The Society for Industrial Biotechnology (SIB) is a Penn State student organization that helps prepare the next generation of leaders in industrial biotechnology. As an interdisciplinary community, SIB brings together students with interests across four key areas of biotechnology: agriculture, energy, healthcare, and data analytics.
Through hands-on learning, industry engagement, and collaboration with Penn State’s Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology (COEIB), SIB supports student growth in technical training, professional development, and biotechnology workforce readiness.
Supporting student growth in industrial biotechnology
SIB creates opportunities for students to explore industrial biotechnology beyond the classroom. The organization helps students build technical knowledge, engage with industry, and develop skills that support future careers in biotechnology, bioprocessing, and related fields.
Because industrial biotechnology is inherently interdisciplinary, SIB fosters collaboration among students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. This approach reflects the evolving needs of the biotechnology workforce and helps students prepare for careers that span science, engineering, manufacturing, analytics, and innovation.
SIB also supports COEIB initiatives in the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility and the Sartorius Cell Culture Facility, two state-of-the-art environments that support biotechnology education and training at Penn State. Through engagement with these facilities, students gain exposure to bioprocessing and cell culture techniques while building the technical understanding and industry awareness needed for success in the field.
Why Students Join
SIB offers students access to opportunities that extend beyond the scope of many traditional student organizations. Through the organization, students can engage in hands-on shadowing experiences, participate in badge-based skill development, and contribute to industry-sponsored projects.
The organization reflects the broad and collaborative nature of biotechnology. In addition to technical learning, SIB supports cross-functional experiences that help students from diverse backgrounds contribute to a growing community centered on innovation, professional growth, and workforce development.
Students who join SIB become part of a network committed to strengthening biotechnology education and preparing Penn State students for future careers in the field.
Industry Support
Transformative industry support helped launch and strengthen Penn State’s biotechnology initiatives for future generations of students. A gift from CSL Behring, secured through COEIB, supported the creation of the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility and the Society for Industrial Biotechnology. Soon after, a gift from Sartorius helped establish the Sartorius Cell Culture Facility.
Biotransformation Series
The Biotransformation Series is a collection of learning modules developed by the Society for Industrial Biotechnology and supported through a grant from Penn State’s Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology. The series is designed to strengthen student understanding of upstream and downstream bioprocessing while building hands-on knowledge relevant to the biotechnology industry.
Through these modules, students engage with methods and technologies used in the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility and in biotechnology companies around the world. The series helps participants build practical experience, expand technical fluency, and better understand core industrial biotechnology processes.
Building a competitive advantage
Students who complete Biotransformation Series modules can earn digital badges sponsored by the Penn State College of Engineering. These badges recognize skill development and can be shared on résumés, professional profiles, and application materials to highlight hands-on biotechnology training.
By completing the series, students can demonstrate initiative, technical growth, and readiness for opportunities in a rapidly expanding field.
Biotransformation Series modules:
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Cell Culture and Plating
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5 Liter Fermentation
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Centrifuge and Cell Harvesting
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Cell Lysing
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FPLC Protein Separation
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TFF Buffer Exchange
How the Badge Program Works:
Students receive a digital badge for each Biotransformation Series module they complete. Those who successfully complete all six modules earn the program’s final badge, recognizing broad participation and achievement across the series.
Next Steps:
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Join the Society for Industrial Biotechnology.
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Attend SIB meetings and Biotransformation Series premieres.
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View the module videos.
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Achieve a passing score for each module assessment to receive badge for each completed module.
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Earn the final program badge after completing the full series.