Alamance Community College receives $474,878 NSF grant for biopharma degree

Alamance Community College (ACC) received a $474,878 grant from the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program to launch BioQuest, a project that will train students for careers in quality control and assurance.

The funding supports a new associate degree in Biopharma Quality, with classes beginning in Fall 2027. ACC is one of just two North Carolina schools awarded biotechnology-related funding from the program this year. The degree is designed to help fill a shortage of technicians in the Piedmont region who verify that drug products meet company and FDA standards.

The degree will include six newly developed courses informed by ACC's advisory committee of local employers. Students will learn laboratory testing methods, regulatory requirements, process validation, record-keeping and data integrity, along with data analytics, automation and artificial intelligence used in modern manufacturing.

Coursework will be lab-heavy and use equipment found in industry settings, supplemented by virtual reality modules. Students will also earn digital badges that confirm specific lab skills.

BioQuest is beneficial for working adults and career changers. Evening courses will be flexible, combining online lectures with labs that blend online and in-person work. Each course will last four or eight weeks, allowing students to concentrate on one subject at a time. 

For more information, read ACC's announcement.