Events
Biotech Students Receive Special Lab Coats
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Provides Generous Gift
RALEIGH, N.C. (September 11, 2024) – Wake Tech’s newest biotech students received white lab coats today, courtesy of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. One of the college’s key industry partners, the company is sponsoring 250 lab coats for current and future students, celebrating their commitment and responsibility to becoming skilled life sciences professionals.
A special ceremony at the Southern Wake Campus featured some 150 aspiring biotechnologists in Wake Tech’s Biotechnology associate degree programs and BioWork non-degree training, as well as dual-enrolled students at Wake Early College for Information and Biotechnologies, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, and Knightdale High School. Wake Tech plans to start offering BioWork at East Wake, Cary and South Garner high schools later this year.
“The biotech field will be whatever you make it, because you are the future,” Leslie Isenhour, Dean of Biotechnologies, told the students. “I hope you recognize the significance of this moment when you put on this coat and remember the responsibility that comes with it. To be wise, ethical, truthful, fair, responsible and a citizen of humanity as well as a citizen of our scientific community.”
Proud parents and supporters beamed with pride as students were cloaked with the bright white lab coats and recited their oath committing to learn and practice biotechnology with skill and safety.
“We are thrilled to support the next generation of biotechnologists by providing them with their lab coats,” said Christine Vannais, site head, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Research Triangle Park. This sponsorship is more than just a donation; it’s an investment in the future of science and innovation. By equipping students with the tools they need, we hope to inspire confidence and a sense of professionalism as they embark on their educational journeys. We believe that these lab coats will help students see themselves successfully working in life sciences.”
This is the second year of the lab coat partnership. The goal is to expose Wake Tech students to the importance of careers in life sciences and to cultivate a talent pipeline for the local biotechnology companies. The lab coat donation also alleviates a significant cost for students.
BioWork student Landen Ware said he’s excited about a new biotech career after 10 years of working in retail management. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in the white coat ceremony and also for my new future in biotechnology,” he said. “I’m excited about being able to contribute to making safe medications and have more of an impact on the world,” Ware said.
Wake Tech’s Biotechnology associate degree program is designed to meet the increasing demands for skilled laboratory technicians or prepare students for employment in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. The non-degree BioWork program is an accelerated non-degree course that leads to an entry-level position as a bioprocess technician and can provide course credit toward an associate degree.
More than 700 students are currently studying biotech at Wake Tech. Enrollment in both degree and non-degree biotech training has doubled over the past three years.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a world-leading contract development and manufacturing organization, operates facilities in Research Triangle Park and is currently building a new manufacturing site in Holly Springs that will be one of the largest end-to-end cell culture CDMO facilities in North America.
