Henry Ford College (HFC) will host Biotech/Chemtech Day 2016 on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. This event takes place in the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC, Bldg. L on the main campus).
Biotech/Chemtech Day 2016 provides students from area high schools, colleges and universities the opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of biotechnology and chemical technology from leading scientists in the field. Dr. Michael Nealon, HFC vice president of Academic Affairs, will give the opening remarks.
The primary purposes of this event is to:
1. Inform students about current applications of biotechnology and chemical technology;
2. Educate students on the breadth of sub-disciplines within the larger fields of biotechnology and chemical technology;
3. Expose students to biotechnology and chemical technology as potential career paths; and
4. Provide students with information about how to pursue a career in biotechnology, with particular emphasis on HFC’s Biotechnology Program.
Biotech/Chemtech Day 2016 speakers will include:
* Dr. Joshua Speros, research chemist, BASF;
* Dr. Robinson Seda, research fellow in Biomedical Engineering, the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor; and
* Danielle Hankinson, Michigan State Police (MSP) Biology/DNA Unit;
Additionally, there will be panel discussions on careers in biotechnology and chemical technology, as well as a résumé workshop. There will also be a recruiting session for students interested in attending HFC and taking classes in its Biotechnology Program.
“Chemistry, in all its exciting varieties, governs every aspect of our lives. I am honored and excited to share my passion for this field with the students of HFC,” said Speros.
“This event is a great opportunity for students interested in careers in chemistry, forensic science or biomedical engineering. We are fortunate to have leading scientists in these areas participating in this event. Students will get an opportunity to hear about these exciting fields directly from the scientists who work in them,” said Dr. Jolie A. Stepaniak, HFC director of the Biotechnology Program.
Founded in 2009, HFC’s Biotechnology Program integrates authentic work-based experiences, training in modern instrumentation and new technologies, and rigorous science content to produce adaptable technicians that support the changing workplace. Although this program centers on skills identified by regional biotechnology employers, the skills gained by students in this program will prepare them for employment in biotechnology-based industries in other regions of the country and the world. Additionally, skills gained by students in this program will prepare them for advanced training in biotechnology-related fields.
HFC’s associate degree in Applied Science in Biotechnology Program is an intensive two-year program designed specifically to train students for positions as biotechnology technicians in the region’s molecular biology-based industries and institutions. What makes it so unique is that curriculum is a direct outgrowth of the technical and workplace competencies identified by Southeastern Michigan’s biotechnology employers for technicians.
“HFC’s Biotechnology Program is proud to serve the community by providing students with high-quality technical laboratory training at the community college level,” said Stepaniak.
Biotech/Chemtech Day 2016 is free and open to the public. High school students and students from neighboring colleges and universities are encouraged to attend. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. To register or obtain information about Biotech/Chemtech Day 2016, please email Stepaniak before Monday, Nov. 7, at biotech@hfcc.edu. For more about Biotechnology at HFC, please visit https://www.hfcc.edu/academics/programs/biotechnology.
Source: HFC