Diversion to Destination - Pioneering a Biotechnology Program
By John Tompkins
When life's unexpected challenges forced Crystal Aguilar to pause her educational journey, she wondered if she'd ever find her way back to earning a degree. "I wanted to get back on track with my studies but wasn't sure how to start or where to begin," she said.
Aguilar decided to reach out to a counselor, and that’s when she discovered the Biotechnology program at Alvin Community College. She was working as a pharmacy technician at the time, and biotechnology was not a career she had previously considered.
“I wanted to stay in pharmacy, but I wanted to be on the other side helping to make medication for other people,” Aguilar said.
Students in the program learn how to perform safety policies and procedures in a biotechnology setting. Some of the biotechnology jobs can include manufacturing medical devices and therapeutic agents to help patients.
“The program is very hands-on which helps me a lot because I’m very hands-on,” Aguilar said.
The region is expected to see an 18 percent increase in job growth in the next 10 years with a third of those positions being in pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing. The ACC program was developed with the collaboration of three companies in the medical field: Lonza, Merit Medical, and Millar.
“We’ve been very fortunate with the support of our industry partners in creating and maintaining this program,” said Brittani Bewick, ACC Biology instructor.
Students can earn a certificate after taking just two courses. The entire program can be completed in a few months.
ACC continues to work with companies in the field to ensure the skills taught in the program meet the needs of the industry.
“Those initial conversations helped us identify what skills are needed by entry-level employees at those companies,” Bewick said. “From there we were able to develop a curriculum that supported those skill sets.”
Aguilar said she received training to prepare for job interviews and find a position in Biotechnology. After completing the program Aguilar earned a position with Lonza utilizing her skills learned through the program at ACC.
“The Biotech program in Alvin prepared me for my role by giving me the equipment and tools I needed,” she said. “They gave me the hands-on practice I needed. I am very prepared and very confident in what I do.”
Now that she has found a position in the Biotechnology industry, Aguilar said she enjoys her work and plans to further develop her skills and knowledge.
“I indeed see myself staying in this career path,” she said. “I very much like what I do. I do not see it as a job. I see it as something I love to do. I love helping others and I will continue to grow.”
To learn more about the program or to watch a video of Aguilar’s interview, visit the Biotechnology Certification webpage.
