Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences

Biotechnology focuses on the application of the biological and biochemical sciences, and particularly genetics, to the preparation of new and enhanced biomedical, industrial, agricultural, and environmental products. Graduate instruction in this area would include molecular biology, cell and tissue culturing, protein biologic development, bioinformatics, functional and comparative genomics, applied immunology, DNA sequencing, tissue biology and engineering, industrial microbiology, drug development, intellectual property, clinical trials, biotechnology management and marketing, applicable regulations, and biotechnology ethics.

The M.S. in Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences (MS Biotech:IBMS) program at the University of New Hampshire is a STEM-designated graduate degree program that offers its students innovative experiential learning opportunities and delivers a content-rich, skills-based, and highly versatile curriculum for individuals seeking to advance their careers in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomanufacturing sectors. Students will complete a project, internship, or co-op experience as part of their degree program. The MS Biotech:IBMS program has a core foundation in the theory and wet-laboratory skills of cell and tissue biology and culturing; protein and immunologic methods and therapeutics; and the molecular biotechnology of nucleic acids. Students are also required to develop a substantial background understanding of biotech product lifecycle and the regulatory and legal implications therein. After demonstrating proficiency in the core biotechnology knowledge areas, MS Biotech:IBMS students will work with a faculty advisor to create a customized program of study that may include content from diverse graduate programs across the UNH campuses.

Completion of the M.S. in Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences program requires completion of 30 graduate credits including 4 required core courses, 1 required seminar course, and a project, internship, or co-op work experience. Full-time students can complete the program in 18 months. Students admitted from a UNH Bachelor's degree program can complete the Accelerated Master's program in 12 months depending on the courses completed during their undergraduate program. Students choosing the project or internship track would undertake an internship or internships in industry, applied research in an industrial job where the student is already employed, or research in a faculty member's laboratory at UNH. Students choosing the co-op work experience route would spend 6 months in a full-time industrial placement as part of their degree program.

The MS Biotech:IBMS program welcomes students from varied scientific and other backgrounds who have the required basic skills to succeed in the degree program. Normally, this background includes completion of a Bachelor's degree (GPA > 3.0) with an introductory biology two-course sequence with lab, a genetics course (lab not required), and at least one semester of organic chemistry. Students with non-biomedical Bachelor's degrees with these skills are encouraged to apply for admission. UNH Bachelor's degree students in a variety of curricular areas would similarly be able to apply for admission as an Accelerated student if they meet the pre-requisite requirements above. For all applicants, the MS Biotech:IBMS program recommends this additional level of preparation: one semester of microbiology with laboratory, one semester of bioethics, one semester of cell biology, one semester of statistics, one semester of mathematics to the pre-calculus or calculus level, and one semester of biochemistry. GREs are not required. International students must submit a TOEFL score or equivalent evidence of English proficiency as required by the UNH Graduate School.

The Biotechnology industry in New England is currently expanding at a substantial rate (2018 Job Trends Forecast, MassBioEd Foundation) and graduates of the M.S. in Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences program will be well-prepared for anticipated growth in jobs projected for the biotech R&D, medical testing laboratory, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing laboratory instrumentation, academic, and other sectors in New England in the coming years.

A student successfully completing the Biotechnology:Industrial and Biomedical Sciences program will be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of core knowledge in fundamental biochemical, cellular, and molecular biological principles, concepts, and theories.
• Demonstrate high-level practical laboratory skill in the areas of mammalian cell culture, molecular biology and microbiology, and protein techniques.
• Successfully employ knowledge of the regulatory and legal framework that underpins the field of industrial biotechnology, including knowledge of pre-clinical and clinical product development, relevant US government regulations and laws, and intellectual property concerns.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate high-level technical information related to biotechnology in scientific writing and oral presentations to a variety of audiences.
• Understand, analyze, evaluate, and summarize primary research literature involving biotechnology related topics.
• Write at a level and in a style of English consistent with that found in leading academic journals, including understanding and properly using styles of citing, referencing, and formatting appropriate for the field.
• Understand and apply the process of the scientific method, including being able to formulate hypotheses, design and conduct experiments with adequate controls to test hypotheses, interpret and evaluate data, and draw conclusions.
• Gather, analyze, organize, evaluate, and present scientific data, including the use of technology to solve problems and communicate information.
• Demonstrate expertise in quantitative skills including basic math and statistics, use of spreadsheet or statistical software, and graphical presentation of quantitative data.
• Deploy important biotechnology industry-relevant transferrable job skills, such as clear communication, cooperation and relationship building, teamwork and conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrate the ability to function as a member and leader of a team.
• Form a core expertise in an area (or areas) of biotechnology (and allied fields) selected by the student, sufficient to conduct supervised research or other further work (such as industrial development) in that area.
• Successfully undertake a substantial Capstone experience (in industry or in an academic laboratory) in which the student demonstrates sufficient knowledge of the professional, experimental, ethical, communication, and laboratory standards relevant to the selected placement.
• Compete effectively for Masters-level employment and for admission to Ph.D. or other graduate programs in their chosen area and be successful in these endeavors.

• Transcript evaluation by a third party is not required as long as an application is in English. Translation services and evaluation services may be requested at the discretion of the academic department.
• Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
• International applicants may submit copies of official transcripts by emailing [email protected]. We will upload those transcripts to your application checklist. 
• Official transcripts will be required if admitted. These can be hand-delivered in a sealed envelope upon arrival, emailed to [email protected], or mailed hardcopy to UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall, 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824.