VGCC Bioprocess Students suit up for work

On Dec. 2, students in the Bioprocess Practices ( BPM 110 ) course conducted their traditional “gowning exercise,” in which they don special uniforms while working in the Biotechnology lab on VGCC’s main campus. “Many operations in the biopharmaceutical industry are conducted in ‘cleanrooms,’ where the operating personnel are required to wear cleanroom protective garb to protect the product from human contamination,” VGCC Bioprocess Technology program head/instructor Joseph Tyler explained. “This laboratory exercise simulates for the students how to gown and how it feels to perform manufacturing operations for a cleanroom.” The suits are made of Tyvek (similar to house wrap), because Tyvek does not shed many particles. Pictured above, from left, are Daniel Obakoya, Josh Coles, Alex Smith, Dwain Giles, program head/instructor Joseph Tyler and Shannon Peiffer.

VGCC’s two-year Bioprocess Technology degree program is designed to prepare individuals to work as Process Operators in biological products manufacturing facilities. For more information on Bioprocess Technology , call Joseph Tyler at (252) 738-3350.