Alamance Community College (ACC) in Graham, North Carolina, has received $474,878 from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program to launch BioQuest, an initiative preparing students for careers in biopharma quality, the college announced on October 7, 2026. ACC is one of only two North Carolina institutions to receive NSF-ATE funding focused on biotechnology this year.
Through BioQuest, ACC’s Biotechnology Department will create a new Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Biopharma Quality, with first courses offered in Fall 2027. The program responds to strong, unmet demand in North Carolina’s Piedmont for quality control and quality assurance technicians, specialists who ensure products meet company standards and U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements.
“This NSF-ATE award, DUE# 2553982, will allow ACC to leverage NSF-ATE funding and build on the strong foundation of ACC’s over 4-decade-old biotechnology program by creating a new 2-year degree focusing on a pathway in biopharma quality,” said Michelle Sabaoun, Department Head of Biotechnology at ACC. “The project will allow us to enhance hands-on training opportunities, strengthen industry partnerships, and provide students with access to the technologies and experiences that reflect today’s biotechnology workforce. The impact will extend beyond our classrooms by helping prepare the next generation of quality control technicians for careers in a rapidly growing industry in North Carolina.”
Industry-Aligned Training
The project team will develop six new courses, each shaped by skills gaps identified by ACC’s Business Industry Leadership Team, an advisory committee of local industry partners. Course competencies include quality control testing, regulatory compliance and process validation, documentation, and data integrity, with data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence woven throughout. Each course will be lab-intensive and use real-world industry equipment. Students will also complete virtual reality modules and earn embedded microcredential badges that verify specific lab skills, giving graduates a résumé-ready credential.
Flexible by Design
To serve working adults and career changers, BioQuest courses will be taught in a hybrid evening format, with online lectures and blended labs, the Biotechnology Department’s first to use this format. Each course will run in a 4- or 8-week session so students can focus on one core course at a time. Students can complete the full AAS degree or take stand-alone courses, and incumbent employees can use the courses to build quality skills and advance in their careers.
Sharing the Model Statewide
In the project’s second year, ACC will recruit working adults and under-skilled workers across Alamance County, along with high school students enrolled in biomedical courses in local public schools. In its final year, ACC will share the curriculum, materials, and teaching methods online and through train-the-trainer workshops for faculty at other North Carolina biotechnology departments, with potential for national reach. Industry Expansion Solutions at NC State University will support project evaluation.
About Alamance Community College
Founded in 1958, Alamance Community College serves more than 10,000 students annually through curriculum, continuing education, and workforce development programs. Located in Graham, the college is a cornerstone of education and economic development for Alamance County and the surrounding region.
