The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) and Northeastern University’s Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Laboratory (BATL), both partners of BioConnects New England (BCNE), have teamed up to create educational and experiential opportunities for people interested in entering the biotech industry.
Earlier this month, GMGI’s Gloucester Biotechnology Academy student, David Trainor, secured an internship with BATL to develop a process to grow and express monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are the fastest-growing therapeutic class in medicine, having great potential and promise in areas including infectious diseases, such as the vaccines developed for COVID, cancer, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. The challenge with this high-potential therapeutic is that manufacturing monoclonal antibodies can be expensive and take time to develop. Trainor will spend his internship learning how to optimize this process–a critical skill for drug discovery.
This opportunity highlights the pathways available to those interested in careers in biotech and the partnerships that can make it possible. “This internship shows the success that can happen when we identify and execute on pathways and opportunities that will provide individuals with the training and support needed to enter into the biotech industry,” said Dr. Jared Auclair, Northeastern University Vice Provost of Research and Economic Development, Director of Bioinnovation, Director of BATL, and co-lead of BioConnects New England. “We are excited to welcome David into our labs and look forward to supporting him on his career path in the biotech space.”
Trainor completed GMGI’s Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, where he mastered cutting-edge technical skills, instrumentation, and quality control measures. Coursework introduces standard laboratory practices in a molecular biology workflow in the first semester, followed by a second semester with a deeper dive into proteins, genetic engineering, and bioprocessing. As part of the 10-month program, students like Trainor embark on a 12-week paid industry internship following the hands-on training. “This is a great opportunity for me to take the knowledge I’ve learned at the academy, and apply them in a cutting-edge environment where I can polish those skills,” said Trainor. “I am very excited for the chance to grow and develop, both personally and professionally, under the supervision of excellent scientists.”
As part of Trainor’s internship at BATL, he will receive mentoring by industry professionals who will guide him in lab expertise, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and time management – skills essential for individuals to thrive in the industry.
“It is exciting to have a student interning for the first time in Dr. Auclair’s lab at Northeastern where innovative, use-inspired research is happening. This represents a great step forward for our BioConnects partnership to advance a new pathway to opportunity, and a tremendous platform for David Trainor to launch his career,” said Chris Bolzan, GMGI’s Executive Director.
