Biotech companies need scientists who understand how to move a drug candidate through the entire development pathway – not just one stage of it – and who can adapt their skills to shifting market needs. Dartmouth's new Master of Science in Biotechnology is built around that gap. Offered through the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, the program pairs in-person, practical training on industry-aligned equipment with cutting-edge biologics research and instruction.
"Dartmouth's graduate training focuses on impact – discovery and translation that change lives. The new MS in Biotechnology builds on a research engine that created Covid vaccines and key cancer immunotherapies, training students eager to contribute to the biotech advances of the coming decades. In doing so, it will meet an urgent need in industry and across society," said Dean Madden, faculty director of the program and Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
The accelerated 10-month program is built around a curriculum designed to simulate the flow of drug candidates through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) development pathway, from target validation and lead candidate optimization to cell line development, de-risking, and production scale-up for clinical trials. The curriculum also covers career pathways available to students with expertise in early development and bioprocessing, including lab or biomanufacturing roles as well as regulatory and business development positions.
The biotech market is shifting on multiple fronts: funding for foundational research is more competitive, biopharma investment preferences are changing, new efforts to reshore biomanufacturing for national security are creating new opportunities, and AI and automation are transforming how drugs are discovered and developed. Success in this landscape requires market awareness alongside lab skills. Weekly "business of biotech" seminars builds that awareness, giving students direct access to industry experts and the critical-thinking skills to plan their next career moves.
Students earn their degree through the Guarini School, and the program's reach goes further – drawing faculty expertise, technology, and research resources from the Geisel School of Medicine, the School of Arts and Sciences, and Thayer School of Engineering as well, plus mentorships and peers across campus. Dartmouth trains roughly 2,500 graduate students. Combined with a small campus, that gives each student a chance to connect to the community within and around Dartmouth, and also to engage with our extensive alumni network.
Graduates will leave with connections to potential employers in relevant industries. Dartmouth also offers post-graduation paid research positions, as well as connection with industry internships, co-ops, and permanent placements. Applications for the MS in Biotechnology program open on Sept. 17. Visit their website to learn more about the admissions process.
Questions? Please email Biotech.Education.Programs@dartmouth.edu
