College Awarded NSF Grant to Support Biotechnology Opportunities in the Region
October 1, 2025
Hudson Valley Community College was awarded a $468,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of its project “Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce.”
The project is led by Professor of Chemistry and Biotechnology Program Coordinator Dr. Donna Barron and focuses on expanding regional awareness of academic and career opportunities in the rapidly growing biotechnology sector. It is also part of a program called “Biotech Connect,” which will offer free community-based workshops that will engage students, families, and educators. Activities will include summer camps for students in grades 7 through 12, family enrichment nights, adult education sessions, and lunch-and-learn events for career advisors.
Dr. Barron will work with two co-principal investigators, Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Julie Friot and Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Michelle Lewis, to design and deliver programming that introduces participants to biotechnology concepts and careers. The college offers a Biotechnology A.S. degree and a Biotechnology Certificate program, both of which serve as direct pathways to careers in the growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for biological technicians is expected to grow 7 percent through 2033, with an estimated 10,300 job openings each year, on average, over the decade.
The proposal for “Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce” was developed with support from NSF's Mentor-Connect program, which assists faculty at two-year colleges in preparing competitive proposals for the NSF Advanced Technological Education program.
“Earning this prestigious federal grant from the National Science Foundation reflects the strength of our biotechnology program and the unwavering dedication of our faculty,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Dr. Michael Brophy. “The college is truly honored to receive this award, which will support our students and the future of biotechnology in our region. As the college’s new president, I am so proud to work alongside faculty who bring this kind of creativity and commitment to their classrooms and beyond, and I look forward to all of the opportunities that will stem from the project.”
“We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this NSF ATE grant to raise awareness about the career and educational opportunities in biotechnology available right here in our region,” said Dr. Donna Barron. “We aim to spark interest and inspire people of all ages to explore the many exciting possibilities in this growing field.”
In September 2024, the college received another STEM-based grant for a project called “Advancing Community College Students through Mentored and Course-Based Research Experiences,” also led by Dr. Donna Barron, to create opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research.