined in that report, the U.S. is witnessing a significant workforce shortage for biomanufacturing technicians with specialized skills in immunotherapy.