Learn about the program's unique curriculum, world-class faculty and convenient schedule. In just two years, you can earn your degree while still working full-time.
Richard Moss, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies
Executive Director and Co-founder, M.S. in Biotechnology Program
Professor
Kurt Zimmerman, M.S.
Director, Industry Engagement, SMPH
Director, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
Natalie Betz, Ph.D.
Associate Director and Faculty Instructor, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
Bryan Husk, M.A.
Assistant Director, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
Michele Smith, MS SCT(ASCP)
Program Manager, Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
The Master of Science of Biotechnology Program brings together the expertise of the University of Wisconsin's world-class faculty, and the applied experience of the region's most successful biotechnology leaders from private industry.
Natalie Betz, Ph.D.
Associate Director and Faculty Instructor
Master of Science in Biotechnology
Karin Borgh, Ph.D.
Executive Director of BTCI
BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute
Tom Burke, Ph.D.
Director of Genome Engineering
Cellular Dynamics International Inc.
Russ Coff, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Research,
Professor, Management & Human Resources
Wisconsin School of Business
Abigail Davis
Senior Quality Assurance Manager
Promega Corporation
Hansi Dean, Ph.D.
Vice President and Head, Discovery Research
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
Ed Elder, Ph.D., R.Ph.
Director, Zeeh Pharmaceutical Experiment Station
UW-Madison, School of Pharmacy
Michael Falk, J.D., M.B.A.
General Counsel
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Scott Fulton, M.S.
Founder and CEO
Cellera, LLC
Fabio Gaertner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Accounting & Information Systems
Wisconsin School of Business
Martin Ganco, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management & Human Resources
Wisconsin School of Business
Heather Gerard, M.S.
Intellectual Property Manager
Promega Corporation
Jennifer Gottwald, Ph.D.
Licensing Manager
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Derek Hei, Ph.D.
Director, Waisman Biomanufacturing
Cellular Dynamics International Inc.
Susan LaBelle, M.B.A.
Managing Director
Office of Corporate Relations
Dave Lewis, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer (former)
Arrowhead Research
Thomas Machleidt, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Promega Corporation
Terri McDonnell, M.B.A.
Senior Program Manager
Promega Corporation
Eugene McNally, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Product Development and Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. (PPD)
Pilar Ossorio, Ph.D., J.D.
Professor of Law and Bioethics
University of Wisconsin Law School
Hart Posen, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Associate Professor, Management & Human Resources
Wisconsin School of Business
Marla Rybowiak
Director of Operations
The Employer Group
Jay Schiestle, M.B.A.
Vice President, Operations and Diagnostics
Lucigen Corp.
Richard Schifreen, Ph.D.
Accelerator Program Manager
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Chris Sebranek
Director Of Quality Assurance
LSNE Contract Manufacturing
Ben Seffrood M.B.A., M.S.
Head of Finance
Roche NimbleGen
Laura Strong, Ph.D.
President and COO
Quintessence Biosciences
Charlie Trevor, Ph.D.
Professor, Management & Human Resources
Wisconsin School of Business
Cheryl Vickroy, M.B.A.
Director
Center for Technology Commercialization
Eric B. Vincent, Ph.D.
Global Product Manager
Promega Corporation
Mary Wang, M.A.
ESL Instructor
English as a Second Language, English Department
Mary Westrick, Ph.D.
Vice President, US Phase I (retired)
Quintiles
Scott WildmanPh.D.
Computational Chemist
UW Carbone Cancer Center
The M.S. in Biotechnology program has over 300 alumni since its first graduates in 2004.
Each year the value of the alumni network strengthens as more students graduate and grow their careers.
Alumni by Graduating Class:
Discover more Alumni Success Stories
Although he'd spent twenty years working in the biotechnology industry, Kenyon Koeper felt it was only the beginning of his professional career. He'd worked his way up to a senior project manager role at PPD in Madison, and with it watched as his company grew from fewer than 200 employees to over 1,600. But while his company quickly expanded, Koeper knew his upward momentum would soon come to an end.
He needed something to propel his career to the next level — and knew a Master of Science in Biotechnology was the answer. Despite not having a background in biotech, Koeper had developed decades' worth of practical knowledge on the job. With this knowledge, he set his sights on a management position; he wanted to use his expertise and insight to help make the critical decisions that determine the success of biotechnology companies.
Broadening his skillset
Koeper applied to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was accepted into the Master of Science in Biotechnology Program. A blend of science, business, legal and regulatory policy, the breadth and depth of the curriculum piqued his interest.
"I wanted a program that understood what a career in the biotech industry actually looked like," Koeper explained.
"It was important to me that the curriculum could be directly applied to what I was already doing in the field, and could anticipate what I would need to know to make me successful in the future."
The program's hands-on molecular technology lab courses allowed him to experience first-hand the latest methodological techniques and data analysis approaches underpinning industrial biotechnology. The business curriculum emphasized corporate strategy and decision-making skills to help him understand how to identify the risks and opportunities that biotechnology leadership must effectively navigate in order to execute successfully.
"Not only did I gain a variety of skills and credentials I needed to fulfill my professional goals," said Koeper, "I also gained a close network of students, faculty and industry professionals."
Working in the epicenter of biotech
Weeks before completing his degree — less than two years after he began the program — Koeper landed his dream job with Sarepta Therapeutics as an Associate Director for Project Management. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Sarepta is a top-ranked, rapidly growing company centered in a hotbed for biotech research and is known for developing gene therapies for debilitating genetic diseases, including a ground-breaking gene therapy treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Within the first few weeks of his new job, Koeper put his degree to use — impressing colleagues and management alike. While discussing a problem with a drug substance with his supervisor, Koeper recalls how he demonstrated the breadth of his understanding of sophisticated science, down to the intricacies of plasmid DNA.
"The issue revolved around whether the plasmid DNA was supercoiled, circular or linear when it was measured by qPCR. My supervisor said that if I needed the science background on DNA or PCR to go talk to so and so," Koeper said. "I replied that I knew what she was talking about; we covered it as part of the biotechnology degree. She stopped and looked at me like 'Oh, maybe you do get it!'"
To learn how your career could benefit from a M.S. in Biotechnology or how to apply for Fall 2020 admission, contact Assistant Director Bryan Husk at bthusk@wisc.edu or (608) 265-0773.
Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Established in 2002, the Master of Science in Biotechnology Program at UW-Madison is a two-year cross-disciplinary degree for scientists, technical professionals, business strategists and attorneys seeking to advance their career in the biotechnology field without having to put their career on hold. The hands-on, in-person curriculum focuses on the development and commercialization of new technologies and provides a diverse mix of science, business, bioethics, public policy, law and intellectual property. Students are instructed by some of the best academics, industry professionals and lawyers in the biotechnology field.
Prospective Students
Biotech at UW-Madison©2019 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin – Madison