Education & Training

All researchers working in high containment areas at the NEIDL are required to demonstrate competency in working in high containment. To meet this requirement, all training will be customized to the particular group receiving training at the NEIDL to include a full simulation of the use of the equipment and the procedures that they will perform in the facility. A training video will be developed for the education of community members and visiting dignitaries. Laboratory safety training will combine a lecture format with hands-on training requirements for high containment personnel. The components for general laboratory safety training will be modeled from the current BUMC training given by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Training topics will include laboratory safety, chemical and biological safety, fire and emergency response training, bloodborne pathogen training, Select Agent program, and animal research, along with Public Safety training for all personnel working at the facility. Principal investigators and their staff working in elevated risk areas (BSL 2, 3, or 4) and/or with Select Agents will receive additional laboratory specific safety training. The high containment BSL-4 training will encompass multiple sessions in a simulator.

The Training Simulator at the NEIDL will support the NEIDL's core mission of performing cutting-edge basic and clinical research on emerging infectious diseases, while providing quality training at a facility built and operated with the highest attention to community and laboratory safety. The training simulator will provide hands-on training for all NEIDL research staff and faculty as well as support personnel, including: public safety, clinical, facilities management, maintenance personnel, contractors and emergency responders. This national resource will train individuals on how to work in and around high containment facilities.

CityLab Academy

CityLab Academy is a free BUMC academic and job skills training program for those with a high school diploma or GED that are interested in pursuing a successful career in biotechnology. CityLab Academy offers a rich nine-month life sciences training program and scholarships for qualified applicants. Students take two courses during the fall and two courses during spring semesters. Coursework consists of classes in Medical Terminology, Introduction to Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Biotechnology and Cell Culture Techniques. Tuition is free and includes books, calculators and bus passes for all students.

The nine month academic program takes place between September and May; classes are held Mondays through Fridays from 5:30-8:30 pm on the Boston University Medical Campus in the South End. In addition to science-based courses, CityLab Academy provides students with life and job skills seminars and internship and job shadowing opportunities to help ensure job success. Boston University graduate students act as mentors throughout the nine month program.

Upon completion of the program, CityLab Academy students receive a Certificate in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences and are awarded twelve undergraduate credits from Boston University's Metropolitan College. Past CityLab Academy graduates have obtained jobs at Genzyme, Pierce Biotech, Boston Scientific, and Boston Medical Center.

For more information on CityLab Academy, download and read the brochure (pdf document, 320k) or visit www.bu.edu/citylabacademy to download a copy of the application.