From Process Development to Manufacturing: Lab-intensive Courses in Downstream Bioprocessing
Résumé
Most chemical engineering graduates work in industry, a fact that underscores the need for courses to provide experiences that prepare them for industry. The Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at North Carolina State University has addressed this need by developing and delivering a comprehensive downstream bioprocessing program that includes two closely linked courses: “Introduction to Downstream Process Development” and “cGMP Downstream Operations.” The courses combine classroom instruction and intensive hands-on learning activities focused on the production of biopharmaceuticals. Overall student satisfaction with the courses has been high, and a follow-up survey of former students currently working in industry shows that the courses have effectively prepared them for the careers they have just entered. This article provides details on the design and delivery of these courses as well as a summary of student evaluation of the program.