Biotechnology
Available as a major
Biotech is a cutting-edge field shaping the future of health care, agriculture, and sustainability. Our students do hands-on lab work and advanced courses that equip them to make an impact. From the start, you’ll be training to develop groundbreaking technologies and help solve global challenges.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings
BTEC 255: Bioinformatics & Computer Apps
BTEC 315: Molecular Biotechnology
BTEC 250: Biotech Research Methods Skills
Student Experiences
Access to Innovation
Roanoke students enjoy a direct line to some of the world’s leading researchers in biotechnology. Seminars and lectures are regularly co-hosted with the neighboring Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC — one of the fastest-growing biomedical centers in the nation — connecting students with scientists who are unraveling the mysteries behind brain development, cancer biology, regenerative medicine and more. This collaboration offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of biotech, enabling students to explore career paths and engage directly with innovators in the field.
Research with real results
From year one, our students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects, giving them hands-on experience that is rare at the undergraduate level. Students have worked with CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, deployed a nuclear magnetic resonance machine to analyze atomic nuclei, and explored new applications for palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon bonding reactions. Many have been invited to present at conferences or even co-authored published papers as a result of their work.
What Makes Roanoke Different
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Right place, right time
Roanoke is in the heart of a growing biotech innovation corridor that has attracted over $550 million in research funds as well as coordinated investments at the local and state level to create a vibrant, multi-track biotechnology hub. In 2025 alone, a state grant of $4.9 million was invested in Project Vital: Virginia Innovations and Technology Advancements in Life Sciences, an initiative expected to create over 1,300 jobs in five years.
These partnerships are opening doors for students to connect with mentors, pursue internships and launch careers in advanced research labs — all within minutes of campus.
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Leading partnerships and facilities
Our program was strategically designed to meet the growing demand for biotech workers. Collaborating with regional partners, we built a curriculum that equips you with essential skills and extensive, hands-on lab experience. Students do lab work in state-of-the-art facilities both here on campus — where in 2026 we’ll unveil the new McConnon Discovery Center — and at Virginia Western Community College, a key partner in the biotech innovation corridor and home to a leading-edge STEM Building.
Together, these investments and partnerships prepare students with real-world skillsets and introduce them to the region’s broader biotech ecosystem.
News
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The bachelor’s degree program is designed to support the region’s fast-growing biotech sector as it creates hundreds of new jobs.
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The final interior beam of the center’s new building was put in place July 23.
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Catch up on the latest news from your talented faculty.
