Leaders in a Booming Field

Leaders across the United States have started working collaboratively to make clear that bioindustrial manufacturing is a reliable and growing career path.

East Tennessee State University is at the center of this effort.

BioMADE, a national institute with a mission of helping secure America’s future through bioindustrial innovation, awarded the university $1.3 million in project funding in 2023. The grant total exceeds $3.3 million when including costs shared by ETSU and partners. 

“East Tennessee State University is proud to take a proactive role in advancing educational workforce development in the biomanufacturing sector in the Appalachian Highlands,” said Dr. Richard Prince, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying.

In collaboration with the university’s synthetic biology and engineering research, the ETSU Research Corporation, and the Niswonger Foundation, a key goal of the initiative is to create a comprehensive career pathway to equip both high school students and many others with the skills necessary to thrive in the biomanufacturing industry.

The project should pay quick dividends. 

Situated on the work of the BioBuilder Foundation, the ETSU Research Corporation, and the Niswonger Foundation, ETSU will help build a pipeline program training high school students and giving them the tools to jump into the workforce in as little as two years. 

In the longer term, ETSU is creating a degree program to foster innovation and expansion, as well as give options to those interested in changing jobs.

“This collaboration with our partners at the ETSU Research Corporation and the Niswonger Foundation allows the university to continue its commitment to serving nontraditional students and those seeking career transitions,” said Dr. Aruna Kilaru, Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Biosciences and an award-winning Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

The university has been a leader in championing biomanufacturing careers, and giving students hands-on learning opportunities is at the center of ETSU’s approach to education.

In 2022, the ETSU Research Corporation hosted “Growing the Future: Symposium on Innovation and Education for the Bioeconomy.” The event attracted officials from across the nation, including from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

“Ultimately, this groundbreaking program will result in the creation of a versatile and adaptable workforce,” said Dr. Pamela Mims, a Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Grants in the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development.