Three Reasons you Should Consider Attending a Minnesota School for Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology (Biotech) is a branch of science that dates back to the twentieth century. This branch, in its simplest terms, is advancement in technology using biology. University of Northwestern – St. Paul (UNW) works to equip students in engineering and biology majors to go into the growing field of biotechnology and biomedical professions. Northwestern’s location in Minnesota and the Twin Cities provides many benefits for students interested in technology. 

Here are 3 Reasons:

Biotech companies in the Twin Cities

Biotech and the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry are part of a growing industry in Minnesota. University of Northwestern – St. Paul is in a prime location in the heart of the Twin Cities, offering opportunity for students to intern with nearby biotech companies within this growing biomedical hub. 

8 biotech companies less than 10 miles away from UNW:

• Boston Scientific – 2 miles
• Galil Medical Inc – 5 miles
• Pharmgate Research and Development – 7 miles
• Kingfisher Biotech – 7 miles
• Ecolab – 7 miles
• Minnebio LLC – 7 miles
• Syntiron LLC – 7 miles
• Medtronic – 8 miles

Dr. Michael Jacobson, Department Chair of Engineering, commented on the learning that takes place for engineering students, equipping them for combined learning in both engineering and biomedical, “courses include Biomedical Instrumentation and Biomechanics, which gives particular skills in support of the Minnesota MedTech industry. This regional focus has expanded beyond Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott, and Mayo Clinic to include hundreds of midsize and startup companies. The UNW engineering graduates are well suited to support this growing industry.” 

With access to a wide variety of large and small biotech companies alike, students at UNW are able to find an internship that best suits their specific passions within the industry – they aren’t lost in large companies. Throughout the entire program at UNW, students are prepared and to go out into the workforce post-graduation.

Support for Budding Entrepreneurs 

Minnesota is an ideal location for entering into biotech because there is much support for students looking to launch or join a small business. Launch Minnesota is an initiative that works to help startups access capital and connect them to helpful resources in addition to offering grants. Further, Minnesota houses many successful small biotech businesses within the Twin Cities. General Probiotics Inc. located in St. Paul, Lichen Labs located in Minneapolis, and Katana AgriScience located in St. Paul name a few startups that rank within the top 12 biotech businesses in Minnesota as of November 2024. The support and opportunity is perfect for students desiring a job within a biotech small business.

Students are seeking jobs that make a real difference. They aren’t looking to simply work at a company and make money; they want to make products that produce change. Small companies offer an opportunity to be the known change, not just another person working for the business. Small businesses provide a personable atmosphere for growth as an employee too. There is a growing trend towards students who are passionate about the mission of the company/product, not the money they are making. 

Some of our own UNW students chose the opportunity to work with smaller companies. In the last year, Andrew Martinez and Timothy Moyer interned with VivaQuant a small business that describe themselves as focusing on building software tools for quantitative analysis of ECGs in biomedical and drug safety research. A way for them to get hands-on experience where they can make a known difference for the world around them.  

Sustainable Career Paths 

Not only are students seeking out small, but they are also looking for sustainable careers. The idea of sustainability is not a new concept, this idea was originally found in Scripture. God created the earth and calls us to care for it. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 (ESV). Sustainable living expands greater than just a trend. It’s a way of serving the Lord. 

As sustainable careers continue to grow, the biotech industry offers numerous eco-friendly job opportunities that contribute positively to our planet. One such field is biomedical engineering, where professionals are focused on advancing sustainable medical technologies through the use of renewable materials, energy-efficient devices, and waste reduction efforts. 

What makes UNW’s programs different? UNW seeks to focus on aspects such as entrepreneurship, innovation, and exceptional thinking alongside Christian liberal arts values of critical analyzation, problem solving, spiritual formation, and upstanding leadership. In addition, biotechnology labs will be integrated into the program and designed by faculty as a way to further enhance the learning experience for students. 

Interested in pursuing biotechnology at UNW? Talk with an admissions counselor here.