PCC Receives Its First-Ever NSF ATE Grant to Enhance Biotechnology Training

WINTERVILLE—The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program recently awarded Pitt Community College a $427,415 grant to address growing industry demand for quality control bioanalytical laboratory technicians in eastern North Carolina.

According to PCC Biotechnology Department Chair Christina Weeks, the grant will fund a three-year project focused on enhancing the college’s Biotechnology Associate in Applied Science program. In addition to expanding recruitment activities and increasing retention efforts, the funding will support activities including the purchase of industry-standard laboratory equipment, modernization of lab instruction and strengthening industry partnerships.

These enhancements will give students greater experience with industry-standard equipment, procedures and quality control techniques. Faculty professional development and industry engagement will also help ensure instruction remains aligned with current workplace practices.

Weeks, who will lead the project with assistance from PCC Biotechnology Instructor Kristen Bishop, says the goal is producing more graduates prepared to enter the region’s growing life sciences workforce.

“The grant will help the college increase biotechnology enrollment and completion, expand internships and other work-based opportunities, and establish a pipeline of skilled workers ready for employment in eastern North Carolina’s rapidly growing life sciences industry,” Weeks said. “We have local industry partners, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Nipro Medical, Catalent and CMP Pharma, supporting the project and providing meaningful input that ensures our programming aligns with their workforce needs.”

A 2024 North Carolina Biotechnology Center report showed that the state’s life sciences industry had surpassed 100,000 jobs for the first time. Eastern North Carolina’s BioPharma Crescent region, which includes Pitt County, is home to one of the largest concentrations of biopharma manufacturing on the East Coast and employs more than 10,000 biopharma workers.

Weeks said local employers continue to report a need for technicians with specialized skills in laboratory quality control, microbiology, environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance. The grant will help PCC expand its capacity to prepare workers for those high-demand positions.

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program supports educational programs that prepare highly skilled technicians for advanced technology fields that drive the U.S. economy.

This is PCC’s first NSF ATE grant and represents a significant accomplishment for the college and its Biotechnology Department.

09/18/2026