Building Opportunities through Biomanufacturing Education & Training
Biomanufacturing jobs are on the rise, and at an increasing pace.
In 2025, the bioeconomy contributed $210 billion to the U.S. economy. A 2025 report by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization estimates that by 2030, this economic impact will nearly double to around $400 billion.
This means more jobs. And more jobs means a greater need for education and training so that a) job-seekers can enter the market confidently and b) employers can more easily recruit and retain skilled workers. This helps the industry thrive even amidst the rapid advancement of technology and a growing demand for sustainable, safe, and scalable solutions.
The iFAB region is quickly becoming an epicenter for biomanufacturing and precision fermentation, with a lab-to-line infrastructure for companies to scale-up, an abundance of feedstock, and several higher ed institutions churning out new and hungry talent. This makes Central Illinois one of the strongest places to find and train the next wave of workers in the biomanufacturing space.
And iFAB partners are rising to the challenge, offering internships and hands-on learning for job-seekers as well as training guides and career pathways for employers. We’ve compiled just some of the key players within the iFAB Tech Hub who are contributing efforts to workforce development, helping to prepare our region for the influx of open roles that we’re already starting to see.
Higher Education
Parkland College
Parkland College, located in Champaign, IL, is a comprehensive community college serving Parkland College District 505, covering almost all of Champaign County as well as parts of twelve surrounding counties.
Parkland College President Dr. Pamela Lau explains that the college’s mission—which is to engage the community in learning—is carried out through two primary functions.
“The first function is to prepare students to transfer on to four-year institutions to complete a Bachelor’s degree,” Dr. Lau says. “The other primary function is to prepare students who want to go directly into the workforce.”
With an increase in students opting to begin their careers, workforce preparation has taken on a bigger significance. Dr. Lau says that to help these students find work, Parkland works with employers to make the curriculum relevant to what the industry needs. Questions are asked: “What are the work skills that are needed? How do we develop programs at the community college level to actually prepare the workforce?” This way, when new manufacturers set up locally, skilled workers will be ready to dive in.
“We can play that role of the training provider,” adds Stephanie Stuart, Parkland College’s Vice President, of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation. “But we can also be a connector of all the different parts and components of the workforce ecosystem.”
Richland Community College
In neighboring Decatur, IL, Richland Community College is preparing students with training programs focused on critical workforce competencies including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), industrial safety, process instrumentation, troubleshooting, and process control.
“We are designing flexible, employer-aligned training that supports both new workforce entrants and incumbent workers seeking to upskill for careers in regulated manufacturing environments,” says Richland Community College President, Dr. Cristobal “Chris” Valdez. “Ultimately, our goal is to create a strong local talent pipeline that supports regional economic growth and innovation in biomanufacturing.”
Being located in Decatur, which has long been recognized for its strong manufacturing and agribusiness presence, gives Richland students a unique advantage. “Students benefit not only from access to advanced training equipment and industry-informed curriculum,” Dr. Valdez explains. “But also from being part of a regional ecosystem focused on innovation, sustainability, and the future of manufacturing.”
Dr. Valdez agrees that this is an especially exciting time for students to be exploring the bioeconomy workforce, which creates an opportunity for them to “enter innovative, high-demand careers that are shaping the future of food production, renewable materials, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.”
Internships and Training
IBRL/FASTER Program
There are few ways to better prepare students for the workforce than with hands-on internship experience. They can walk into a job already knowing how to work various types of equipment, while also boasting a keen understanding of project timelines and how to communicate effectively with their team and clients.
The Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers one such opportunity for students. The Food and Agricultural Science in Technology Education and Research (FASTER) internship program provides training to students while they simultaneously serve as major contributors to IBRL’s full-time technical team. Together, they work closely on projects for the industry partners contracted with IBRL.
“Our interns receive an excellent education through the University, but the time spent working closely with our full-time staff and industry representatives provides additional hands-on and professional skill-building to accelerate their career,” says Brian Jacobson, IBRL’s Associate Director of Strategic Operations.
With the expansion of IBRL, the facility’s roster of approximately 35 student interns will grow to around 70. “Many of IBRL’s clients are looking to scale their business and hire employees, making this program and partnership extremely valuable for students, employers, IBRL, and the entire iFAB ecosystem,” Jacobson concludes.
Every intern who comes through the FASTER program is considered a success story. Some students even go on to work full-time for the very clients whose projects they contributed to during their time as interns at IBRL.
Revanth Pulamolu interned at IBRL while completing the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program in Bioprocessing and Bioenergy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduation, Pulamolu began working full time with IBRL client, Erg Bio. As a Bioprocess Engineer, his primary responsibility is to processes various biomass feedstocks to produce advanced biofuels and other value-added bio-based products.
“My experience of interning at IBRL was pivotal in defining my career trajectory,” Pulamolu says. “Due to the holistic nature of the internship, I was exposed to both scientific and business aspects of biomanufacturing.”
Pulamolu explains that both the PSM program and the FASTER internship worked strongly together to build a strong foundation, introducing in-depth concepts related to processing feedstocks while also providing practical experience. “[The programs] go hand in hand in making the experience very relevant to prospective career roles.”
Ryan Sivertson tells a similar story, having also completed the PSM program in Bioprocessing and Bioenergy while interning at IBRL. During his internship, he first worked with the start-up Boston Bioprocess before later joining Primient between his second and third semester. He’s now with Primient full-time as a Business Development Specialist Business within their Biosolutions business unit, focusing on corporate business development activities through the expansion of new and existing strategic relationships.
“My experience at IBRL as a student was fantastic and very eye-opening,” Siverston explains. “Having the opportunity to work on projects for both IBRL and Boston Bioprocess gave me valuable hands-on experience and exposed me to aspects of the industry that I would not have learned in the classroom alone.”
Sivertson says the hands-on experience helped him better understand the technical, operational, and commercial sides of industrial biotechnology, reinforcing his interest in the bioeconomy and fermentation space.
“My experience at IBRL allowed me to work on real-world projects and interact with industry professionals, giving me a much better understanding of how biotechnology companies operate beyond the academic setting,” Sivertson says. “It also helped me build confidence communicating across technical and business teams, which is a key part of what I do today in business development.”
Shikha Shah, yet another graduate of the PSM program, also started her career journey as an intern in the FASTER program. She gained experience within the IBRL’s sister plant, the Food Science Pilot Plant, and is now working for Mars Inc., the multinational manufacturer of confections, pet food, and other food products.
Shah has come full circle and is currently working on a Mars project at the Food Science Pilot Plant, completing process development in addition to serving as a Food Safety Team Leader.
“My time at the Food Science Pilot Plant was one of the most formative experiences of my career,” Shah says. “I gained hands-on experience with pilot-scale processing, extrusion, spray drying, product trials, and quality evaluation—things that truly bridged the gap between classroom theory and industrial application.”
Shah’s advice for students?
“Get as much hands-on experience as possible. Take advantage of pilot plants, FASTER programs, internships, IBRL short courses, research opportunities, and networking events. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or try roles that feel slightly outside your comfort zone—that’s where the most learning happens.”
Building & Construction Apprenticeships
Another regional opportunity being offered in workforce development comes in the form of apprenticeships through the local building and construction trade councils. While there’s a growing need for workers trained specifically in areas of biomanufacturing, there’s just as much a need for the very people who build and maintain the facilities.
Kevin Sage is the President of the East Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council. The council consists of all the local union trades, providing them an organized entity through which they can discuss training and providing manpower to various projects.
This is where real life infrastructure meets biomanufacturing innovation. “We have the experience, we have the skills and knowledge, to be able to build the production plants and the high tech labs and the clean rooms that are required for advanced biomanufacturing,” Sage says.
Sage goes on to explain that every trade has an apprenticeship that lasts three to five years. Since these apprenticeships are certified by the Department of Labor, they follow certain criteria to ensure the apprentices are properly trained. This way, “When they get out to be journey people, they can make a living as experts in their field.”
Looking ahead to the future, Sage foresees this as a huge opportunity for Central Illinois. He says that in ten years, we could see an even stronger workforce of people trained to work in a growing number of new facilities. “That’s a big deal for our area and for our local economy.”
Industry Partners
Primient
Primient’s new iPROOF facility in Decatur, IL, will be a demo-scaled fermentation development facility with up to 10,000L fermentation tanks. iPROOF’s General Manager, Ismael Nieves, says the new facility will create 18 new jobs ranging from medium to high-skill, allowing a range of experienced workers to answer the call.
When asked why he’s excited about the increasing popularity of biomanufacturing, Nieves responded that it’s because “The sky is the limit.”
He continues, “I meet with people all over the world and it’s energizing to see where this is headed. New opportunities are unlocked daily and we get to lead really interesting and meaningful work in this space.”
And while there’s a lot of overlap between the skillsets required for current manufacturing and the ones required in biomanufacturing, Nieves says there are of course specific skills needed for the latter. So how can we ensure jobseekers have the required skillsets for specific biomanufacturing opportunities?
“The industry needs to work closely with the local communities to develop training programs specific to biomanufacturing that focus on filling the skill gaps and preparing the workforce,” Nieves answers. “This will be needed as biomanufacturing becomes the engine to drive economic development and growth.”
ADM
ADM’s North American headquarters are located in Decatur, IL. It’s the “single largest location and employee base across ADM’s global footprint.”
ADM takes their workforce development initiatives seriously, showing up for both prospective and current workers by meeting them where they are. For those just starting their careers, ADM offers introductory internships, apprenticeships, and full-time entry level roles. There are also graduate traineeships, designed to expose participants to different roles within the company.
For new employees, ADM offers comprehensive on-the-job training and development opportunities, including a mentorship program where mentees can receive coaching, career guidance, and ongoing support through employee resource groups.
Employees are encouraged to continue growing both professionally and personally with additional resources that include an online learning platform and a global language learning program. Self-assessment tools for professional development are also available, as are virtual workshops and webinars.
IMEC
To date, over three thousand four hundred Illinois manufacturers have worked with IMEC. As former IMEC President Boulay said in an iFAB interview: “Our job is to make sure they succeed.”
IMEC stands for the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. They’re a team of improvement specialists working with small to midsize manufacturers in Illinois, offering a wide array of solutions to bolster their clients’ businesses. Their “career pathways” is just one resource to ensure companies stay competitive, designed to help them attract and retain employees by helping define the skills employees need to succeed and then developing training plans.
These plans help employers onboard new workers through a more seamless process, saving time and instilling confidence in both the trainers and trainees.
When it comes to new biomanufacturing jobs, IMEC specialists are working hard to best understand the skills needed for the sector, paying close attention to the biotech industry and figuring out what the career pathway portfolio will look like. In partnership with iFAB, they recently released new workforce resources for the iFAB website, which includes a Careers in Biomanufacturing inventory and an Employer Resources section.
The former lists the top 10 emerging careers in biomanufacturing and the salary range, industry outlook, and skills needed for each one. The latter includes training matrices and competency frameworks, serving as foundational tools to define and support new and emerging occupations in biomanufacturing.
“We’re at the front edge of something transformative,” says Boulay. “The growth of biotech in Central Illinois isn’t just about new technology. It’s about building a system where people, companies, and communities grow together through amazing careers. That’s the future we’re excited to help shape.”
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