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.
Colleen Adams, MTSC
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Exact Sciences
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, M.S.
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
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
Jessica Martin Eckerly, M.B.A., M.S.
CEO and Co-Founder
Forward BIOLABS
Terri McDonnell, M.B.A.
Senior Program Manager
Promega Corporation
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
Chris Sebranek, M.S.
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
Michelle Venturini, M.B.A., SPHR
Adjunct Professor
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 Wildman, Ph.D.
Computational Chemist
UW Carbone Cancer Center
Jonathan Young, Ph.D.
Head of WARF Therapeutics
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
The M.S. in Biotechnology program has over 350 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:
Instructors:
This second laboratory-intensive course explores biotechnologies with research, industrial and diagnostic applications—with a special emphasis on nucleic acid and protein analysis in diverse areas of biotechnology.
Classroom and lab activities include gene cloning, protein expression and purification on a manufacturing scale; the detection of genetically modified organisms and its implications for science and society; automation in biotechnology, and human genetic identity and its role in forensics.
You'll also hear guest lectures on directed evolution through protein engineering and DNA, protein and cell microarrays.
The biomanufacturing laboratory component highlights many of the topics covered in Biotechnology Operations.
Here are some of the topics taught in this course:
Session 1a &1b: An introduction to Gene Cloning, Protein Expression, and Protein Purification; first laboratory exercises; Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) detection; Science, business, and regulatory impacts of GMOs in the agricultural biotechnology field.
Session 2a & 2b: GMO detection continued; Protein-based method, ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) and immunoassay strip test used. Purify plasmid DNA from the mini cultures of bacteria and then analyze the plasmid DNA with restriction enzymes to verify the correct target gene insert is present; GMO PCR reaction used.
Session 3a & 3b: Inoculate and induce a fermentation culture of bacteria containing the target protein (zbFGF) using fermentors; Perform optimization, and batch record generation; Instruction on using of BioFlo fermentors. Process induced bacterial culture by centrifuging and will prepare a crude cell lysate, which will be subsequently purified in Sessions 4 and 5 and analyzed in Session 5; Batch record generation and product specifications will continue; Prepare solutions for chromatography downstream purification.
Session 4a & 4b: Cation exchange chromatography on the crude bacterial lysate generated in Session 3b, using a Bio-Rad DuoFlow FPLC (Fast Performance Liquid Chromatography) system; Introduction to concepts surrounding genetic identity. Ppurify their own genomic DNA from cheek cells (buccal swabs); DNA will then be tested for genotyping their own samples; Analyze samples collected in a mock criminal case as well by purifying "touch DNA" using an automated magnetic silica purification method.
Session 5a & 5b: Final formulation step of the target protein using tangential flow filtration or dialysis; Vialing to store the purified zbFGF product; Analyze and interpret the results of the STR genotyping reactions and discuss allele frequencies and the probability of specific genotypes and the power of discrimination or exclusion. Perform final analysis of the purified target zb-FGF protein; protein concentration determined using a commercially available colorimetric protein assay (BCA), while the purity and integrity of the final purified target protein will be determined using Experion chip analysis; Guest lecture on the science and business of genetic identity analysis.
Session 6a & 6b: Tour Exact Sciences manufacturing/testing site and the Feynman Center (Promega GMP Biomanufacturing Facility). Deliver poster presentations with partners on their assigned topics.
Session 7a & 7b: Introduction to laboratory automation and its role in biotechnology; Guest lecture on "Directed Evolution" (protein engineering) and role it plays in biotechnology. Tour and view demonstrations of various automated platforms in the R&D Integrated Systems laboratory at Promega Corporation. "Epigenetics/Epigenomics" introduced and significance in biotechnology discussed.
Fall 2019 | Spring 2020
Fall 2020 | Spring 2021
Fall 2020 | Spring 2021
Fall 2021 | Spring 2022
Fall 2021 | Spring 2022
Fall 2022 | Spring 2023
Prospective Students
Biotech at UW-Madison©2020 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin – Madison