Lab Technician

Emphasized here are the techniques used to perform advanced molecular studies and manipulations such as those used in diagnostic testing, research, and manufacturing. Students conduct advanced protein and DNA studies, separation, isolation, and extraction of molecules.

The focus of this course is on mastery of basic standard laboratory operating procedures. Record-keeping, safe and proper use of equipment, scientific methodologies, and employee etiquette are stressed. Students learn sterile technique, volume and mass measurement, solution and dilution preparation. Continued emphasis is placed on students utilizing their developed skills to learn advanced lab operating procedures including sterile techniques, solution preparation, dilutions, mass calculations, etc.

Emphasis is placed on students comprehending and utilizing standard lab procedures in the microbiology, immunology, and histology fields. Students will be introduced to media prep, staining techniques, staining reagent prep, and how external factors affect microbial growth.

This course emphasizes the techniques used to culture, isolate, and identify DNA. Beginning with the understanding of how media is prepared and then used to grow bacteria, students then learn the topics and procedures to understand how to isolate DNA from a bacterial culture, understand its molecular structure, identify DNA bands from agarose gels, and use transilluminator equipment to visualize DNA.

Students will learn how to apply developed recombinant protein proficiency to perform advanced techniques including recombinant DNA technology, bacterial transformation, and scale-up procedures with respect to genetically engineered proteins. In addition, protein isolation, purification and testing are applied to small-scale protein fermentation.

Students learn the role of regulatory agencies in maintaining current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and current Good Laboratory Procedures (cGLP). The focus of this course is to strengthen techniques necessary to work in large- volume biomanufacturing environments. Students learn how to properly set up and run assays. Also, students are introduced to the FDA guidelines regarding product development.

Students are also introduced to basic UV/Vis spectroscopy procedures, including how to properly use, how to clean, how to troubleshoot and how to graph spectroscopy results.

This course is designed to provide students with advanced molecular studies and manipulations experience. The techniques performed here include southern blots, protein column chromatography, ELISAs, PCR, chemical synthesis, and purity testing.

This course is designed to help students sharpen their writing skills through detailed writing exercises and vocabulary studies. Through creative writing exercises, students will become familiar with the writing process and various types of writing styles. The concepts learned in this course will help students improve their written communication skills, which serve as a foundation for all other courses. The course has basic grammar principles infused throughout.

This course will reinforce English composition skills. Through continued writing practice, students will hone their writing techniques. Emphasis will be placed on basic grammar principles and proofreading.

Students will reinforce their written communication techniques by practicing the writing of laboratory reports, standard lab operating procedures, and experimental data reporting. Students will also learn how to properly construct a cover letter, resume, and thank you letter.

This course provides student with a general overview of the oral communication process in a variety of situations and applications. Public speaking and debating are the heart of this course. Students are introduced to topics including conquering the fear of speaking, overcoming communication pitfalls, and using speech communication in everyday life.

Through public speaking practice, students apply developed oral communication techniques to build their conversation skills, identify their listeners, develop delivery style, and provide visuals for audiences.

This course is designed to provide students with an overall understanding of basic chemistry. Topics covered include chemical math, metric system, and metric system conversions via B-S rule. Students are also introduced to concentration calculations including mass/volume, % mass/volume, molarity, and dilutions.

Here, students are introduced to advanced chemistry topics including temperature conversions, Stoichiometry principles, Molality, Normality, and Viscosity.

This course is designed to provide an overview of the elements of microbiology. Students will learn the historical development of microbiology. Various microbiotic life forms will be introduced to the student such as bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotic cells. Students will study the elements of microbial nutrition, ecology, and growth. Lastly, the use of microbiology and genetics will be introduced to the student.

This course explores biomedical issues and exposes students to the challenges and ethical dilemmas facing today’s employees in the biotechnology industry. Topics covered include euthanasia, animal research, genetic engineering and cloning, bio-engineered food products, and stem-cell research.

This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to Pharmacology. The course reviews the principles of drug action including introduction to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Also covered in this unit are basic biopharmaceutics, action and uses of drugs, factors affecting response, placebos, compliance, tolerance, and resistance.