Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing – Pathmaker Program

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Registration for the 8-week “Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing – pathmaker program

March 30, 2026 – May 19, 2026.

REGISTRATION

Train to Be a Biomanufacturing Technician 

  • Join a growing industry that creates a real-world impact
  • Long-term career growth opportunities
  • Stipend – $2000 at end of training
  • Average starting salary $52,000/yr
This cohort of Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing is funded by a Pathmaker – MLSC grant in collaboration with MBI Home – Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives.

Program Details & Eligibility

Massachusetts is a global leader in biomanufacturing and the industry continues to grow in New England. WPI developed this fundamentals program in collaboration with many of the region’s leading biomanufacturing companies to give adult learners the basic skills and knowledge they need to seek entry-level jobs in the industry. This three-week daytime program is taught by WPI instructors and biomanufacturing industry professionals. It includes a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on learning in small teams working on state-of-the-art biomanufacturing equipment.

Who Should Attend

  • Displaced workers
  • Career changers
  • Workers seeking to broaden their skills and make an impact
  • Individuals traditionally underrepresented in life sciences
  • Perfect for individuals that work during the night

Program Overview

  • 8-week Evening Program (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
  • State-of-the-Art Lab and Equipment
  • Hands-on and Classroom Instruction
  • Industry -Working Instructors

Requirements

  • 18 years old +
  • Massachusetts Resident
  • Read and Write English
  • Basic Math Skills
  • Possess High School Diploma or Equivalent
  • Basic computer skills
Additional details of the assessment will be provided upon submitting registration. Contact the BETC with questions at betc@wpi.edu

Program Includes

  • A tour of AbbVie in Worcester
  • Operation of critical equipment and instruments such as bioreactors, purification columns, harvesting equipment (centrifuges, depth filters, etc.) biosafety cabinets and analytical instruments
  • Experience single-use and stainless steel equipment
  • Following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for these operations
  • Completing production batch records
  • Filling out equipment checklists and logs
  • Demonstrating conduct in compliance with FDA regulations and expectations
  • Strong industry representation and support
  • Opportunities to engage with hiring partners

Special Features

Attendees actively participate in a full biomanufacturing process that includes the following unit operations:
  • Cell culture operations
  • Aseptic processing in biosafety cabinet
  • Centrifugation
  • Tangential flow concentration and diafiltration
  • Purification process (column chromatography)
  • Column packing and qualification
  • Filtration and integrity testing
  • Analytical instrumentation and lab calculations
Once the hands-on processing section of the course begins, participants will be divided into small groups. These groups will rotate through the appropriate unit operations, each led by an instructor who is a subject matter expert from industry. The unique design of this certificate program features not only learning the technical and scientific principles of each unit operation, but also performing each operation under simulated cGMP conditions. This program has been designed to allow the participants to network with the instructors, who are subject matter experts. Some of these instructors are also hiring managers from biomanufacturing organizations who may need to employ trained and skilled individuals to enhance their workforces.