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The Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities. -
Whether it’s winter, spring, or anything in between, Merrimack’s beautiful campus is enjoyed by all. -
Aerial shot of the Academic Quad. -
Mendel Center and the Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge. -
The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher is the spiritual center of the Merrimack College community.
Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences
The CBBS Mission ...
... is to provide students with an excellent academic foundation sufficient to meet the rapidly evolving opportunities and challenges facing biological scientists in the 21st century.
The CBBS promotes interdisciplinary initiatives in the curriculum, student/faculty research, certificate and degree completion programs through the School for Advanced Studies, community outreach programs and corporate partnerships. The CBBS occupies a suite in the Mendel Science Center on the campus of Merrimack College.
Undergraduate Study - Interdisciplinary Programs - Advanced Degrees - Corporate Partnerships - Community Outreach - Advisory Board
Undergraduate Study in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Integrative Physiology
The Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences grew from the success of the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and Integrative Physiology concentrations leading to a B.S. degree in the Department of Biology at Merrimack College. The CBBS continues to enhance the undergraduate experience through innovative curricular and co-curricular activities.
Some of the Highlights of the brief history of the CBBS are the establishment of a Biotechnology/Biomedical Sciences Advisory Board with distinguished members from both industry and academia; the renovation of lab space in Mendel Science Center; the acquisition of a major gift donation of lab equipment from Wyeth to support student/faculty research in the program; the procurement of student internship opportunities for several Merrimack Biology majors at area companies; the inauguration of a Seminar Series in Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences; and membership in the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.
The Sailfin Molly DNA sequencing project was initiated in the spring of 2010. Students in the BIO2018 Genetics course participated directly in this project which aims to create a series of polymorphic markers to support the work of Department of Biology faculty member Dave MacLaren, Ph.D., in his research on the evolution of courtship behavior.
Several key features contribute to the ongoing success of our undergraduate curriculum:
- A comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum offering breadth and depth of study in cellular and molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, organismal biology, ecology, and environmental biology
- Dedicated Faculty with demonstrated accomplishment in teaching, scientific research, and service to the Merrimack College community
- Faculty committed to close mentoring relationships with students - in the classroom and laboratories, and as advisors for career development
- High quality curricular and co-curricular opportunities for students
- Many alumni from professional degree programs at leading academic institutions such as Cornell, Georgetown, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins Universities
- Many other alumni who have obtained direct entry in the biotechnology/biomedical sciences workforce
Merrimack College offers students the opportunity, in conjunction with affiliated academic departments, to design their own contract majors. Once a plan is outlined and approved, the students embark on their personalized course of study. Biomedical Engineering is the first contract major sponsored by the CBBS. Many other possibilities exist including Computational Biomedicine and Bioinformatics, Foundations of Drug Design, Biomechanical Modeling, Statistical Biomedicine, Forensic Science, and Bio-ethics, to name a few.
To ensure the success of the contract major student, the CBBS acts as a resource for interdisciplinary programs to
- aid in compiling appropriate sequence of courses
- identify relevant material to augment course content
- supply materials, equipment and space for laboratory experiments
- promote shared common experiences in and out of the classroom
- promote community through a variety of co-curricular activities
- obtain funding for new equipment at the request of the the faculty
Capstone experiences are a particularly important feature of the interdisciplinary contract majors. The CBBS provides contacts for internships in industry and academia, as well as space, materials and equipment for students to carry out experiments in the Center, and advice and assistance for both faculty and students.
The CBBS is in the early planning stages of compiling advanced degree programs in Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences. Both 5 year combined BS/MS and two year MS programs are being discussed. Check back for updates throught the planning and implementation process.
The CBBS provides space, resources and expertise for local biotech firms.
A corporate partnership with Nexcelom, a local biotechnology company, was established in 2010. Scientists from Nexcelom are using the tissue culture facilities in the CBBS to perform experiments to test their state-of-the-art automated cell counter, the Cellometer (R). The funds they donated to the CBBS were used to establish summer stipends for two undergraduate fellows. Nexcelom is also providing internship experience for Merrimack undergraduates.
The CBBS facilities include a fully equipped modern molecular biology laboratory, including Applied Biosciences real-time PCR Light Cycler, Shimadzu UV-1800 and BioSpec-nano spectrophotometers, Li-Cor DNA sequence analyzer; a cell culture facility; and an imaging suite. CBBS faculty are prepared to assist corporate partners in the use of the equipment, experimental design and qualified undergraduates can be recruited to assist in the execution of experiments as interns.
The CBBS recognizes that science education occurs in many venues. The CBBS partners with local community groups to customize learning experiences. Visits from schools, scout groups and other adult community groups are welcome! The CBBS has hosted visits from a Cub Scout Pack, who examined their own cheek cells and learned that DNA was in the nucleus of the cell, and a local high school biotechnology class who learned to passage cells in culture and how to stain mitochondria. Another high school group learned about DNA sequencing and its applications. Please contact the director to arrange a visit.
The CBBS Advisory Board is comprised of distinguished leaders in the biotechnology and biomedical sciences industry and academia. Vice presidents and senior scientists and managers from Wyeth, Genzyme, Beckman-Coulter Genomics and from the Hershey Medical Center at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine confer with the director and faculty and provide key insights into the need of the industry.
For more information, please contact: Janine M. LeBlanc-Straceski, Ph.D. Director, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences janine.leblancstraceski@merrimack.edu (978) 837-5279