Applied Biotechnology
PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION
Steve Dunn Ph.D., Academic Director
Office: Sage 1614F
Phone: 920-539-8830
Email: dunns@uwosh.edu Website: www.appliedbiotechnology.wisconsin.edu
FACULTY
Sabrina Dunn, Steve Dunn
PURPOSE
The Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology represents a comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum that prepares students to advance their careers and pursue their academic ambitions through leadership and management positions within the biotechnology field. Defined core courses provide students with a solid foundation in biotechnology, leadership, ethics, research, communications, product development, quality control, and regulatory and compliance practices. In addition, the program offers three unique tracks to assist students in tailoring their coursework to meet their career goals: quality assurance and compliance; business management; and research and development.
The M.S. in Applied Biotechnology is a partnership of UW Extended Campus, University Wisconsin Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, University of Wisconsin Parkside, University of Wisconsin Platteville, University of Wisconsin Whitewater and University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. The program is a fully online, asynchronous curriculum comprised of 31 credits to include a culminating, project-based Capstone experience. Graduates of the program will gain the core competencies required to manage functions across a wide range of biotechnology industries.
DEGREE
Completion of the program will lead to the degree: Master of Science (M.S.)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION
In addition to the requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies specified in the first section of this Bulletin, the program has established the following policies and procedures for admission:
Students must satisfy all admission requirements before starting the program and will not be allowed to take outstanding prerequisite courses concurrently with introductory program courses. Each student’s prior academic background is evaluated by the Academic Director of the program at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Official transcripts from colleges and universities attended must be submitted. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or greater from an accredited university will be admitted to the program. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission by an Admissions Committee consisting of representatives from all the participating campuses, although additional verification of academic record and potential could be requested. Program academic directors have the option to waive one or more of the above prerequisites based on student work experience and background.
Prerequisite coursework
Two semesters of college level lab coursework in biology and/or chemistry.
References
Two reference letters are required. Ideally these will come from people who are familiar with your academic and/or professional background. They should be sent directly to the Graduate Programs office.
Personal Statement
A personal statement describing the reasons behind your decision to pursue this degree and what you believe you will bring to the MS Sustainable Management program. Space for the personal statement is included in the online application.
SUMMARY
The program consists of 31 credits. Students first take all 6 core courses-18 credits total (700, 705, 710, 715, 720, 725). They then select one of the three tracks available. A track consists of 3 courses-9 credits total:
- Quality Assurance and Compliance (735, 740, 745)
- Business Management (750, 755, 760)
- Research and Development (765, 770, 775)
All students then complete the Capstone prep and capstone courses – 4 credits total (789, 790)
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Students must satisfy fully the Office of Graduate Studies requirements for advancement to candidacy as stated in the Polies section of this bulletin. Students should apply for the Admission to Candidacy after completing 9 credits. The Academic Director and Office of Graduate Studies give final approval.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must satisfy all program and Office of Graduate Studies academic degree requirements to be eligible for graduation and degree conferral.
COURSES OFFERED IN THE MS APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM
ABT 700 Introduction to Biotechnology
ABT 705 Ethics, Safety, and Regulatory Environment in Biotechnology
ABT 710 Professional and Technical Communication in Biotechnology
ABT 715 Principles and Techniques in Biotechnology
ABT 720 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biotechnology
ABT 725 Organizational Leadership in Biotechnology
ABT 735 Quality Control and Validation
ABT 740 Regulatory Practices and Compliance
ABT 745 Industrial Applications in Regulatory Affairs
ABT 750 Biotechnology Marketing and Entrepreneurship
ABT 755 Global Operations and Supply Chain Management
ABT 760 Quality and Project Management
ABT 765 Technology Assessment
ABT 770 Product Development
ABT 775 Tools for Data Analysis
ABT 789 Pre-Capstone
ABT 790 Capstone
COURSE OFFERING(S)
| Applied Biotechnology 700 | 3 (crs.) |
| Principles of Biotechnology | |
| Principles and techniques pertaining to biotechnology and its applications to our society. Survey of classical and emerging technologies. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 705 | 3 (crs.) |
| Ethics, Safety, and Regulatory Environment in Biotechnology | |
| Ethical and safety concerns in development, production, funding and application of biotechnology. Analysis of socioeconomic impacts. Understanding the importance of data integrity. Overview of risk assessment and management in a regulatory environment designed to ensure safety of workers, study subjects, and patients, and protect intellectual property, data, and the environment. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 710 | 3 (crs.) |
| Professional and Technical Communication in Biotechnology | |
| Application and analysis of professional scientific communication, both written and oral. Focuses on designing documents that convey complex, data-rich technical and scientific content to audiences with diverse information needs using a variety of professional genres, including reports, proposals, presentations and documentation. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 715 | 3 (crs.) |
| Techniques in Biotechnology | |
| Application of biological and chemical methods to modern biotechnological product development. Overview of analysis techniques used to characterize products and evaluate quality and safety. Exploration of technological pipeline from conception to market, including proof-of-concept assessment, pre-clinical trials, clinical trials, and post-production testing. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 720 | 3 (crs.) |
| Experimental Design and Analysis in Biotechnology | |
| Principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications in biotechnology including experimental design, quantitative data analysis, and bioinformatic evaluation of complex molecular and biological data sets. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 725 | 3 (crs.) |
| Leadership in Organizations | |
| Focuses on strategies and tools that managers use to maximize employee contribution and create organizational excellence. Basic business and leadership principles. Best practices to overcome biases that inhibit organizations and teams from communicating effectively. Examples will come from diverse biotechnology fields, including pharmaceutics, agriculture, and biotechnology services. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 730 | 3 (crs.) |
| Bioinformatics use of Python | |
| Introduce diverse strategies for computational analysis of macromolecular data using Python including sequence alignment, genome annotation, data retrieval from databases, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular evolution. Experiential learning is emphasized; confidence in practical skills is developed through persistent application of course content to projects focused on current problems in bioinformatic research. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 735 | 3 (crs.) |
| Quality Control and Validation | |
| Focuses on the importance of quality control and validation in biotechnology product design, development, and manufacturing. Explores quality systems and documentation, global quality standards, and methods for assessing validation including installation, operational, and performance qualifications. Overviews biomanufacturing processes, automation, and cGLP/cGMP practices necessary to meet quality standards. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 740 | 3 (crs.) |
| Regulatory Practice and Compliance | |
| Identifies and examines the key regulatory agencies and practices that govern the highly regulated and diverse biotechnology industry, both domestically and internationally. Highlights current and emerging FDA and ICH regulations and guidance documents to successfully navigate meeting with the agencies and to submit required documentation for successful product development. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 745 | 3 (crs.) |
| Industrial Applications in Regulatory Affairs | |
| Examines the global regulatory environments in risk-based assessment of biotechnological developments across diverse sectors, ensuring consumer and environmental protection. Addresses how validation is essential to the incorporation of emerging technologies into viable, accessible, and successful products. Highlights the stakeholders’ role in regulatory oversight and policy through relevant industry case studies. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 750 | 3 (crs.) |
| Biotechnology Marketing and Entrepreneurship | |
| Addresses marketing fundamentals and strategies, communicating value proposition strategy, ethical and regulatory concerns, startup strategies, pharmaceutical marketing, b2b marketing, salesforce development, branding and promotion. Culminates with the creation of a marketing plan/analysis. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 755 | 3 (crs.) |
| Global Operations and Supply Chain Management | |
| Focuses on the strategic importance of operations and supply chain to overall performance relevant to a variety of business processes specific to biotechnology. Topics include production, transportation, distribution systems, sourcing and purchasing. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 760 | 3 (crs.) |
| Quality and Project Management | |
| Quality and project management issues and roles during different phases from R&D to market. Introduction to installation qualification, operation qualification, and process qualification. Project management phases: conceptualizing, planning, executing, and closing. Project schedule and time management tools and techniques. Project requirements including quality assurance. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 765 | 3 (crs.) |
| Assessing Innovation in Biotechnology | |
| A survey of biotechnology assessments in areas such as regenerative medicine, agricultural biotechnology, and bioremediation. Course links disciplines with the critical evaluative role played by scientific discovery, market valuation, intellectual property, freedom-to-operate (FTO), and licensing strategy by assessing the role each played in the commercialization of a specific technology. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 770 | 3 (crs.) |
| Product Development | |
| Explores strategies in evaluating and implementing new technologies or products in the context of different bioindustries. Identifies consideration in product valuation, feasibility of production, scalability, and supply chain management. Models the process of business growth and innovation through integration of emerging technologies. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 775 | 3 (crs.) |
| Tools for Data Analysis | |
| Using a variety of existing and emerging bioinformatics tools and computation methods, emphasizes hands-on experiences analyzing and interpreting large data sets (e.g. genomic, proteomic, microbiomics, interactome, target discovery). Students will also evaluate and adapt existing computational approaches for specific use in solving a problem in biotechnology. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 780 | 3 (crs.) |
| Bioinformatic Inquiry | |
| Advances the development of competencies promoting efficient analysis of biological data. Emphasizes matching a research problem with the most effective tools for its completion, balancing use of existing software and de novo software development. Advanced aspects of Python and R, algorithmics, machine learning, simulations, and effective communication of results are emphasized. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 785 | 3 (crs.) |
| Applications of Bioinformatics | |
| Exploration and application of existing bioinformatic tools. Implementation of pre-coded solutions to data acquisition, wrangling, analysis, visualization, and structural modeling problems. Students will complete a project that generates a multi-system workflow to solve bioinformatic problems. Prerequisites: ABT 720, ABT 730. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 789 | 1 (crs.) |
| Pre-Capstone | |
| Prepares the student for applied self-directed capstone experience. Addressing problem identification, research, and project formulation. Culminates in an oral and written proposal with project schedule. | |
| Applied Biotechnology 790 | 3 (crs.) |
| Capstone | |
| Student will complete a project (report, business plan, program, etc.) in an area of quality assurance and compliance, business and management, and/or research and development, culminating in a substantive body of work, executive summary, and reflection. Networking and communication in a professional capacity is expected. | |