Presentation by Dr. Duncan McBride at the Community College Program 2013

1. NSF support for Biotechnology
Technician Education
Duncan McBride
National Science Foundation
April 22, 2013
dmcbride@nsf.gov

2. What is NSF supporting now?
• One National Center
• One Regional Center (with national connections)
• 21 projects, ranging from small, new to ATE
(7), to full projects (14)
• Have previously funded many other projects
(~67 others since 2000)

3. ATE Biotech centers and projects
current 4-22-2013
AK
HI
1
National Center
Regional Center
Project

4. What would we like to support?
• A few additional regional centers responding
to specific needs in a particular region (ATE
has done this in nanotech and manufacturing.)
• ATE Projects doing program improvement, lab
development, working with
industry, professional development, etc.
Close coordination with centers and other
projects.

5. What makes a good proposal?
• Good ideas
• Good science and technology (NSF)
• Capable people
• Building on what others have done
• Details
• Clear logistics
• Evident projected effect on students
• Enough students (contd)

6. What makes a good proposal-2?
• Realistic plan to recruit students
• Industry partners with support & jobs
• Detailed evidence of success from any prior
support (from NSF or other related to new project)
• Measurable goals
• Appropriate evaluation
• Appropriate scale for money requested
• Details
• Support from the college
• Read the ATE solicitation
• Details (did I mention that?)

7. Reviewing proposals
• Look for projects you think would advance
biotechnician education
• Look for characteristics of a good proposal
(previous slides)
• Don’t expect perfection
• Support good ideas being done by good people
• Some things can be fixed in negotiation
• Make helpful comments and give specific advice
to both strong and weak proposals.

8. Biotech report 2008

9. Recommendations
• Biotechnology curriculum
– Soft skills
– Core courses that articulate and transfer
– A strong theoretical understanding of
complete biomanufacturing process
– Intro to emerging technologies
– Applications of biotech in bio and microbio
courses

10. Recommendations
• Biotechnology programs
– Industry interns for faculty
– Faculty teams to bring professional
development to new programs
– Related cross-disciplinary skills beyond
biotech for faculty and students
– Skill from various biotech subfields to
facilitate field shifts

11. Recommendations
• Colleges and universities
– Clear articulated paths from middle, high
school to 2- and 4-year programs
– Agreement on standards for biotech program
certification
– Biotech incorporated in food and ag programs

12. Recommendations
• Partnerships
– Among colleges and
universities, industry, government
– In regional consortia for cross-over skills that
serve regional industry

13. Recommendations
• Marketing and communication
– Enhance employer awareness of biotech
programs and their successes
– Use biotech professionals as resources in
STEM classes
– Disseminate successful models of industry
partnerships
– Develop innovative marketing strategies for
biotech programs

14. Where are we now?
• How are we doing?
• What do we still need to do?
• What should we no longer do?
• What else should we do?
• How can NSF best facilitate?