Welcome!

Dear all, 

I completed the first semester of MBiotech.

I understand that if you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you’re someone who’s contemplating joining the MBiotech program and is curious about the inner details.

For your benefit, I will walk you through the coursework I completed as part of the first semester. Throughout every course (excepting BTC2000) you are working with your group, which is six total and decided randomly by the program administrators. Your grade for each course is heavily composed of group assignments and presentations, with a minority being determined by individual work.

Be prepared to work as a team member.

The summer semester of the MBiotech program is lab-heavy, and in fact, it is the only lab-based semester in the entire program. For those of you who joined MBiotech for the business education, these are four months that you’re going to have to shut up and grind through.

With that being said, business, real-life, every day practical education is intertwined with the lab education.

BTC1700: Molecular Biology Laboratory

BTC1700 is your introduction to the lab education you’ll be receiving in the summer. There are two lab courses, of which this is the first one. Your team will be given a project to complete in one month. The project involves cloning a protein, and meeting a set of deliverables.

You will learn a lot, and very quickly in this course. Along with the task of completing this project, there are competitions, prizes, games, challenges – you name it. The syllabus is heavily decorated with activities that make the month an engaging experience. Your team will work together to complete this science project, but will also need to keep track of your finances; Your team is given X amount of Lab Cash which you are to use to complete the project. You will need to manage your material purchases, fines, winnings from competitions, payments from other groups, equipment purchases, interest accumulated, and so forth. Members of your group will take on unique roles to manage the many moving pieces during this time – It’s an extremely collaborative experience.

Groups will get into arguments. Contracts will be made and signed. Groups will take other groups to court (yes, there is an MBiotech court – a simulation ofcourse, albeit a good one). Money will be lost. Money will be won.

BTC1700 was an immersive experience.

BTC1710: Biomaterial Protein Chemistry Theory

Biomaterial Protein Chemistry Theory is a class-based course. In this course, you will be invited to listen to guest lecturers. You will learn in incredible detail the molecular details of pharmaceuticals. You will be completing written assignments regarding pharmaceuticals. Most importantly, you will be listening to and delivering many presentations from and to your peers, respectively. In this course, you will learn to be a good presenter, and manage your time in preparing these presentations and developing your own style in which to deliver them. At the end of the course, your team will give a large presentation in downtown Toronto to your peers, program administrators, and real venture capitalists.

BTC1720: Biomaterials Laboratory 

The Biomaterials Laboratory course is the second of two lab courses in the summer semester. This course is similarly laid out as BTC1700, except that instead of one large project, your team is given 4 small projects over 4 weeks. You will learn and develop new skills, since the modules are quite interesting and engaging. Further, the director of the program, Mr. Leigh, always adds his own twist to the course to make it a more entertaining experience much in the same way as he does with BTC1700.

BTC1810: Biotechnology & Drug Manufacturing 

In Biotechnology & Drug Manufacturing, you will learn a huge amount of information pertaining to the biotechnology industry. It is all-encompassing. All I can say is that I found it to be very interesting once information starting coming together. Also, you’ll be presenting in this course too.

BTC2000: Effective Management Practices 

I can’t write much about Effective Management Practices because I was unfortunately unable to attend the majority of the classes, but I can confidently say that is a course based on teaching you how to effectively manage and collaborate with your colleagues.

I am glad to have reached the August 2-week holiday. It was much deserved, and much needed. I’m using this time to work on my other projects, such as this website, chemistryfamous and internship preparations (see my post: Internships?). In September, the business courses will begin and I’ll have more updates about those when the time comes. Until then,

Adios.