WSSU selected as biomanufacturing training hub to create high-paying jobs for underserved, diverse workers

Deadline to apply is June 1 for program

Winston-Salem State University has been selected as one of six new bioprocessing training hubs that will provide free training to help grow the workforce for biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical industries in North Carolina.

The training hubs are designed to offer short, hands-on courses on the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals free of charge to an inclusive and diverse population from underserved and distressed communities, including historically excluded populations. Participants will be trained on manufacturing vaccines, antibodies and other medicines.

The six hubs are the product of a $6.2 million award to the North Carolina Central University’s Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise from the

U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge.

“This program presents a remarkable opportunity for Winston-Salem State University to play a major role in educating an underserved workforce in our community and enabling greater accessibility to well-paying jobs,” said Dr. Anthony Graham, interim chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. “It also provides local businesses with well-trained workers so they will continue to locate and grow in our community.”

The training sessions are open to residents of North Carolina 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED. Click here to apply. Deadline is June 1.

Applicants to the program will be notified of their status by June 4. The 12 people admitted to the first cohort have until June 28 to complete five online training modules that are self-paced and intensive.

The in-person portion of the program runs from July 8 to July 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the campus of WSSU.  Due to the condensed nature of the course, trainees must commit to being present and engaged every day to earn their certification.   

Those who successfully complete the program should qualify for a position in the rapidly expanding pharma workforce in North Carolina. According to data from the North Carolina Biotech Center, there are expected to be 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs created in the industry in the next five years. The same data shows these jobs offer high salaries, excellent working conditions, health benefits and career mobility.

In addition to WSSU, the five other sites selected as bioprocessing training hubs are Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Livingstone College and Saint Augustine’s University, all historically Black colleges and universities in N.C., along with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the state’s only historically American Indian university.

For more information on Winston-Salem State University, visit wssu.edu.

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. It is ranked the No. 1 university in North Carolina for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.