The Southern California Biotechnology Center (SCBC) is a regional economic and workforce development center located at San Diego Miramar College. It serves as an "on-ramp" to Life Sciences and Biotechnology programs of study and works with the Community Colleges to prepare students to serve the workforce needs of the industry. The goal is to provide structured program pathways to Life Sciences and Biotech students, maximizing both access and success to align with State, Regional, and College goals.
Our Flagship Programs
For K-12 Students and Teachers
9th and 10th Grade Teachers_ The Biotech Awareness Curriculum Package is a great resource for teachers to inform their students about Biotechnology and Life Sciences as they select their science pathway for 10th/11th grade. More information can be found HERE.
11th and 12 Grade Teachers_ We help high school teachers bring hands-on biotechnology labs such as PCR, ELISA, DNA extraction, and gel electrophoresis to their students. Our programs include teacher training, support, and research-grade equipment check-out to provide students with authentic scientific experiences that inspire learning. For more information, please visit the Miramar Biotechnology Outreach page.
Rising 11th Grade Students_ We have a week-long ScienceBridge Supply Chain Experience workshop this coming June 2026. For more information contact Kimberly Teston-Fierro ktestonfierro@sdccd.edu
Rising 12th Grade Students_ We have a college course slated during the Summer of 2026 that can bridge your high school STEM courses to your upcoming college STEM courses. For more information contact Kimberly Teston-Fierro ktestonfierro@sdccd.edu
For Community College Students:
Supply Chain Experience (SCE): The Biotechnology Program at Miramar College offers the Service-Learning Supply Chain Experience. SCE prepares students for employment in the life sciences industry by providing laboratory technical skills training along with education and career counseling, industry exploration, job searching skills, and resume building. Students will participate in hands-on lab activities where they will gain work experience in the Miramar Biotech Lab by manufacturing products for customers.
Summer 2021 Grant-Funded Biotech Classes: Accelerate your Biotech classes at no cost.
For Job Seekers and Incumbent Workers:
Biotechnology Employment Skills Training (BEST): Workshops on critical workplace skills.
Quality and GMP Training: Biology 136__Quality and Regulatory Practices in Biotechnology. This course is an introduction to basic quality principles and tools with an emphasis on their application in biotechnology. Topics include quality control, quality assurance, validation, documentation, and regulatory compliance within the biotechnology industry. The course prepares students for the Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) examination through the American Society for Quality. It is intended for future or current biotechnology technicians. More information on this certification is found HERE. The CQIA exam is not part of the course. To enroll, search for BIOL 136 class HERE.
SCBC Resources
SCBC FAQs
Contacts:
Rebecca Bowers-Gentry, Ph.D. rbowersg@sdccd.edu
Sandra Slivka, Ph.D. sslivka@sdccd.edu