MassBioEd's Teacher Summer Institute is a one week, 40-hour, lab-based course designed to enhance high school teachers’ skills and content knowledge in Biotechnology. For summer 2026, there is there are two options, 1) attend for only August 10^th and 11^th to participate in an exploration of the Biomanufacturing and BioPharma industries or 2) attend for the entire week.

All school personnel involved in supporting students’ college and career choices are encouraged to apply for the 2-day program. Preference will be given to those serving high school students.

Applicants for the 5-day program should be high school life science educators that will teach at least two courses during the 2026/2027 academic year. Preference will be given to classroom teachers who include biotechnology-based lab activities in their classrooms.

Outline for the 2026 Teacher Summer Institute:

Biomanufacturing: August 10 and 11^th, 9:00am – 4:00 pm

Days 1 and 2 will offer Biomanufacturing overview and careers in BioPharma presentations, the opportunity to complete a protein purification activity, learn about skills-based micro-credentials. We will also feature presentations, demonstrations and hands on activities at Northeastern University’s Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Training Lab, Burlington campus.

Lab Intensive: August 12^th – 14^th, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Days 3-5 will deploy cornerstone biotechnology techniques like electrophoresis, primer design and PCR to research projects involving the determination of genotypes in Brassica rapa, testing arthropods for Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease carrying parasite), Wolbachia, and Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever parasite).

The 2 options for participating in this program are:

Option 1: Biomanufacturing, August 10^th and 11^th only. Participants can join for only the Biomanufacturing component of the program.  All enrollees must participate fully in both days of this 2 day of the program. Participants completing the 2-day program will receive a $220 stipend and $200 to offset the cost of travel to the training center.

Option 2: Biomanufacturing plus Lab Intensive, August 10^th – 14^th. Teachers can join for all five days of the program. All enrollees must participate fully in all five days. Participants completing the 5-day program will receive a $220 stipend and $200 to offset the cost of travel to the training center for the Biomanufacturing component and will qualify for 3 graduate credits from Westfield State University or 67.5 PDPs from MassBioEd.

A $200 fully refundable deposit will be collected from all participants.

Once you complete this form, a MassBioEd staff member will be in contact with next steps.