ABPDU is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supported facility that helps companies scale up and develop prototypes of bio-based products.
As 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 at ABPDU and learn from experts in the field.
The nine-month program provides students with a comprehensive overview of bioprocess engineering, which uses biology and engineering to develop processes that enable large-scale manufacturing of bio-based products. Graduates of the program qualify and are often hired for Associate Scientist or Process Engineer positions — roles that provide them with opportunities for growth.
Now heading into its fifth year, the program’s 45 graduates have gone on to start careers in biomanufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry, working at companies such as LanzaTech, Pfizer, and a variety of biotech startups.
The course’s developers believe that the MBPE program and this type of curriculum will serve as the blueprint for future workforce development efforts that will be necessary to fuel the bioeconomy.
