PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Wistar Institute announced a significant boost for its Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Pre-apprenticeship Program, receiving a $649,971 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This funding aims to extend the program’s reach into New Jersey and Delaware, targeting community colleges that currently lack comprehensive hands-on laboratory training and internship opportunities. The initiative represents the second NSF grant dedicated to broadening the scope of this vital training scheme.
With Philadelphia’s life science sector experiencing robust growth, the demand for skilled laboratory technicians in both academic and industry settings is on the rise. “This 25-year program has offered career pathways to a candidate pool that is eager to join the life science sector,” said Dario Altieri, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute. The program serves as a critical bridge, connecting aspiring technicians to the burgeoning opportunities within the region’s life sciences ecosystem.
Originating in 2000, the BTT Program was initially tailored for Community College of Philadelphia students, offering them a pathway to careers in biomedical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical laboratories through two summers of mentored, hands-on training. The program’s scope expanded significantly in 2021, thanks to an NSF Advanced Technological Education grant. This expansion allowed for a larger cohort of students from an increased number of regional community colleges to participate.
The latest funding will implement the Tri-State ExCEEd BTT initiative, introducing the program to additional community colleges across New Jersey and Delaware from Summer 2025 through Summer 2027. This extension aims to diversify and enrich the talent pool in the Greater Philadelphia Region, bringing the total number of collaborating community colleges to eight and covering at least 10 counties across three states.
The ExCEEd BTT segment of the program offers students a paid, accelerated one-summer pre-apprenticeship that includes comprehensive laboratory training at Wistar and mentored experiences in both academic and industry laboratories. Graduates emerge ready for immediate employment as laboratory technicians, with options to advance their training through Wistar’s registered apprenticeship.
This NSF-supported expansion not only broadens the base of Wistar’s programming but also ensures training for a diverse and underrepresented student demographic, previously inaccessible to life sciences research. Additionally, the program will introduce new components on cell and gene therapy, providing a template for integrating biotechnician pre-apprenticeship programs into broader biotechnology and science curricula at community colleges. This strategic move paves the way for a potential national rollout, affirming Wistar’s commitment to cultivating a diverse, skilled workforce for the thriving life science sector.
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