Northwestern University Center for Biotechnology

About Northwestern University Center for Biotechnology

Northwestern University Center for Biotechnology was founded in 1990 with a Technology Challenge Grant from the State of Illinois. At its founding, the Center was envisioned to operate as a research/facilitator center; its major goal was to sponsor and promote faculty research projects. However, due to the state's budgetary problems, all funding was discontinued as of November 1991.
The budgetary crisis gave the Center an opportunity to reassess its mission and its role within Northwestern. The Center evolved into an education/training center complementing traditional academic units engaged in biotechnology research. A professional program in biotechnology -- the Masters Program in Biotechnology -- was launched in 1992. This program represents an alternative to standard Ph.D. programs and all students are self -supported.
The MS Program in Biotechnology is the single most important activity of the Center today. the Center has not received any University appropriations since its founding. The Center is self-funded through a tuition sharing agreement with the University.
Specialties: majors/programs
Master's Program in Biotechnology: The Master's Program in Biotechnology graduated its first class in 1993. This is an interdepartmental, thirteen month, professional degree program that graduates 30-35 students/year. Most of its graduates pursue careers in the biotechnology industry. The Master's Program was designed to fulfill a national need for well-rounded scientists with 'real world' skills, able to understand, appreciate and make practical use of the results produced by basic research.
Mission: The Center for Biotechnology at Northwestern University promotes biotechnology to preserve and improve human health and to improve and sustain the world's agricultural and environmental resources. Towards this vision, the Center's core purpose is to develop Northwestern as a leader of world class, innovative, and personalized programs in biotechnology. This includes degree and non-degree educational programs as well as biotechnology enhancement activities. The Center's programs complement and synergize, without overlapping, existing resources at Northwestern and the biotechnology community at large.
Vision: The Center plans to be established as one of the three major driving forces in biotechnology in the US, and the major driving force in the midwest. We envision Northwestern University as the leader of innovative educational programs in biotechnology, attracting top students and producing the best regarded graduates in biotechnology. The outreach programs will be highly sought by the biotechnology community. Its innovative culture will have been instrumental in the spawning of a core of biotechnology companies and in the development of several faculty-industry-government synergies that would lead to the development of biotechnology products.
Key Management Names:
Alicia, Löffler, Ph.D., Director Leslie Wainwright, Ph.D., Associate Director
Last Updated 5/27/99