Nevada State College to host leading biotechnology workshop next week

Dec. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- HENDERSON, Nev. – Beginning Dec. 13, Nevada State College (NSC) will host a workshop to educate biology students on capillary electrophoresis, state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment usually available only to working professionals in the biotech field.  

NSC will be holding the training workshop in coordination with Beckman Coulter, a biotech company which develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests.  The NSC/Beckman Coulter certification training will be the first and only of its kind available to college students in the United States.  Usually this training is only provided on the job at biotech companies.  

Upon completion of the workshop, students will receive a Beckman Coulter certificate of training completion in the use of the PA800 capillary electrophoresis instrument, an award that will offer them a distinctive advantage for securing jobs within the biotech field upon graduation.

A total of 28 students from NSC and two from UNLV will be participating.  Students were chosen based upon their progression toward their degrees.

“Having the opportunity to receive certification from Beckman Coulter for training in capillary electrophoresis is a significant asset to students at NSC and UNLV,” said Dr. Andy Kuniyuki, dean of liberal arts and sciences at NSC.  “These students will have a considerable head start over others in the biotech field that didn’t have access to such high-level training as part of their baccalaureate program.”

NSC will offer the training twice a year in December and May, enabling a total of 360 students to receive the training over the next six years.  The training is funded through a grant from the Nevada IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

The workshop will occur at the college’s Liberal Arts & Sciences Building at 1021 East Paradise Hills Drive, in Henderson, Nev., from Monday, Dec. 13 through Thursday, Dec. 16.

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About Nevada State College -- Founded in 2002, Nevada State College is a four-year public college offering more than 35 majors and minors leading to a bachelor’s degree. Based in Henderson, Nev., Nevada State College serves close to 3,000 students representing a broad array of cultural and economic backgrounds. In every field of study, classes are taught by experienced faculty who serve as mentors and guides. With an average class size of only 20 students, Nevada State College fosters a personal learning environment where students receive the support they need to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.nsc.nevada.edu.