Who We Are

The BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. (BTI) was founded in 1998 as a non-profit to train and place entry-level biotechnicians in Maryland’s rapidly expanding biotech industry. The BTI Laboratory Associates Program provides tuition-free training in basic laboratory skills to bright, ambitious, unemployed and under-employed residents of the region.

For over two decades, the Biotechnical Institute of Maryland (BTI) has led the way in providing tuition-free, high-caliber, training to help those who are under- or unemployed become lab workers in the rapidly expanding life sciences sector. BTI was founded in 1998 by Dr. Margaret B. Penno, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cell Culture Laboratory at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. BTI has developed a successful model to train and place motivated high school graduates with demonstrated academic qualifications and an interest in beginning a career in bioscience.

The BTI Laboratory Associates Program provides tuition-free training in basic laboratory skills to bright, ambitious, unemployed and under-employed Maryland residents. Combined classroom instruction and on-the-job work experience enables BTI’s successful graduates to realize employment options. Since its founding, BTI has successfully trained more than 500 students and placed nearly 400. Employers benefit from a stream of ready-to-work, well-qualified lab technicians.

BTI also provides 15 fee-based workshops annually in relevant topics to industry professionals through BioSciConcepts, BTI’s social venture.

Let us design specialized trainings for your company either on-site or at BTI’s facilities. All revenue from BioSciConcepts workshops and consulting services support BTI in providing tuition-free training for residents pursuing a career in Maryland’s growing biotech industry.

BTI Stands for Racial Justice

At BTI, we are committed to continuing to provide an inclusive, equitable, diverse and supportive environment for all our students, staff and board members.

BTI Stands for Racial Justice

At BTI, we are committed to continuing to provide an inclusive, equitable, diverse and supportive environment for all our students, staff and board members. Read our statement on racial justice.