Bio-Link

About
Bio-Link is a National Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Center for Biotechnology that originated in late 1998 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The ATE program was created to improve and expand educational programs that prepare skilled technicians to work in the high-tech fields that drive the U.S. economy.

Bio-Link enhances and expands biotechnology education programs by providing cutting edgeprofessional development for instructors, by improving curriculum, by making use of technologies and by creating a system that promotes the sharing of information. The Bio-Link National Center is at City College of San Francisco with office space at the University of California San Francisco . Regional Bio-Link Centers across the country are located in Seattle, WA ; San Diego , CA ; San Francisco , CA ; Austin , TX ; Madison , WI ; Graham , NC ; and Portsmouth , NH .

The regional centers develop relations with local industry and educational institutions including community colleges, baccalaureate institutions, and high schools. In addition, each regional center spearheads a different element of the program. The South Central Regional Center , located at Austin Community College , Austin , TX , is responsible for promoting biotechnology education in a six-state region. As part of this responsibility the following items and events are sponsored by this center:

•  A regional annual meeting for the purpose of sharing information and providing professional development

•  A regional brochure on biotechnology programs at 4-year and 2-year colleges

•  Dissemination of curriculum and information concerning national events and granting opportunities

•  Help with starting educational biotechnology programs (e.g. equipment and supply list, facility design).

•  Provide information on employment opportunities for students across the nation

Bio-Link is bringing a wide range of underrepresented students to biotechnology who have the knowledge and skills essential to the field as well as the ability to continue with more advanced education in math, science and engineering.

For a Brochure detailing the 4-year and 2-year Biotechnology Programs in the South Central Bio-Link Region click here.