(PHOENIX, Ariz., June 10, 2004) – From DNA fingerprinting to cloning, Phoenix College biology students receive hands-on lab instruction to prepare for the exploding field of Bioscience.

To meet the growing demands of the Biotechnology field, the Phoenix College Biology Department is strengthening students’ lab skills thanks to new, modern biotech equipment funded by Prop 301. The funding will allow the college to incorporate hands-on laboratory skills into its courses, giving students practical knowledge needed to succeed in the Biotech industry.

According to the Battelle Memorial Institute, “Arizona’s non-hospital biosciences industry employment can grow over the next decade from 9,100 jobs today to nearly 22,000 jobs by 2012. This includes more than 10,000 jobs from the expansion of the existing bioscience firm employment base, with the reminder from new start-ups and relocations to the state.”

Battelle predicts that the critical mass of bioscience firms will have a multiplier effect on other business services and supplier sectors of the economy, accounting for an estimated 17,000 additional jobs in all sectors of Arizona’s economy.

To supply this increasing demand, statewide community colleges have elected to develop bioscience programs, including the Maricopa Community Colleges, which have set aside $1.5 million in Proposition 301 funds for this purpose. With the allocation of these funds, Phoenix College can pursue a number of measures to ensure that its biology students are workforce ready.

Currently, the college is incorporating modern laboratory experience into the classroom with the purchase of new equipment. The college’s up-to-date equipment includes current lab technologies such as molecular separation technologies, microscope imaging, volumetric and weighing devices, cell culture technology, pH meters and cell and molecular storage equipment. With access to this technology, students can perform tasks that are being administered in today’s Bioscience field.

The college also plans to transform the Biology curriculum. The revised curriculum will integrate bio-industry laboratory skills into the competencies of existing biology courses, as well as address interdisciplinary subjects during the second year of the funding. For example, revised curriculum will include Biocomputing, Biomathematics, Biochemistry and Biophysics.

In addition, to the new lab equipment and revised curriculum, Phoenix College also hopes to build bridges with the Bioscience industry through student internships. Through long-term sustainable internship training, students can quickly adapt to the needs of a dynamic bioscience industry in Arizona.

“The Battelle Memorial Institute recently reported that Arizona graduates lacked the current lab skills needed to compete and succeed in this ever changing field,” said Mark Rosati, Phoenix College Biology Department Chair. “By incorporating specific lab skills into our academic science courses, Arizona graduates will become more competitive in the Bioscience industry. We believe that by incorporating these new technologies into the classroom experience, Arizona’s science college graduates can become more competitive in the field.”

For more information on the Phoenix College Biology Department and courses please call (602) 285-7800.

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