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Raritan Valley Community College has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) to create a weeklong summer immersion program focusing on exploring careers in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

The residential 2023 NIIMBL Summer eXperience program, which will serve African-American/Black, Latinx, and Native American college students, is designed to build self-confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education; motivate students to pursue careers in biomanufacturing or the life sciences; and provide networking opportunities with industry professionals.

The residential program will run Saturday, June 10, through Friday, June 16. There is no cost to participate in the program, and room and board are provided. Current college freshmen and sophomores attending two-year or four-year institutions and majoring in STEM subjects are invited to apply. Participants will be housed at a nearby hotel.  Accepted participants also will be awarded a $500 stipend.

Through a series of industry tours, networking events, and one-on-one coaching sessions, students will foster a professional mind-set, build confidence in understanding how to navigate corporate culture, and enhance clarity and confidence in defining their career and educational goals. The program will be hosted at RVCC’s Branchburg, New Jersey campus. Transportation will be provided for multiple off-campus experiences.

In addition, Windy Paz-Amor, RVCC’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), will conduct workshops designed to engage and enlighten students about DEI issues.

The mission of the NIIMBL eXperience program is to provide students from diverse backgrounds access to corporate exposure, professional branding, and personal development, empowering them to feel confident and motivated to achieve their academic and professional aspirations. To create a future pipeline of skilled biomanufacturing technicians, increased access and support is required to recruit, motivate, and educate under-represented populations.

RVCC joins Albany College (ACPHS) in New York and BioKansas in the Kansas/Missouri Region as one of only three locations in the country to be funded for the NIIMBL eXperience.

The deadline for registration has been extended to February 28, at 5 p.m. Those interesting in applying for the program should visit https://niimbl.piestar-rfx.com/opportunities/niimbl/rfp/129.

For additional information about the NIIMBL Summer eXperience program at RVCC, including eligibility criteria, visit www.raritanval.edu/niimblexperience or contact Tamara Jones at tamara.jones@raritanval.edu or Jacki Belin at jacki.belin@raritanval.edu.

This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086).

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2023

PR #84