Changing Lives at Summer Camp

This National Manufacturing Month, BioMADE is pleased to tell the story of two students from Dayton, OH who are part of the next generation of bioindustrial manufacturing.

Through a BioMADE project, member BlueHalo established summer camps in Dayton, OH to expose high school students to bioindustrial manufacturing and biotechnology. The camps included hands-on active learning projects, visits to relevant local industry, and exposure to local higher education programs. Read on for the experience of two students – Madison and Stella – and how their future plans have changed.

Madison, 2023 Trailblazer participant

As a high school student, Madison loved to dance, volunteer, and practice Spanish. She also enjoyed her biology and chemistry courses. “I think it’s fascinating how life is so unique and biological principles are applicable to everything about us,” she said. Madison always knew she wanted to go into a science-related field, particularly life sciences. She signed up for the DaytonMADE camps to narrow down that interest, since the life sciences have so many disciplines. “I wanted to gain experience and discover what I was truly interested in. I signed up for the biomanufacturing camp to see if this was something I enjoyed and wanted to pursue further.”

Madison is now enrolled at Wright State University in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, which is close to family and where she received scholarships. “I am glad I chose to continue my education here, and I have never felt more supported than I do now. My major, biochemistry and molecular biology, is a major that I have always wanted to pursue. Aside from my interest in the field, I like how there are so many career options in areas like medicine, pharmacy, research, etc. Currently, I hope to finish my degree at Wright State and get accepted into medical school to become a physician!”

Favorite part about camp

“During the 2023 camp, we were able to genetically engineer bacteria to glow neon green under UV light. On its own, that’s obviously super cool! We were also given the option to redo the experiment with different colors, and me and my partner were able to somewhat successfully create glowing pink bacteria. Pink is my absolute favorite color so this was super exciting for me!”

Most surprising thing you learned

“The most surprising thing I learned during the camp is how much we actually use biotechnology without even knowing it. We were able to learn that citric acid, a very common ingredient in cleaning solutions and food, can actually be made using black mold. Insulin is another product made using biotechnology and is used by diabetic patients. Biotechnology is a great field for people who are interested in the science of healthcare, but there's also so many other options within the field!”

Stella, 2024 Trailblazer participant

Stella is a senior in high school who has been interested in science since her first biology class. “I was immediately interested in understanding the complexities of the organic world around me. I continued to explore this path by taking classes in human nutrition, biotechnology, and environmental science. However, nothing truly interested me as much as my experience with biomanufacturing did. This field is not just about understanding our organic world but utilizing it. The innovation and hands-on nature of biomanufacturing is exactly what I have been looking for.” She signed up for the DaytonMADE camps to learn more about what jobs are available in biology, and to get hands-on experience with lab work.

Following the DaytonMADE camp, Stella is interested in pursuing microbiology in college. “I was not initially interested in Microbiology. I knew I wanted to do something with biology and the organic world, but I was having a hard time narrowing it down. While exploring my options, I came across biomanufacturing. It truly piqued my interest and let me know that this is the correct pathway for me. I still don't know exactly where my future will lead me, but I am certain that my experience with DaytonMADE and biomanufacturing will be a pivotal point in guiding my career!" 

Outside of school, Stella likes music, reading, and baking.

Photos (c) BlueHalo

Favorite part about camp

“My favorite part of my DaytonMADE experience was understanding the process of biomanufacturing. First, scientists will discover ways that bacteria can be used to our advantage. Then, an upscaling process will occur to grow this bacteria that they want to utilize. To grow to an even larger scale, it will be placed into a bioreactor. This large quantity of bacteria will create massive amounts of some desired compound or material. Then, this desired material is then separated from the waste and other bacteria in a downscaling process. Finally, it is packaged and sold to customers. Understanding and seeing this process occur in real time was my favorite part of my experience with DaytonMADE. Seeing human ingenuity and its role in the workforce inspired me to want to work in this field.”

Most surprising thing you learned

“The most surprising thing I learned at DaytonMADE was that there are many successful small and large companies using this biomanufacturing process. I was shocked to see how prevalent and important this process has become to our society. Massive companies like Primient that make citric acid and small companies like Werewool that make biosynthetic fibers are using biomanufacturing to create unique products.”