MWSU prepares for life sciences boom
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Biology students at Missouri Western State University find themselves becoming part of the experiment of growing the life sciences industry in St. Joseph.
"We have a real opportunity here to expand in the area of life sciences," says MWSU biology professor, Todd Eckdahl. "In particular, those who have an entrepreneurial spirit, who can sort of fledge new companies in the area of life sciences."
On the same campus where these soon-to-be scientists come to learn, a new institute for life sciences comes to life.
"My role is basically to identify those areas in which we think we could provide value and bring those applications to St. Joseph," says Dr. Gary Clapp, CEO of the newly-formed institute for life sciences.
Missouri Western hopes to put its graduates at the forefront by teaching a combination of business savvy and science smarts.
"We`ve also developed some curricula such as the new biotechnology degree and the chemical business degree in which students not only look at science," Eckdahl says. "But learn about business models and how it is that companies apply science in the context of their own business."
These students keep their eyes on opportunities, hoping to have a new-look industry in their sights.
