Through access to the BTEC facility and the BTEC graduate faculty, students who enroll in the Master’s degree in Biomanufacturing and Bioprocess Development (MBBD) will gain "hands-on" graduate research experience on the latest analytical and process simulation methods for development of bioprocesses used in manufacturing biotherapeutics, biologics and vaccines.

Students who complete this program will: understand the upstream fermentation and downstream protein purification components of biomanufacturing technologies, understand bacterial, fungal, yeast, insect and mammalian cell expression systems use in manufacturing human diagnostic or therapeutic proteins, understand the impact of gene expression technology on process, equipment, facility design and protein structure, be able to design a new process utilizing Design of Experiment (DoE), statistical, and modeling/simulation methods for rapid process optimization, develop a working knowledge of FDA regulatory guidelines including cGMPs, understand the bianalyical, process sensing and critical parameter monitoring required for Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) and complete a supervised thesis research project (or Plan B paper) on some novel aspect or method useful for accelerated bioprocess development or PAT.

The BTEC facility simulates an FDA-regulated biomanufacturing facility capable of producing sterile bulk biopharmaceuticals and includes classrooms, laboratories, industrial scale upstream fermentation and downstream protein purification equipment, process support facilities, an advanced protein characterization analytical laboratory and process utilities. In addition, ~40% of the BTEC graduate faculty has biotechnology or biomanufacturing industry experience.