Academics


Master's Degree in Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing

Prepare to use the latest technologies to fight diseases and shape the future of health care. The Master’s in Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing at ACPHS is an innovative one-year master’s program with one-of-a-kind opportunities for hands-on learning.

A group of students conduct research in lab
Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing Degree Overview
Ever wondered how scientific discoveries turn into real-world medicines and treatments? That's the power of biotechnology! This field combines biology with the engineering of living cells to create value-added products, such as medicines, vaccines, and gene therapy. The process of manufacturing these value-added products is called Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing. The MBB program equips students with the knowledge and hands-on skills in biomanufacturing's scientific, regulatory and practical facets.

The Master of Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing (MBB) at ACPHS is offered by the Department of Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences in collaboration with CBET (Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training). MBB offers two tracks: a full-time track for full-time students, and a part-time track for working professionals. In addition, the flexibility of the program enables you to pursue dual degree programs (e.g., Doctor of Pharmacy).

MBB is a one-year accelerated program with over 150+ hours of hands-on laboratory learning and courses that lay the foundations for understanding the science and regulatory landscape of the biotech industry. The program culminates with a biopharmaceutical project (research-focused, review paper and industrial-experience track) allowing a customizable personalized education experience.

Scholarships are available for qualified students who submit complete applications by the deadlines. There are two scholarships, Richard E. Sobiski ’65 Masters in Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing Fund and the Borisenok Family Foundation Biomanufacturing Scholar to help support advancement in the biopharmaceutical sciences.
A needle and germ
MBB is Designed to Lay the Foundation for Careers in the Biotech Industry
Biomanufacturing is the science and technology of using (engineered) living cells to create valuable products like medicine, biofuels, and sustainable materials. Medicines made using cells are also known as biologics and include, vaccines, antibodies, enzymes, and cell and gene therapies.

The MBB program is designed to lay the foundation for careers in the biotech industry. The program emphasizes understanding cell and molecular biology, how medicines are discovered, (bio)manufactured, and regulated and has 150+ hours of hands-on training on laboratory techniques that match industry standards equipment and techniques.

The MBB at ACPHS is a great fit for early and mid-career professionals who want to enter the biotech sector and (bio)pharmaceutical industry. If you’re already a professional working in biopharma, this program is a great way to sharpen your skills and prepare for leadership roles in a continually evolving industry.
Two students analyze data in lab
Hands-On Learning in the MBB Master's Program
The MBB program culminates with Biopharmaceutical capstone projects, offering students the opportunity to apply their classroom and laboratory learning to real-world practice. There are three options for biopharmaceutical capstones. The program culminates with a biopharmaceutical project (research-focused, review paper and industrial-experience track) allowing a customizable personalized education experience.

Biopharmaceutical Capstones

  1. Refining Affinity Chromatography of Hybridoma-derived Anti-IgM Monoclonal IgG Antibodies – Joel Goetz (ACPHS Faculty Mentor: Payel Datta)
  2. Exploring Human Cytochrome P450 2C8 and 2C9: Genetic Polymorphisms, Drug-Drug Interactions, and Clinical Implications) - Aezat Ullah (ACPHS Faculty Mentor: Dr. Manish Shah)
  3. Benefits and Limitations of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA): A Use Case for Text Recognition - Nivedita Sivakumar, Industry-Experience
  1. Interchangeable Biologics: Pharmacy Level Substitution - Vidisha Amin (ACPHS Faculty Mentors: Dr. Payel Datta and Dr. Haian Zheng)
  2. Methods to Establish an Efficient Workflow to Produce Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) - Bereket Estifanos – (ACPHS Faculty Mentors: Dr. Payel Datta)
  3. Review of Molecular Mechanisms of Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Treatment - Carmen Nazario (ACPHS Faculty Mentors: Dr. Payel Datta and Dr. Kideok Jin)
  1. Quality Assurance Validation for Curial Global – Mariam Gawdat, Curia
  2. Influenza Assay Development at Pfizer Vaccine R&D – Nicholas Labbe
  3. Benefits and Limitations of IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA): A Use Case for Text Recognition - Nivedita Sivakumar, IBM
  4. Quality Assurance for Biopharmaceuticals: An overview of regulations and methods – Hany Elfar, Curia
A student looks into microscope during a lab
Biopharmaceutical Sciences Jobs
Our graduates are prepared to take on a variety of positions in the biopharmaceutical industry, including cell-line development, process development, regulatory compliance, quality assurance/quality control, manufacturing and business development. Leading biopharmaceutical sciences companies who hire our graduates include:

Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Curia Global, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer and Regeneron.

Earning your master’s degree opens the door to leadership opportunities and higher-paying careers. Get the attention of employers increasingly looking for candidates who can successfully navigate the complex regulatory environments in biotechnology.

Located near the biopharma and biotech hubs of Boston and New York City, Albany is a growing area for biopharmaceutical sciences and an ideal place to pursue your degree.