Montgomery College and WorkSource Montgomery marked the successful conclusion of their 4-week Biotechnology Boot Camp, a joint workforce development initiative designed to open doors into one of the region’s fastest-growing industries. For this cohort, participants completed this industry-informed curriculum with technical and hands-on learning, career preparation, and real-world industry perspectives.
A Partnership Built From the Ground Up
Rooted in the region, two leading organizations, Montgomery College and WorkSource Montgomery, have come together to co-design the Biotech Boot Camp from recruitment through graduation, sharing responsibility for who enters the program and how participants are supported throughout their journey.
Recruitment follows a defined protocol, with Montgomery College and WorkSource Montgomery jointly determining eligibility for each cohort to ensure the program reaches residents positioned to benefit from the training, including career changers, stay-at-home parents, and internationally trained professionals with advanced degrees and legal work authorization who are seeking to enter/transition into the biotech field. Admission is competitive, with a thorough application and interview process, and cohorts are intentionally limited to 11–12 students to preserve the hands-on, personalized nature of the training. Funding from WorkSource Montgomery, supported by Montgomery County, covers both the cost of the program and participant stipends, making the training free and helping remove financial barriers to participation.
The impact of that partnership is best captured by the people behind its execution, who see the program as both a pathway for individuals and an investment in the region’s biotech workforce, and who spoke to how proud and valuable that partnership has been.
“This cohort is especially significant, as it reflects our partnership with WorkSource Montgomery, expanding our reach to more residents,” said Vedham Karpakakunjaram, Ph.D., Dean of Applied Sciences & Technology at Montgomery College, adding “we look forward to strengthening this partnership and growing the program in the near future.”
“Together, we’re helping individuals gain valuable biotechnology training and opening doors to careers in one of the region’s fastest-growing industries,” said Melissa Cunningham, Vice President of Workforce Development at WorkSource Montgomery.
An Industry-Led Training for Industry Readiness
Rather than a standard classroom curriculum, the training is led by industry professionals who bring current, real-world lab practices directly into the program—from safety protocols to proper documentation, and the day-to-day realities of working in a modern biotechnology laboratory. That preparation is designed to translate into employment, with programs reporting employment rates of 85% to 90%, depending on market conditions.
“Our Biotechnology Bootcamp is about connecting the dots between learning and doing, training and opportunity, and a participant’s potential and a career in biotechnology,” said Meena Chandok, Program Director, BioTrain and Program Manager, Biotechnology. “Our participants gain hands-on experience, develop the professional confidence to apply what they have learned, and gain exposure to the industry they are preparing to enter. When those pieces come together, training becomes more than a classroom experience; it becomes a pathway forward.”
Students build technical proficiency in foundational skills including pipetting, pH meter validation, autoclave sterilization, cell culture growth, viability counting, and serial dilution, and environmental monitoring, while also developing an understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and good documentation practices.
Local industry partners — including MilliporeSigma, Charles River (currently Rose BioSolutions), Kite Pharma, A-Bio, Actalent, and us (BioBuzz), support the program through a range of contributions, including donated lab supplies, facility tours, and, career support such as resume reviews and mock interviews. Their involvement helps ensure that the training reflects skills, knowledge, and expectations employers look for on the day one.
But the training extends beyond the lab. Students also receive career preparation focused on resume writing, interview preparation, professional communication, and learning how to recognize and articulate their strengths and skills. These skills are reinforced through mock interviews, guidance from alumni, and direct feedback from professionals with decades of industry experience, helping participants build both the technical skills and professional confidence needed to pursue careers in biotechnology.
The Trainee’s Perspective: A Career Pivot Into Biotech
For participant Nataliya Tur, a geologist seeking to transition to a career in the biotech industry, the boot camp became the bridge into biotech. “All the instructors were very professional, and they shared their knowledge and skills with the students, and I learned so much in such a short period of time,” she said.
Beyond the bench, Nataliya pointed to the program’s tour of MilliporeSigma‘s labs and conversations with previous graduates now working in the field as turning points — real exposure to what a biotech career looks like day to day. She also credited the program’s career-readiness training as something she hadn’t expected to gain from a science course but now sees as essential to landing her next role. “Our group of students have become a good team of good friends,” she added, “and I believe that what I’ve learned in this program will take me far in life.”
Path Forward
Nataliya’s experience reflects a pattern partners saw across the entire cohort. “I am impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication our participants have shown in developing proficiency in the lab skills central to this training,” said Dean Karpakakunjaram. Cunningham echoed that sentiment: “The dedication and hard work of the participants have been inspiring, and we’re excited to see how they’ll contribute to the future of biotech while strengthening our local workforce”.
“We are thinking about how to build a lasting pathway into biotechnology,” said Dr. Chandok. “The opportunity is to deepen our connections with employers, mentors, and industry partners so that more people can gain the skills, experience, and confidence to pursue careers in biotechnology.”
With each successful boot camp, that pathway continues to grow—connecting more participants to industry, expanding career opportunities, and strengthening the region’s biotechnology workforce.
