Gloucester Biotechnology Academy has announced a new financial structure to support young adults’ investment in their futures. Through the generous support of donors, tuition and fees will be waived in their entirety for the Academy’s incoming class of 2023. In addition, qualifying students will receive stipends to help support their living expenses.
The Academy trains young adults for professional careers as life sciences laboratory technicians. Students spend seven months of hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art teaching facility located in Gloucester’s Blackburn Center, followed by a three-month paid internship at a biotech company in Boston, Cambridge, or the North Shore.
Spaces are still available for the incoming class of 2023, with start dates in both August and November. The program is open to students between the ages of 18 and 30 with a high school diploma or equivalent — no math or science experience is needed to apply. Interested students can learn more and download the application on our website (gmgi.org/education/apply), or reach out to Director of Enrollment and Partnerships Laura Richane.
Gloucester Biotechnology Academy’s popular Summer STEM program is back with new opportunties for middle and high school students!
Our STEM Enrichment Programs are courses designed to provide middle and high school students the opportunity to experience hands-on science in a biotechnology laboratory.
Held in state-of-the-art teaching labs at Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, the week long program allows students to dive into authentic laboratory investigations. Students use cutting-edge biotechnology equipment, the scientific method, and critical thinking to analyze samples and make data-driven conclusions.
All are welcome! There is no math or science experience needed to participate – the course is designed to meet all student needs.
Two courses will be offered this summer – Fish Fraud Forensics and the new Mean Glow Green – with two weeks available for each course. Click here to learn more and to download the registration paper work. Please reach out to Laura Richane, Director of Partnerships and Enrollment, at laura.richane@gmgi.org with any questions.
Thank you to everyone who helped make 2021 a year of impact and growth for GMGI. As we look forward to 2022, I see a bright and exciting road ahead with activity from the first two months of the year paving the way:
GMGI was honored with a visit by U.S. Representative Seth Moulton who came to see first-hand our transformative workforce development activities and marine genomics research. Renowned marine genetics scientist Dr. Stephen Palumbi joined GMGI’s Science Advisory Board. At the Academy, we have a record number of internship opportunities to offer our Academy students.
GMGI is demonstrating that Gloucester is a great location to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and offer a new model for educating our young people.
None of this would be possible without the enthusiastic support of our community. Thank you for your belief in GMGI’s potential — we are committed to maintaining this momentum, and look to the future with confidence.
In gratitude,
Chris Bolzan Executive DirectorCongressman Seth Moulton Visits GMGI
U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton visited GMGI in January along with State Senator Bruce Tarr, State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, and the new mayor of Gloucester, Greg Verga. Donald G. Comb Science Director Andrea Bodnar toured the group through the research institute at 417 Main Street with Executive Director Chris Bolzan, and GMGI Board Member Bill Kane. The group finished the visit at the Academy where Education Director John Doyle and Lead Teacher Stephen Anderson walked them through the new biomanufacturing learning lab and previewed the new curriculum.
“This is fantastic,” Moulton said afterward. “This is exactly what we need to see more of in terms of education, but also in terms of our economy. There’s a synergy between the economic lifeblood of Massachusetts and tremendous educational opportunities for our students. This is incredible.” Moulton said he hopes other communities in the Commonwealth learn from our model.
GMGI welcomes Dr. Stephen Palumbi to our Scientific Advisory Board A native of Baltimore, Steve Palumbi has long been fascinated by how quickly the world around us changes. His research on the genetics of marine organisms focuses on basic evolutional questions, and on practical solutions to questions about how to preserve and protect the diverse life in the sea. Steve has lectured on human-induced evolutionary change, has used genetic detective work to identify whales, seahorses, rockfish, and sharks for sale in retail markets, and is developing genomic methods to help find ocean species resistant to climate change. His work on corals in the American Samoa and Palau has identified corals more resilient to heat stress, and his work at the Hopkins Marine Station focuses on how kelp, sea urchins, abalone, and mussels respond to environmental changes.
In addition to hundreds of published scientific research papers on a wide variety of marine organisms, Steve has published several books for non-scientists and has appeared in many film and TV documentaries to share his fascination with the world’s oceans.
Steve holds a Ph.D. in Marine Ecology from the University of Washington and started his career as a Professor at the University of Hawaii before moving to a Professorship at Harvard University. He then joined the faculty of Stanford University and is now the Jane and Marshall Steel Jr. Professor of Marine Sciences and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Steve is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, a member of the National Academy of Science, and a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation.
“Steve is a world-renowned marine biologist and leader in the field of marine genomics, and we are thrilled to have him as a member of our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Andrea Bodnar, Donald G. Comb Science Director.
Academy Students Interview for Internships
The internship process for the Class of 2022 has been like no other in the Academy’s six-year history. Academy students began their internship journeys by participating in (virtual) mock interviews on January 13th. On the day of these interviews, 20 individuals representing 11 local biotech companies provided our students critical practice and feedback.
“The mock interviews were really good practice and helped me feel more prepared for the real interviews. Mentors from the mock interviews gave feedback on what I should focus on in terms of my interests and what questions the interviewers might ask,” an Academy student explained. Real interviews with employers began the week of January 20th.
Students are benefitting from an unprecedented 26 companies offering 41 internship positions. In just six years, the demand for Academy students has far outpaced the supply.
“Part of the demand this year due to our new biomanufacturing curriculum and the additional skills it gives our students. These skills are in high demand right now,” said Education Director John Doyle.
In the second semester students learn how to insert DNA necessary to create green fluorescent protein (GFP) into bacteria. The bacteria are then grown into high density in a fermenter, producing equally high concentrations of GFP inside the bacteria. In the image shown above, a student learns how to successfully operate a homogenizer, an instrument used to break open bacterial cells and release the GFP, which is glowing after being exposed to a UV light source.
Stefan Abramo and Barbe Ennis-Abramo are donors and passionate volunteers at GMGI — Stefan lending his time and experience as an Academy volunteer and Barbe as a GMGI committee member. A rich life of professional and personal experiences has taken them around the world (and continues to do so), but it is here in Gloucester they now call home… Click here to read more.
GMGI Science Hours
Unable to attend one of our recent Science Hours? Click the links below to watch!
White sharks have been returning to the Gulf of Maine in greater numbers in response to the regional recovery of seal populations. For more than a decade, the MA Division of Marine Fisheries and collaborators have been studying the ecology, behavior, and natural history of white sharks off the easy coast of the US using state-of-the-art tagging technology. The focus of Dr. Skomal’s current research has been to gain a better understanding of where, when, and how white sharks hunt their prey. Join Dr. Skomal as he shares this research as he and his team attempt to develop a science-based strategy for mitigating potential shark and human conflicts.Q&A to be moderated by GMGI Donald G. Comb Science Director Andrea Bodnar.
Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute had a pivotal year in 2021 and to make 2022 even better, we need your help.
Supporting GMGI means:
Allowing us to continue redirecting the lives of the career-compromised though hands-on learning, mentorship and professional development at our Gloucester Biotechnology Academy.
Interested in learning more about Ocean Alliance, the SnotBot, their innovative whale research and ocean conservation efforts? Don’t miss Dr. Iain Kerr, Ocean Alliance CEO, as he joins the GMGI Science Hour onThursday, December 9th at 7:30pm. Dr. Kerr’s talk is free and available to anyone who is interested. You can click here to register.
Be sure to sign up for our mailing list or reach out to Ashley Destino at ashley.destino@gmgi.org to stay up to date on future Science Hour talks. The new season begins on January 20th!
Dr. Erinn Muller and Dr. Hanna Koch from Mote Marine Laboratory join the virtual GMGI Science Hour this Thursday, November 4th to discuss thier research helping to restore Florida’s coral reef, via Zoom.
This webinar is free and open to all – click here to register and click here to learn more about the upcoming talk. Register today!
Join us on Thursday, November 4th at 7:30p via Zoom to hear from Mote Marine Laboratory researchers Dr. Erinn Muller and Dr. Hanna Koch as they discuss their important research restoring and understanding Florida’s coral reefs.
After a brief summer hiatus, we are excited to announce the return of the virtual GMGI Science Hour series with a fantastic talk from Dr. Steve Palumbi!
Dr. Palumbi is a professor of Biology at Stanford’s Hopkin’s Marine Station in California, and will be joining us on Thursday, September 23rd to talk about his fascinating research on coral reefs – and what can be done to help protect them from climate change.
Join us on Thursday, May 27th at 7:15pm via Zoom to learn more about Gloucester Biotechnology Academy’s hands-on training program that provides young adults with the skills needed to start a career in biotech. This is a webinar, so all you have to do is log in and listen – we wont be able to see or hear you (unless you submit a question for Q&A)!
If you’re curious about the Academy’s training program, or if you’re looking for information on how to apply and be part of the Class of 2022 – all are welcome! Hear from Academy instructors, learn the basics of the program, how to apply, get a virtual tour of the training laboratory, and ask questions during a live Q&A.
You can click here to register, or see the invitation below for details. Please reach out to Ashley Destino at ashley.destino@gmgi.org with any questions.
Cape Ann Community 