The Utility of Certificate and Master Degree Programs in Biotechnology
I just finished teaching a Biotechnology Product Development course for the New York Biotechnology center that is administered through SUNY Stonybrook. The SUNY program has evolved enormously over the past few years and I highly recommend it if you are the greater NYC metropolitan area.
This is my third year as a course director and I still love teaching the course and meeting all the characters who are my students (believe me they are characters). I am continually challenged by the students and each year the quality of students who participate in the program improves beyond my imagination. One of the best features of the Stonybrook program, and other like it e.g. Georgetown University ,is that students who participate in the program have to make connections with biotechnology executives and employees. This occurs via attendance at local and regional biotechnolgy meetings, career fairs and even industry internships. As I mentioned in previous posts, it is "not what you know but who you know" that helps you land a job! That said, I highly recommend that you enroll in a local certificate or master degree program (if there is one available in your neighborhood). Making industry connections as a student certainly cannot hurt when it comes to job hunting after graduation. Also, if you are lucky..... you may have me as a teacher.... as I have been known to show up in the most unusual places to teach biotechnology product development and other arcane aspects of the biotechnology biz!
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