HHMI: Biotech Explorers Program | Jez Laboratory | Washington University in St. Louis

Teams Taking First Steps Toward Scientific Challenges: The Biotech Explorers Pathway and Beyond

Biotechnology is truly interdisciplinary and draws on biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, computer science, management, public policy, and law. The Biotech Explorers Pathway (BEP) introduces students to the fundamental science behind biotechnology and what it takes to move discoveries from the laboratory into the real world. The BEP aims to build connections between science, business, technology, and engineering at the start of undergraduate studies, to highlight how scientific discoveries lead to useful applications, and engages curiosity through team-based inquiry that guides students from examples toward idea generation and project development. In addition, the first-year courses are a portal to the second-year project development and transition to capstone experiences fellowships for the summer between sophomore and junior year.

First Year

Bio2010: The Science of Biotechnology (Fall semester)

This introductory course lets students see the science and real-world applications of biotechnology. This course also serves as the gateway into the BEP. Over the semester, students will explore basic science concepts and how discoveries lead to biotech applications addressing global challenges. Student teams will develop short case studies of St. Louis biotech companies to understand the connections between science and biotech business. A series of “site visits” will showcase science in action and introduce students to the vibrant St. Louis biotech community.

Bio2020: Biotechnology Entrepreneurs Seminar (Spring semester) Biotech is science-based, but the risks of product and technology development, legal issues, and market pressures make the landscape full of uncertainty. This second semester freshman seminar course provides students with an appreciation of how biotech companies achieve their goals by engaging students through interactions with experienced executives and entrepreneurs, who’s shared knowledge and stories add depth and context to the learning process.

Second Year

Bio3010: Biotech Project (Fall semester)

As a sophomore in the BEP, students participate in a team-oriented project development course. Students will apply skills learned during the first-year of the BEP to understand the process used to generate project ideas, write proposals, and evaluate concepts, apply peer evaluation at all steps of the process, be able to work individually and as a team for researching and developing projects, and to communicate clearly and concisely. This is a writing-intensive course in the A&S curriculum and a Biology major elective course. As part of Bio3010, each project team writes a press-release – the three projects for 2022 are on boosting climate change resilience in wheat, removing fruit flies without pesticides, and using microbes for affordable biofuels.

2015 BEP