The Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an opportunity for doctoral students to obtain specific training and experience in the ever-growing field of biotechnology, complete with focused coursework, an industry internship, and funding during the years of the program. BTP is a multi-disciplinary training program funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an institute of the NIH. It also receives substantial support from the UW-Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education and participating UW-Madison schools, colleges, and departments.

Biotechnology is vital to growth and innovation in the United States and across the globe. Since 1989, a group of multi-disciplinary faculty ranging from across campus have served as trainers for a diverse group of student trainees taking advantage of the opportunities BTP offers. Alumni of the BTP program go on to successful careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, entrepreneurship, and academic research, serving as postdoctoral fellows, university professors, and government or industry scientists, and more.

Trainees accomplish a lot during their time in BTP. Trainees earn their doctoral degrees in an average of 5.8 years, and of the trainees who joined our program over the last 15 years, 87% have either earned their Ph.D. or are still in training. Thirty of those students are members underrepresented minorities or have a disability, and 90% of those students have either earned their Ph.D. or are still in training. During their training, trainees publish an average of 4.6 academic articles and serve as first author on 2.5 of them. Learn more about these outcomes of BTP by viewing the tabs above.