summer intensive biotechnology training opportunities

Teacher Workshops

Summer 2025 Teacher Workshops

Join us for a hands-on, practical experience that will build your confidence in modern bioscience techniques and empower you to bring cutting-edge science into your classroom. Each day concludes with a free, virtual session open to all educators – whether or not you attend in person – offering additional insights, discussion, and resource sharing!

This modular weeklong program will be held June 16 – 19 – choose to attend one, multiple, or all of the following workshops:

Monday June 16th – Day 1: Nucleic Acid Purification and Workflows
Tuesday June 17th – Day 2: Genetic Transformation
Wednesday June 18th – Day 3: Using Technologies to Understand Gene Expression
Thursday June 19th – Day 4: Synthetic Biology and Manufacturing

Earn credit certificates, badges for each module attended to proudly showcase your dedication, enhance your professional portfolio, and celebrate your growing expertise in cutting-edge STEM topics!

Each day will conclude with a session to showcase online platforms and hands on learning experiences that allow educators to apply associated biotechnology concepts to the classroom without the need for high-cost equipment. These classroom application sessions will also be available virtually for FREE remote attendance!

Registration & Pricing

Individual modules are $250 each with the ability to earn a stipend of $145 for each session.

Cost for the entire weeklong program is $1000 with the opportunity for an earned stipend of $580 per teacher.

Participants can register for one, multiple or all sessions at once.

A limited number of scholarships are available and can be requested in the registration form. Email btci@btci.org with any questions.

Nucleic Acid Purification

Monday, June 16, 2025; 9am - 4pm (lunch included)

· Explore the principles behind various nucleic acid extraction methods

· Practice standard workflows

· Discuss real-life case studies and troubleshooting strategies

Genetic Transformation

Tuesday, June 17, 2025; 9am - 4pm (lunch included)

· Overview of plasmid design and key genetic transformation concepts

· Perform a genetic transformation and analyze example results

· Examine the ethical implications in our society

Gene Expression

Wednesday, June 18, 2025; 9am - 4pm (lunch included)

· Review PCR and quantitative PCR

· Set up PCR in groups and interpret real datasets

· Discuss case examples to illustrate real-world applications

Synthetic Biology

Thursday, June 19, 2025; 9am - 4pm (lunch included)

· Introduce synthetic biology fundamentals

· Engage in exercises to design and simulate biological manufacturing processes

· Discuss the integration of synthetic systems into production settings

Location & Accommodations

All workshops will be held in our newly renovated classrooms and lab spaces at BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (BTCI), located on the Promega Campus in Fitchburg, WI at 5445 East Cheryl Pkwy, Madison, WI.

Please contact us if you have questions about lodging.

Instructors

Classes will be taught by our BTCI instructors Dr. Sharon Tang and Aidan Holmes, along with guest speakers.

Virtual Session

Each in-person workshops will conclude with a live session from 3pm – 4pm (CT) that is FREE and open to anyone to attend VIRTUALLY! But, registration is required to share the link and resources after the fact.