Starting in January 2022, science students at UPEI can register for a new 21-credit minor in biotechnology and two new associated courses, BIOT 1020: Field Studies in Biotechnology on PEI and BIOT 2020: Case Studies in Biotechnology.

The Faculty of Science has developed the new minor in partnership with the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) in response to new career opportunities for science and technology in the biotechnology sector on PEI.

The new minor combines the academic and laboratory components of students’ science degree program with hands-on skills development, and it complements existing programs on campus. Through industry-supported work-integrated learning placements embedded in all new UPEI biotechnology courses, students will gain experience and industry connections to kickstart a career in biosciences and biotechnology.

The new courses will give students an introduction to the biotechnology in local industry. BIOT 2020: Case Studies in Biotechnology is an online course where students will examine and solve research problems drawn from national and local biotechnology industry. BIOT 1020: Field Studies in Biotechnology on PEI involves field visits to local biotechnology industries. Both courses are open to all science students, and prerequisites are not required.

For more information, please contact Dr. Maria Kilfoil, associate professor, Departments of Physics and Chemistry, at mlkilfoil@upei.ca.