The Biotechnical Institute of Maryland (BTI) has opened a second location at The HOEN Lithograph Building on 2101 East Biddle Street, near where it 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 is using the space to launch a new Bio START course for 20 students on November 7.

According to Dr. Brandy Carter, BTI’s executive director, “We’re very excited about our return to east Baltimore. It’ll give us an opportunity to train more Baltimore City residents to meet the growing demand for laboratory professionals in Baltimore’s thriving life sciences community.”

Bio START is a tuition free 6-week bridge program designed to jumpstart candidates’ skills and knowledge in basic math, communications, and critical workplace skills, and to build a sense of teamwork. BTI will recruit up to twenty unemployed or underemployed high school graduates to take the course.

Upon completing it the students will then begin a 9-week Laboratory Associates Program approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Held at its main laboratory facility at 1101 West Pratt Street, this course provides the academics, conceptual and hands-on laboratory skills necessary for success.

After the completion of the 15 weeks, graduates take one of two routes: they either secure a paid laboratory position, or complete a required 100-hour, paid internship, which BTI helps arrange with local life sciences companies and institutions. Successful completers are eligible for 7 credits toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in biotechnology through an agreement with Baltimore City Community College.

BTI graduates earn less than $7 per hour when starting the program (many are unemployed or only work part-time) but average over $40,000 per year upon completion. Many of BTI’s alumni/ae have now become supervisors and leaders in their companies, and recruit BTI graduates for their labs.

“They recognize the value of hands-on skills and rigorous training our program offers and know that our graduates will be loyal and long term employees,” said Dr. Carter. “Our students start work with little need for training in their positions; many of them have more laboratory experience than the college graduates against whom they compete. For them, working in laboratories represents the chance to earn a wealth building income, get benefits, and often with tuition benefits continue their education through college and beyond.”

Potential students can call BTI at 410-752-4224 or sign up here to attend an information session.