With funding from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), the Biotechnology program at the Cullen College of Engineering's Technology Division will be hosting students from colleges and universities across Texas and neighboring states for the NIIMBL eXperience @UH in June 2025.
As a minority serving institution and NIIMBL member, UH is proud to be leading one of seven NIIMBL eXperience locations across the United States. The week-long, all-expense-paid learning program is designed to introduce visiting students to the biotechnology program at UH and expose them to promising careers in biomanufacturing.
Last June, UH successfully hosted 12 students from Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Maryland and North Carolina, as part of the NIIMBL eXperience.
"Biomanufacturing is a multibillion-dollar industry that produces drugs for infectious diseases, different types of cancers, and neurological and immunological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and lupus,” said Biotechnology professor Albert Flavier.
“Biomanufactured enzymes are used extensively in fuel, food, textile and many other industries as well. Houston is home to many biotechnology companies and biomanufacturing continues its rapid expansion in the city and surrounding areas. It is the city's goal to be recognized as the third coast of biotechnology."
"With the NIIMBL eXperience @UH program, we will be reaching a population of students that matches the demographics of Houston and south-central US while aligning to program requirements,” said Engineering Technology Department Chair Fatima Merchant. “Texas has around 15 higher education institutions that are rural-serving, and many of their students will qualify to participate in the program.”
She added, “Another unique aspect of UH is that the students will have the opportunity to tour the Texas Medical Center (TMC). The TMC Innovation Center and the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Labs house many startup companies dedicated to pioneering medicines for the future. TMC hospitals also serve as pivotal research and clinical trial centers for testing investigational drugs.”
The program will help participating students gain appreciation for how diversity makes for a dynamic and productive working environment while investigating the variety of career paths and employment opportunities open to them in biomanufacturing.
While visiting several companies in the Greater Houston Area, students will network and engage with industry professionals and gain insights into their diverse roles and career trajectories. Experienced instructors from San Jacinto College Biomanufacturing Training Center will be providing hands-on training in sterile manufacturing techniques, the use of bioreactors for cell culture, and chromatography for protein purification.
"By going through this particular experience, we also hope that students will be encouraged to return to our program as graduate students," Merchant added.
The program tales place June 2-6, 2025, and will cover travel, food and lodging in a student dormitory in addition to providing a $1,000 stipend. Eligible applicants should be college students completing their freshman or sophomore year leading up to June 2025.
To learn more about the NIIMBL eXperience @UH and to apply, visit the program's website. The application deadline is Feb. 7.
NIIMBL eXperience @ UH was developed under a Project Award Agreement from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance award 70NANB21H086 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.