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Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center and Schoolcraft College Partner for Talent Expansion Program

  • 08/07/17

PLYMOUTH, MI – Schoolcraft College students in the life science field will step out of the traditional classroom for a first-hand laboratory experience this fall through a partnership with the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC). Addressing a shortage of well-trained laboratory research talent in the life science industry, the partnership aims to provide the necessary work experience needed for college graduates wishing to enter the life science field.

MLSIC, which is owned by the Michigan Land Bank and managed through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), has designated laboratory space to train college students in the real-life applications of life science work. The 57,000-square-foot facility serves as home for entrepreneurs and startup companies primarily in the life science industry. From cancer research to gene therapy to vision restoration therapy, the mission of MLSIC is to provide state-of-the-art lab space and business support resources to take companies from the idea stage and to launch them into the expansion phase.

“Partnering with MLSIC allows our internship courses to take the next step in providing validated proficiency in practical life science skills required by biotechnology and chemistry industries,” says David O’Hagan, PhD, adjunct professor at Schoolcraft. “We are grateful for the state’s support and the experience our students will gain through this partnership.”

Starting this fall, Schoolcraft will offer two courses — Biology 290 Life Science Laboratory Techniques Internship and Biology 295 Life Science Laboratory Directed Research Internship — utilizing MLSIC’s state-of-the-art lab space and equipment for life science research lessons such as cell culture techniques and DNA extraction. By bolstering the resume of community college students with this hands-on internship experience, Schoolcraft is preparing students for jobs in this sector, which includes biological, biomedical and veterinary technicians.

“This talent expansion program is an innovative solution to address two needs: training more skilled laboratory personnel in our industry and providing college students with real-world work experience,” says Fredrick Molnar, MLSIC executive director and MEDC vice president of entrepreneurship & innovation. “We’ve seen the value in partnering with universities across the state of Michigan through our entrepreneurial programs. Through partnerships like this with Schoolcraft, we are demonstrating a key initiative to invest in our young talent and major industries in the state by strengthening the collaboration between higher education and industry.”

Schoolcraft College, a predominantly two-year public community college, enrolls more than 30,000 students each year in both credit programs and continuing education and professional development (non-credit) courses. The college has more than 70 different academic majors and programs leading to a skills certificate, associate degree or post-associate certificate.

MEDC’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation initiative establishes Michigan as the place to create and to grow a business by providing high-tech startup companies with access to a variety of critical resources, such as funding and expert counsel, from ideation to maturation. For more on MEDC Entrepreneurship & Innovation, visit michiganbusiness.org.

To learn more about MLSIC, visit www.mlsic.com. Interested students can learn more about these courses, and how to enroll, by clicking here.
  
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community and talent development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect at www.mitalent.org for more information on Michigan’s online marketplace for connecting job seekers and employers. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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