UNCG Awarded $2 Million to Grow Bioindustrial Workforce in North Carolina

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) has received a $2 million award to launch NC BioMISSION, a bioindustrial workforce training and research program in North Carolina.

The U.S. bioindustrial economy is projected to support at least 1 million jobs by 2030, but qualified biotechnology workers are already in short supply. NC BioMISSION will help address this gap by equipping students with technical, applied, and industry-aligned skills for careers in the growing sector.

The initiative has been funded by BioMADE, a Manufacturing Innovation Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense to secure U.S. global leadership in industrial biotechnology. Bioindustrial manufacturing uses biological systems to generate high-value chemicals, materials, textiles, fuels, bioplastics, and other products, often using agricultural feedstocks and waste streams as starting materials. The program will prepare students to convert biomass into high-value, industry-ready materials that strengthen supply chains, advance sustainability, and drive economic growth.

NC BioMISSION's self-paced certificate, opening to all majors in January 2027, will combine in-person instruction, online modules, and immersive virtual reality experiences. The program will be designed to be accessible to UNCG's diverse student population, including adult learners and the university's large number of military-affiliated students and veterans.

Coursework will be developed in conjunction with an industry advisory board. "Rather than people at the university saying, 'these are the skills people need,' it will be the industry telling the university the skills they require in order to hire these individuals," said Dr. Sherine Obare, UNCG Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement.

The program will also include opportunities for capstone projects with indu