About the CareerCERTIFICATE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
About the CareerBiotechnology is a rapidly expanding field which includes research and development, quality control and manufacturing. Research and development in biotechnology seeks answers and solutions that will improve human health, agriculture and food production, and environmental solutions. Biotechnology laboratory technicians may be involved in advanced laboratory techniques such as genetic engineering, molecular diagnostics, vaccine production, food safety, environmental testing, pollution control or work with important biological molecules.
The role of biotechnologist laboratory technicians is typically assisting scientists in solving fundamental questions concerning the environment or concerning the production and development of medicines and other useful materials to help preserve human life. Private, governmental or educational laboratories that perform research in basic or applied science employ biotechnology laboratory technicians. Specific career opportunities could require skills related to genetic engineering of plants or microorganisms, gene therapy to correct human health problems, DNA fingerprinting, vaccine development, or production of food, drugs and other consumer products. Recent advances in biotechnology have resulted in the development of products that are having a positive impact on our health, food and environment.
The Biotechnology Laboratory Technician curriculum at Midlands Technical College is designed to meet the increasing demands for entry-level laboratory technicians in various fields of the biotechnical industry.
The Biotechnology Laboratory Technician program emphasizes biology, chemistry, mathematics and microcomputer applications. The curriculum objectives are designed to prepare graduates to serve in various capacities including research assistant to a biologist or chemist, laboratory or instrumentation technician and quality control/quality assurance technician.
MTC’s program, which integrates academic and occupational instruction, prepares students for entry-level employment as bioscience technicians in this exciting field. Because enrollment is limited to 15 to 20 students in the biotechnology laboratory technician program, there is opportunity for students to ask questions and receive one-on-one attention during laboratories. Courses are strategically sequenced to provide a firm conceptual foundation prior to progression to the next course, so students don’t have to worry about not understanding one concept before moving on to the next. Graduates receiving a certificate in MTC’s Biotechnology Laboratory Technician program will be able to support the attraction, development and sustainability of the bioscience and biotechnology industries.
