This course is the first in a two-seminar sequence that introduces students to the science and business of the biotechnology industry. The course explores cutting-edge translational research that is shaping current commercialization and industry trends. Students will engage directly with primary research literature, current events, and leading scientist and industry executive guest speakers. Example topics include immunotherapy, gene editing, precision medicine, in situ medical devices, advances in drug discovery, and more.
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M.S. in Commerce | Academics
Biotechnology Track
The 21st century is poised to be an era of unprecedented productivity and innovation in life sciences. In particular, biotechnology will define the coming decades, just as information technology has been a dominant force in shaping modern life today. As the global pandemic has shown, such innovation has the potential to be transformative—addressing key health, medical, and humanitarian challenges around the world. However, maximizing opportunities for novel scientific discoveries and responding to global challenges will require skilled and versatile professionals who understand both the science of biotechnology and the business of commercialization.
Designed for life science majors who are interested in solving complex societal challenges, McIntire's M.S. in Commerce Biotechnology Track will prepare you for a career at the intersection of science, business, and society.
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Understand how to successfully commercialize breakthrough life science technologies that have high potential to generate social and economic value
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Deeply engage with primary scientific literature that generates biotechnology innovations
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Develop commercialization plans and learn how to assess operating models and regulatory pathways
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Learn from leading scientists, faculty, and industry executives
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Prepare to successfully contribute to organizations seeking to positively impact human health and well-being
Frontiers in Biotechnology I
Frontiers in Biotechnology II
This course is the second in a two-seminar sequence that introduces students to the science and business of the biotechnology industry. In addition to continued exploration of industry trends, this course focuses on the nuanced business of biotech industry, including operational and financial perspectives, especially at early commercialization, but also across all stages of organizational maturity. Examples topics include regulation, intellectual property, financing, and biotech business strategy. Students will learn from industry leaders who are developing new drugs and products and analyzing and investing in biotechnology.
Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization
This course focuses on how to successfully commercialize breakthrough technologies that have high potential to generate social and/or economic value. The course covers issues related to identifying market needs and potential, developing commercialization plans, and understanding business models and entrepreneurial strategy.
Data Analytics
Course Options
- Clinical Trials Methodology
Covers the design and analysis of Phase I-III clinical trials. Topics include choice of study population and endpoints, choice of study design and sample size estimation, randomization and masking, patient recruitment, data collection and quality control, data monitoring committees, data analysis, and the interpretation and reporting of results.
- Predictive Analytics with Low Code Tech
Business analytics leverages the vast data resources available today to identify trends and patterns that are critical to enhancing business performance. This course introduces students to contemporary business analytics methods, including predictive and descriptive analytics techniques, and demonstrates how to practically apply analytics to real-world business decisions.
- Managerial View of AI
This course aims to provide students with a practical understanding of AI technology. It covers key factors for the successful development, deployment, and management of AI; machine learning; and other algorithmic approaches to automated decision making. Students will better understand the societal impacts of AI, ethical considerations in the use of AI, the limitations of AI, and approaches to balance AI risks and benefits.
- Python for Data Science
The course provides an overview of the fundamentals necessary to conduct data analytics with Python, including understanding Python objects, data types, structures, packages, and data flow statements and reading, writing, manipulating, and plotting data. Students will perform predictive analytics via machine learning using industry-standard packages.
- Data Aggregation & Visualization
Students will learn how to communicate effectively with data and data structures. This includes how to evaluate potential sources of data; aggregate data values from multiple sources; and compile creative, professional, and descriptive visualizations from that data. Students will learn the best type of chart or figure for different situations and how to format those visualizations to maximize the impact to the viewer.
Sciences Electives
Course Options
- Design and Innovation in Medicine
This course provides a project-based grounding in biomedical product design, with emphasis on clinical immersion and topics, including design fundamentals, problem/needs identification, delineation of realistic constraints and product specifications, intellectual property, market analysis, entrepreneurship, specific advanced design topics, business plan development, venture funding, and medical product testing methods.
- Recent Advances in Public Health Genomics
The course covers human genetics and genomics, including the human/mammalian genome variation, determination of genomic variation on phenotype and disease risk, mapping and characterizing genetic variants on phenotype, determining the putative impact of genetic variants on gene expression (transcriptomics, epigenomics), the promise and implications of genome science on precision medicine, and the ethical, legal, and social implications.
- Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
This course applies engineering science, design methods, and system analysis to developing areas and current problems in biomedical engineering. Topics vary by semester.
- Bioprocess and Bioproduct Engineering
The course focuses on engineering’s role in commercialization of vaccines and biologics. Biologics are more complex than small molecule drug products and present unique challenges in commercialization. This course includes an overview of vaccines and biologics from historical context, product, process and analytical technologies, immunology, clinical, regulatory and ethical considerations, economics, risk mitigation, and impact on human health.
- Biochemical Engineering
This course provides an introduction to properties, production, and use of biological molecules of importance to medicine and industry, such as proteins, enzymes, and antibiotics. Topics may include fermentation and cell culture processes, biological mass transfer, enzyme engineering, and implications of recent advances in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics.