The National Science Foundation recently awarded Philadelphia-based The Wistar Institute, an independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training, with a $649,971 grant.
The institute will use the funding to support the expansion of its Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Pre-apprenticeship Program to community colleges in New Jersey and Delaware where students may have no access or limited access to hands-on laboratory training and internships.
The program prepares community-college students for positions in academic and biomedical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical laboratories.
“As the Greater Philadelphia Region’s life science sector continues to expand, there is greater demand for laboratory technicians in both academic and industry labs,” Dr. Dario Altieri, The Wistar Institute Robert and Penny Fox distinguished professor, said. “This 25-year program has offered career pathways to a candidate pool that is eager to join the life science sector and gain access to both entry-level and long-term careers here in Philadelphia.”
The BTT Program began in 2000 and was initially designed as a two-summer, hands-on, mentored technician training program. Until 2021, the program was to students from Community College of Philadelphia.
Expansion will run from summer 2025 through summer 2027 and will bring the number of community colleges covered by the program to eight.