Fostering the Future of Biotech: A Look at Montgomery College’s BioTrain Biotech Boot Camp

By Ezekiel Kelley
July 12, 2023

As the biotech industry continues to grow globally, the demand for qualified professionals to contribute to and accelerate innovation is increasing. The Montgomery College (MC) Biotech Boot camp through a partnership between Montgomery College , WorkSource Montgomery, and the Department of Labor, State of Maryland’s EARN grant program works to meet this demand. The BioTrain program, and Biotech Boot Camp, led by program director Dr. Meena Chandok, have emerged as pioneering forces in the industry. Not only is it equipping the workforce of tomorrow with essential skills, but it’s also advancing the industry by directly responding to its needs. “The availability of customized training through BioTrain is a significant advantage for employers. The ability to collaborate directly with BioTrain to fulfill their training needs is highly beneficial and essential” Angela Graham CEO of Quality Biological stated.

The Biotech Boot Camp program is not static; it evolves to meet the changing demands of the industry. Laura Moreno-Davis from WSM says “partnership with BioTrain, who together through Biotech Boot Camp, enables the building, sustaining, and retaining of a viable workforce for the Biotech industry, thus improving the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities. This unique flexibility allows it to continuously update its training protocols based on industry needs.

Enjay Aquino, Laboratory Operations Support Manager at  MilliporeSigma and Biotech Boot Camp’s Lead Instructor expressed that “the MC Biotech Boot Camp offers more than just theoretical learning, teaching not only science but also practical skills needed for a successful start in the industry.”

With a 65-70% placement rate, the Biotech Boot Camp stands as a testament to the industry’s need for such programs. Its graduates are uniquely prepared to enter the biotech sector, thanks to the program’s emphasis on real-world experience and state-of-the-art equipment training. Chandok explained, “We are giving graduates the tools and connections needed to launch their career in biotech. We see the increase in their confidence levels from the day they start to the last day when they really graduate.” 

Vanessa Rosales, a recent graduate currently employed at MilliporeSigma said, “Before joining the program, I was pretty stressed out and doubtful about landing a job in the biotech industry. But the boot camp imparted me with knowledge and gave me the confidence to ace applications and interviews.”

It’s important to note that the Biotech Boot camp and BioTrain are not just about training the next generation of biotech professionals. They are also about fostering a thriving community within the industry. In the spirit of this community-building endeavor, Montgomery College will be hosting a BioBuzz networking event on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. This event will offer those in the industry an opportunity to connect with the ecosystem, learn about the Biotech Boot camp, and meet some of its graduates. “It’s vital for aspiring candidates and early-career professionals to gain industry exposure as early as possible. This early exposure enables them to see the range of career paths available in biotechnology, beyond just lab work, thus broadening their horizons,” said Jennifer Chiang, Head of People Strategy Execution at MilliporeSigma.

The initiative of Montgomery College aligns perfectly with the growing Maryland Biotech landscape. With over 500 biotech firms, Maryland is one of the top biotech hubs in the U.S. The state offers a nurturing environment for both established companies and startups, with a heavy focus on innovation and growth. Programs like the Biotech Boot camp not only feed into this growing ecosystem but also contribute to its dynamism and diversity.

Chandok says, “BioTrain addresses the needs of the biotech community in a different way. We work both with employees and employers. For employers, we help train their incumbent workers before they hit the floor. This reduces the cost for biotech companies and supports their infrastructure. We also provide soft skill training to these incumbent workers, so they can maintain and sustain their jobs.”

“I would consider myself the non-traditional boot camp attendee, finding myself unemployed after 30 years in the field,” expressed Lisa Eley, a recent boot camp graduate and current Senior Biomanufacturing Associate at Charles River Labs. “I stumbled across the BioTrain program while searching for ways to enhance my chances of being hired without going back to school. The program wrapped up everything I needed at that moment when I was unemployed. It offered workshops and learning opportunities that made me more marketable in a tough job market.”

This Biotech Boot camp has positioned itself as a bridge between academia and the industry, providing an invaluable resource to both sides of the aisle. Its importance cannot be overstated, especially in an industry marked by constant change and unprecedented growth.  “We have witnessed a significant increase in entry-level employee confidence among those who have completed the MC boot camp program,” said Danielle Gabrish Director, Clinical Biologics at AstraZeneca

“If someone is contemplating applying, I would advise them to just go for it. It’s not rocket science, and you don’t necessarily need a science background. A little hard work can take you a long way,” said Philip Cook, Boot camp Graduate and current Biomanufacturing Associate at Charles River Labs. 

With programs like BioTrain, BioTrac, and the MC Biotech Boot camp, the future of the biotech industry in Maryland and beyond appears more robust than ever.