Your Future in Biotech Begins at San Jacinto College
Houston is rapidly establishing itself as a national leader in biotechnology, thanks to a powerful combination of research institutions, world-renowned medical infrastructure, a diverse patient population, and workforce training designed to meet the real-world needs of employers. At the center of this growth, San Jacinto College has launched a new Biomanufacturing Technology program at the new Center for Biotechnology that is equipping future generations to harness the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow.
What Is Biotechnology?
As a broad term to describe the use of living things—such as cells, bacteria, and plants, as well as the science behind them—biotechnology is key to creating useful products and technologies. This plays a vital role across industries like food, agriculture, medicine and energy, enabling advances that include the development of medicines and vaccines, improving crops, producing sustainable fuels, and creating new healthcare tools and devices. To put it lightly: the need is massive.
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sponsored by: San Jacinto Community College
Prominent Careers Await
What Is Biotechnology?
Biotechnology is the science of using living things (like cells or microbes) to make useful products or solve problems that improve our lives—even familiar items like cheese, wine, or insulin are made using biotech.
"San Jac provides the hands-on skills that biomanufacturing organizations need and that prepares students to be impactful in their careers from the start."
- Dr. Robyn Cardwell,
Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at San Jac
In biotech, especially as companies are growing and manufacturing their products at larger scales, well-trained technicians are needed to perform the intricate processes in a safe and clean laboratory environment. Additionally, careers supporting quality control and regulatory compliance of these products are available and in-demand.
“As one of the top five most populous cities in the U.S., Houston has the ingredients to be an epicenter of biotechnology research, development and commercialization for multiple industries, including medical, energy, and even space,” says Dr. Robyn Cardwell, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at San Jac.
This explosion of growth in our city has resulted in a range of career needs, with lucrative openings that need to be filled by qualified graduates. For example, at Generation Park, construction is underway on BioHub II, which is by all means an ambitious project. As a biomanufacturing center, the location has plans to include a cGMP manufacturing space, research labs, and even a pilot plant.
Similarly, in The Woodlands, companies Bionova Scientific and Cellipont are ramping up their facilities to increase cell therapy support. This expansion will equate to new manufacturing and lab operations, bringing more openings for lab technicians, facilities engineers, and other quality staff.
In light of this momentum, Cardwell emphasizes the role of workforce training. “San Jac provides the hands-on skills that biomanufacturing organizations need,” she adds, “and that prepares students to be impactful in their careers from the start.”
By Monica Vanover on October 3, 2025
San Jac’s New Center for Biotechnology
Dr. Nicole Bradley serves as the Program Director for Biotechnology at San Jacinto College. In this role, she supports the biotechnology program by helping design a curriculum that aligns with industry needs. She oversees lab training, connects students with workforce opportunities, and works with other institutions to develop transfer paths or dual credit programs.
“The biomanufacturing program courses cover a wide range of topics that prepare students for various roles in the biotechnology industry,” Bradley says. “We teach and develop lab and technical skills through courses in cell culture, upstream/downstream processing, and fill-finish. We teach them the exact day-to day tasks they would be performing as biomanufacturing technicians, quality control technicians, and other operator roles in a clean environment.”
Grand Opening: Center for Biotechnology
On Sept. 26, San Jac celebrated the launch of their Center for Biotechnology at the Generation Park Campus. With the announcement of the new Eli Lilly manufacturing facility, the grand opening was a milestone moment for biotechnology education and workforce development. The new facility features state-of-the-art labs and training spaces, giving students hands-on, real-world experience that will prepare them for careers in biomanufacturing.
You can see photos from the recent grand opening, here.
San Jacinto College always stands out for being designed with the students and the workforce in mind. While many institutions focus primarily on theory, San Jac combines hands-on training, industry partnerships, and direct career pathways so students graduate ready to work. Even better, the college is affordable and highly accessible to all, without sacrificing quality.
For more information on enrolling in the Biotechnology program, exploring other certificates, associate degrees, and stackable credentials, or learning about corporate training opportunities, visit www.sanjac.edu.
What Makes San Jacinto College Your Best Choice
Rooted in the Greek words bio (life) and technology (skill or craft).
First coined by Károly Ereky in 1919 to describe making useful products from biological materials.
From Bread to DNA Tweaks
Biotechnology spans a spectrum—from traditional processes like bread, beer, and cheese (where yeast does the work)—to modern methods where scientists deliberately alter DNA to create new traits.
Why It's Powerful
By harnessing biology, biotech allows us to:
Make better medicines
Grow stronger, healthier crops
Recycle or clean up pollution
Create energy from renewable sources
These benefits span health, food, the environment, and industry.
Everyday Examples
Medicine: Genetically engineered bacteria produce insulin for diabetes care.
Food & Agriculture: Crops made more nutritious or resistant to pests.
Cleanup: Microorganisms help breakdown oil spills or clean soil.
Behind the Science
Biotechnology mixes tools from biology, chemistry, genetics, and computer science to:
Modify genetic material (via genetic engineering)
Grow cells in labs (tissue culture)
Use microbes in controlled processes (fermentation)
Used across medicine, agriculture, and tech industries.
Biotech in Houston—
Hands-On Learning
San Jacinto College offers students practical biotechnology experiences:
Industry-Ready Training
In partnership with Solugen (a Houston-based biotech firm), San Jac runs short courses like “Foundations of Biotechnology”—combining theory with practical labs in areas like contamination control and pilot-scale operations.
Why It Matters for You
Biotechnology affects everyday life—improving medicine, food quality, clean energy, and environmental health. Plus, it powers cutting-edge careers in biotech, health, and science.
Students get hands-on training using real industry-grade lab equipment.
Their new Biotechnology Center includes bioreactors, cleanrooms, and good manufacturing practice (GMP) environments
Your Future in Biotech Begins at San Jacinto College
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Claiming that San Jac is doing quite a bit to prepare students for success in the biomanufacturing industry would be a huge understatement. As the only licensed provider in the southern U.S. who has partnered with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Dublin, Ireland—the worldwide leader in biomanufacturing education—San Jac brings decades of proven training expertise directly into its classrooms.
With flexible credential pathways, courses immerse students in the same practices employer’s demand: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP), batch records, logbooks, and industry-standard SOPs. The result is a program that equips graduates with the skills needed to succeed in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Claiming that San Jac is doing quite a bit to prepare students for success in the biomanufacturing industry would be a huge understatement. As the only licensed provider in the southern U.S. who has partnered with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Dublin, Ireland—the worldwide leader in biomanufacturing education—San Jac brings decades of proven training expertise directly into its classrooms.
With flexible credential pathways, courses immerse students in the same practices employer’s demand: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP), batch records, logbooks, and industry-standard SOPs. The result is a program that equips graduates with the skills needed to succeed in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.