MiraCosta College's strong partnerships with North County's biotechnology industry have created exceptional opportunities for both local students and businesses. From the facilities that house our top-notch laboratories to the classes taught by our nationally recognized faculty, the biotechnology program at MiraCosta is designed to prepare students for successful careers in local companies.
Biotechnology is a rapidly growing industry. Currently one third of the nation's biotechnology companies reside in California. In fact, there are more than 500 companies located throughout San Diego County devoted to biotechnology, bioscience and biomedicine.
In response to the local need for skilled workers, and to provide our students with opportunities to begin successful careers, MiraCosta founded its biotechnology program in 1990. In 2006, the program moved into the 3,500-square-foot biotech facility on the college's Oceanside campus.
With support from local companies, such as Genentech and Carlsbad-based Life Technologies, the multimillion-dollar facility was created to replicate the real-world work environment, with an instructional laboratory area and a bioprocessing suite. Life Technologies and Beckman Coulter (among other companies) donated equipment to the program, ensuring that students use the same products and supplies as their industry counterparts.
Our biotechnology curriculum is developed with biotechnology experts and taught by accomplished faculty such as MiraCosta biotechnology instructor Mike Fino, who was named by Pharmaceutical Technology as one of the pharmaceutical industry's most talented young professionals.
Professor Fino has developed both the college's research and development and bioprocessing arms of the program, the latter of which uses industry-standard technologies employed by biotechnology companies. It is the only program of its kind in San Diego County.
Local companies Genoptix, Aubrey Inc., Beckman Coulter, Synteract and others provide speakers for campus lectures, host student tours of facilities, offer internship opportunities, and participate in the biotechnology program's advisory board.
These partnerships benefit students, who learn directly from local experts, and also build a pipeline of future employees for the biotech industry. Our students have been hired by Life Technologies, Genoptix, Aubrey Inc., Autogenomics, Beckman Coulter, Synteract, Genentech and others.
In 2004, MiraCosta's tremendous partnership with local industry was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, which designated the college as a “Center of Excellence” in bioprocessing. Our program also recently received state grants to develop and promote biotechnology career pathways for high school students.
A new grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in collaboration with California State University, San Marcos and Miramar College, enables high-achieving MiraCosta students to receive stem cell training and secure industry internships. The college has also recently received funding through a National Science Foundation grant for developing a biofuels class.
The strength of our biotechnology program has resulted in a graduation success rate of greater than 90 percent for students who seek immediate employment or eventual transfer to four-year universities. We share this success with our industry partners and community members, whose support and dedication to MiraCosta students is securing a stable, well-educated workforce in vital local industries.
We invite potential students and the community to explore career pathways in biotechnology. To find out more about our program, please contact Mike Fino at (760) 757-2121 ext. 6499 or [email protected], or check our college Web site at www.miracosta.edu/biotech.
Biotechnology is a rapidly growing industry. Currently one third of the nation's biotechnology companies reside in California. In fact, there are more than 500 companies located throughout San Diego County devoted to biotechnology, bioscience and biomedicine.
In response to the local need for skilled workers, and to provide our students with opportunities to begin successful careers, MiraCosta founded its biotechnology program in 1990. In 2006, the program moved into the 3,500-square-foot biotech facility on the college's Oceanside campus.
With support from local companies, such as Genentech and Carlsbad-based Life Technologies, the multimillion-dollar facility was created to replicate the real-world work environment, with an instructional laboratory area and a bioprocessing suite. Life Technologies and Beckman Coulter (among other companies) donated equipment to the program, ensuring that students use the same products and supplies as their industry counterparts.
Our biotechnology curriculum is developed with biotechnology experts and taught by accomplished faculty such as MiraCosta biotechnology instructor Mike Fino, who was named by Pharmaceutical Technology as one of the pharmaceutical industry's most talented young professionals.
Professor Fino has developed both the college's research and development and bioprocessing arms of the program, the latter of which uses industry-standard technologies employed by biotechnology companies. It is the only program of its kind in San Diego County.
Local companies Genoptix, Aubrey Inc., Beckman Coulter, Synteract and others provide speakers for campus lectures, host student tours of facilities, offer internship opportunities, and participate in the biotechnology program's advisory board.
These partnerships benefit students, who learn directly from local experts, and also build a pipeline of future employees for the biotech industry. Our students have been hired by Life Technologies, Genoptix, Aubrey Inc., Autogenomics, Beckman Coulter, Synteract, Genentech and others.
In 2004, MiraCosta's tremendous partnership with local industry was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, which designated the college as a “Center of Excellence” in bioprocessing. Our program also recently received state grants to develop and promote biotechnology career pathways for high school students.
A new grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in collaboration with California State University, San Marcos and Miramar College, enables high-achieving MiraCosta students to receive stem cell training and secure industry internships. The college has also recently received funding through a National Science Foundation grant for developing a biofuels class.
The strength of our biotechnology program has resulted in a graduation success rate of greater than 90 percent for students who seek immediate employment or eventual transfer to four-year universities. We share this success with our industry partners and community members, whose support and dedication to MiraCosta students is securing a stable, well-educated workforce in vital local industries.
We invite potential students and the community to explore career pathways in biotechnology. To find out more about our program, please contact Mike Fino at (760) 757-2121 ext. 6499 or [email protected], or check our college Web site at www.miracosta.edu/biotech.