Skip to Content
Springfield Technical Community College
Search
Menu
  • Opener Explore Programs & Classes
    • Credit
    • Degrees & Certificates
    • Register for Classes
    • Class Schedules
    • Course Descriptions
    • Flex Terms
    • Honors Program
    • Online Learning
    • Challenge Exams
    • Transfer Options
    • Non-Credit
    • Springfield Adult Learning Center (SALC)
    • HiSET/GED Exams
    • Testing & Placement
    • Workforce Development Center
    • More Programs
    • STEM Starter Academy
    • Early College
    • College Now Dual Enrollment
    • Gateway to College
    • Summer Youth Programs
  • Opener Apply To STCC
    • Admissions Policies
    • Information Sessions
  • Opener Pay for College
    • Financial Aid
    • College Costs
    • Scholarships & Awards
    • Free College
    • Financial Wellness
  • Opener Student Resources

    Student Support Quick Links


    • Academic
    • Tutoring
    • Registrar's Office
    • Request a Transcript
    • Academic Advising
    • Transfer Services
    • Library
    • Inter-college Access
    • Tech Support
    • Support
    • Career Services
    • Child Care
    • Disability Services
    • Domestic Violence Resources
    • Leadership/Mentoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Policies
    • TRIO Services
    • Veterans/Service Members
    • Wellness
    • Center for Access Services
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Health Compliance
    • Health & Wellness Center
    • Medical Re-entry Process
    • Mental Health Support and Resources
  • Opener Campus Life
    • Arts and Culture
    • Athletics
    • Bookstore
    • Campus Safety
    • Inclusion & Belonging
    • Fitness Center
    • Food Services
    • Housing
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Student Activities & Clubs
    • WTCC 90.7 FM
  • Opener About STCC
    • Accreditation
    • Board of Trustees
    • Shared Governance
    • Campus Map & Directions
    • Community Engagement
    • Contact Information/ Directories
    • Employment
    • Hispanic Serving Institution
    • History of the College
    • Institutional Research
    • Marketing & Communications
    • President's Message
    • Publications
    • Public Records
    • Purchasing/Bids
    • Strategic Planning
    • Student Consumer Information
  • eTools
    • STCCNet Portal
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • ARIES

    • STCC Account/Getting Started
    • Reset Password
    • Tech Tutorials
  • Library
  • Visit
    • Visit STCC
    • Virtual Tour
    • Campus Map and Directions
    • Smoke-Free Campus
  • News
    • STCC News
    • Media Coverage
    • Campus Blog
    • STCC Around
    • Student News
  • Calendar
    • Academic Calendar
    • Final Exam Schedule
    • Events Calendar
    • Commencement
  • Alumni
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • STCC Foundation
    • Ram Warrior Society
    • Past Campaigns
  • Translate
  • Home
  • /
  • About STCC
  • /
  • News
In this Section
About STCC
  • Accreditation
  • Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, & Diversity
    • Policy
    • Complaints
    • Resources
  • Board of Trustees
    • Bylaws
    • Board of Trustees Meetings
    • Minutes of Board of Trustees Meetings
    • Alumni Trustee Position
  • Cabinet
  • Campus Map and Directions
  • Community Engagement
    • Community Dental Care
    • Facility Rentals
      • Event Request Form
    • Farmers' Market
    • STCC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
    • We the Women
    • WTCC Radio
  • Contact STCC
  • Employee Directory
  • Faculty Directory
    • Endowed Chairs
  • Office Directory
  • Employment at STCC
    • STCC Cares: Employee Well-being Strategy
    • Employee Benefits
    • Internal Postings Job Availability Notice
    • Employee Excellence Awards
    • Retiree Community
    • Professional Development
    • Center for Online & Digital Learning
  • Hispanic Serving Institution
    • HSI Stories
  • History of the College
    • Our Presidents
    • Our Founders
    • Shays' Rebellion Website
  • Institutional Research
    • Data Request Form
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Marketing and Communications
    • Publications
      • College Catalogs
      • Course Brochures
      • Dean's List
      • STCC Student Success Plan
  • News
    • Hometown News
    • Media Coverage
    • STCC Around
    • Student News
      • Merit
        • STCC Merit Page
        • Share Your Story
  • President's Message
  • Public Records
    • Guidelines for Seeking Public Records
  • Purchasing
    • Accounts Payable
    • Facility Contractor Bids
  • Rankings
  • Shared Governance
  • STCC Assistance Corporation
  • Strategic Planning
    • Strategic Planning Task Force
  • Student Consumer Information
  • 29 Who Shine

STCC biotech program provides career opportunities in a growing field

November 20, 2017

Biotech panelists in front of STCC bannerSPRINGFIELD, Mass. –  At a time when biotechnology jobs are hitting an all-time high in Massachusetts, Springfield Technical Community College offers one of the few degree-granting programs in Western Massachusetts that can train students for careers in the booming industry.

To raise awareness about the program, STCC on Nov. 20 hosted a Biotechnology Career Exploration Luncheon for students and a tour of STCC’s state-of-the-art biotech labs.

The career exploration event featured insights about the STCC program and biotech industry from current students, alumni, and employer and four-year college representatives.

“There are more opportunities now than ever to get good jobs in Massachusetts,” said Dr. Lisa Rapp, biotechnology department chair at STCC. “The state has the highest concentration of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the world.”

While the industry is growing rapidly, Rapp noted that biotechnology often is not on the radar of people considering their career options.  The STCC program may be a good option for any high school or college student interested in science or anyone considering a career change who wants to be a part of an exciting field.

Biotechnology encompasses a broad range of applications that use living organisms such as cells and bacteria to make useful products. Current applications of biotechnology include industrial production of pharmaceuticals such as vaccines and insulin, genetic testing, DNA fingerprinting and genetic engineering of plants.

There are more opportunities now than ever to get good jobs in Massachusetts. The state has the highest concentration of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the world. Dr. Lisa Rapp, Biotechnology department chair at STCC

According to the industry trade group MassBio, jobs in the Massachusetts biotechnology and pharmaceutical (biopharma) industry grew 4.8 percent in 2016. Companies created more than 3,000 new jobs that year.

Employment in the industry has grown 28 percent since 2007, according to MassBio. Over the past 10 years, the state has invested $1 billion into life sciences. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently renewed the state’s commitment to the industry when he announced a five-year, $500 million life sciences “2.0” initiative.

Panelists at a Biotech luncheonSince 2012, STCC has received $375,000 in grants to enhance the biotechnology program. Students use cutting-edge equipment and supplies to learn current techniques used in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

“Our curriculum is designed to meet the ever-expanding need for trained biotechnology personnel, Rapp said.

Students who complete the two-year program earn associate degrees in biotechnology and can apply for jobs in the biopharma industry. Graduates can also consider applying to four-year institutions to pursue higher degrees in biotechnology.

“The growing field of biotechnology requires skilled lab scientists and researchers across the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Jennifer A. Hanselman, professor and chair of the Department of Biology at Westfield State University.

Dr. Amy Springer, lecturer and chief undergraduate advisor at UMass Amherst, said, “Biochemistry and molecular biology principles are critical in a number of growing fields in health and technology, and having a fundamental knowledge in these topics provides a student with translatable skills suitable for a range of areas, including discovery research, medical diagnostics, treatments and engineering, and environmental science.”

If you’re interested in applying to STCC’s Biotechnology program or have questions, call Admissions at (413) 755-3333. You can also apply online at www.stcc.edu/apply.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 7,700 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

TOP PHOTO

From left: Heather Reed, Ph.D., undergraduate program director for the Department of Microbiology, UMass Amherst; Amy Springer, Ph.D., lecturer, chief undergraduate advisor, UMass Amherst; Lisa Rapp, Ph.D., Biotechnology Program chair, STCC; Robert Dickerman, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science and Engineering Transfer, Nathan Gumlaw, STCC alumni, scientist, Staff I, Sanofi Corp., Framingham; Tawana Jewell, STCC alumna; adjunct professor, Department of Biological Sciences; and former supervisor of microbiology, Avista Pharma Solutions, Agawam; Jennifer A. Hanselman, Ph.D., associate professor and chair, Department of Biology, Westfield State University; and Sundus Rehman, current Biotechnology Program student, STCC.

BOTTOM PHOTO

Dr. Lisa Rapp, STCC Biotechnology Program chair, speaks at a Biotechnology Career Exploration Luncheon.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

  • See All News

Website Disclaimer

Springfield Technical Community College provides the information herein as a public service, with the understanding that Springfield Technical Community College strives to achieve the highest standards in content accuracy on its Website. Springfield Technical Community College makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this Website. Errors or omissions should be reported to the web developer: webmaster@stcc.edu. Visitors to our Web pages might see links to Internet resources outside of the Springfield Technical Community College Website: all are provided solely for the convenience of our Website visitors. By providing such links, Springfield Technical Community College should not be considered as endorsing any or all outside sites linked from our main site. When a visitor links to another site that is not an official Springfield Technical Community College Website, the user is no longer on a Springfield Technical Community College Website and thus, Springfield Technical Community College disclaims any responsibility or liability for the services or information offered at such non-college sites. At all times, Springfield Technical Community College makes every effort to accurately present programs and policies to the public. Those responsible for preparation of the catalog, the class schedule, and all other public announcements make every effort to ensure that the information presented is current and correct. However, Springfield Technical Community College reserves the right to modify or eliminate courses or programs and to add, amend, or repeal any and all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures at any time. Springfield Technical Community College assumes no responsibility for publication errors beyond its control. All users of the College's Website shall have no expectation of privacy over such use.

Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Square,
Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 781-7822
.
  • Contact
  • Employment
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
  • Campus Map & Directions
  • Affirmative Action & Title IX
  • Student Consumer Information
  • Accessibility
Comwealth Commitment Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram