A hands-on laboratory course at the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) is preparing bioprocess engineering students for careers in the bioeconomy. Part of the University of California, Berkeley’s Master of Bioprocess Engineering (MBPE) program, the course provides students with the rare opportunity to operate industry-relevant bioprocessing equipment and learn from experts in the field.
Now heading into its fifth year, the program’s impact is seen in its 45 graduates who have launched careers in biomanufacturing and the pharmaceutical and food industries. The course’s developers believe the MBPE program and the course will serve as the blueprint for future workforce development efforts that will be necessary to fuel the bioeconomy.
