Biotechnology students concentrate on pharmaceuticals, medicine, agriculture, and genetics.
The next time you bite into a hamburger, hotdog or cheesesteak, think...Mary Ubbens. Who is that you may ask? Mary, the very first student to sign up for the isbt program, is now working for the United States Department of Agriculture, Microbiology Unit. Her research at USDA helps protect our food from Listeria monocytogenes, a nasty form of bacteria found in undercooked meats, seafood, unpasteurized dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to having this bacteria attack their central nervous system. While at La Salle, Mary was able to work with the latest lab equipment, making her transition from La Salle Student to USDA Employee a simple and logical one.
An isbt senior is creating a virtual ideal quality control laboratory. She is combining knowledge of the industry based on her employment, a great deal of research, analytical chemistry and instrumentation skills acquired through isbt classes, project management skills acquired through a required isbt course in Project Management, and discussion with other isbt students.
The isbt Executive Board is a student run organization providing academic, community service and social opportunities for current and prospective isbt students. The board oversees a number of isbt related programs including the isbt Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program and the isbt Wister's Woods Project.
The isbt mentoring program helps new students adjust to life at La Salle through relationship building with isbt upperclassmen. New students are coached in several academic and social areas including registering for courses, joining extracurricular clubs and applying for internships.
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The isbt Wister's Woods Project is an ambitious, student run, community service program. The project allows isbt students to put their knowledge of science, business and technology to the test to preserve, enhance and restore Wister's Woods, a 42-acre park surrounding La Salle's campus.
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The small team-centered groups allow for a more personal education in Biotechnology. Biotechnology isbt majors learn cutting-edge techniques such as tissue culture and bioprocessing with state-of-the-art instrumentation such as computer controlled bioreactors. These students are able to appy their techniques and technical knowledge to real-world situations.
Wage and salary jobs in drug manufacturing are expected to increase by about 24 percent over the ten year period between 2000-10, compared to 16 percent for all industries combined. Drug manufacturing ranks among the fastest growing manufacturing industries.
Employment of biomedical engineers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. The aging population and the focus on health issues will increase the demand for better medical devices and systems designed by biomedical engineers.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003-4 Occupational Outlook Handbook
