CU Denver | CU Anschutz and Colorado BioScience Institute Awarded Nearly $1M NSF Grant to Expand Life Sciences Workforce Pathways 

CU Denver | CU Anschutz, in partnership with Colorado BioScience Institute, has been awarded nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) ExLENT initiative (Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies). The PIVOTS: Experiential Learning to Upskill Participants for High-Wage Biotechnology Careers grant  will be used to expand the Quality Assurance (QA) and Regulatory Affairs (RA) Certificate program. The investment comes at a pivotal time, as Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem generates $52.4 billion in annual economic impact and employs nearly 41,000 people in high-paying, mission-driven jobs. 

This investment creates an accessible pathway into one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries, which means an opportunity to secure well-paying jobs for our graduates. This is another example of how CU Denver | CU Anschutz is at the forefront of a national effort to connect education with workforce development, ensuring learners are not just prepared for the biotech future, but actively shaping it. 

Meeting a Critical Workforce Need

The life sciences industry, led by biotechnology, has expanded nearly 80% over the past two decades, now employing more than 2.2 million people nationwide. Yet this rapid growth has outpaced workforce development needs, especially in QA and RA. These important roles were identified in a 2023 trends report that list QA/RA roles in the actor’s top ten highest-demand jobs. These positions were also rated by the companies surveyed for this report as the most difficult to hire. These positions are critical to the safe development of pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices. The CU Denver| CU Anschutz QA/RA Certificate Program is directly addressing this challenge.

Under the leadership of CU Denver | CU Anschutz Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Pediatrics, and Medicine Chelsea Magin, PhD, the program was developed in direct response to industry demand for skilled quality and regulatory professionals and crafted alongside nearly 40 biotech companies in partnership with Colorado BioScience Institute. 

Colorado BioScience Institute serves as a core partner and co-developer of the program. Vice President Meg John will provide leadership as Co-PI, guide advisory board engagement, and oversee student mentorship opportunities. The Colorado BioScience Institute will also lead recruitment efforts, deliver mentor programming, and connect learners to career pathways across Colorado’s growing life sciences sector.  

“Through the QA/RA Certificate program, which the Institute co-developed with CU Denver|CU Anschutz and life sciences industry partners, we are equipping professionals with vital skills in high demand by Colorado’s life sciences companies,” said John. “This program provides accessible training, mentorship, and career support to help learners succeed at every stage of their professional journey and this grant reinforces the importance of The Institute’s leadership, cultivating and diversifying Colorado’s life sciences workforce, from classroom, to campus, to career.”

Building Colorado’s Biotech Workforce

The CU Denver | CU Anschutz QA/RA Certificate program is designed to be a true workforce accelerator. Participants graduate not just with microcredentials that stack into a certificate, but with direct experience and employer connections that translate into career opportunities.  Certificate earners can also stack the certificate into a master’s degree in bioengineering, providing multiple pathways into rewarding careers that positively impact the Colorado bioscience industry. 

“The QA/RA Certificate program reflects so many ways in which we meet needs for learners and technical professions across and beyond Colorado,” said Karen Marrongelle, CU Denver provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “It came to fruition thanks to partnerships: between industry, higher education, and federal sponsors, and between an anchor urban university and a prominent health sciences center. We’re excited to fill this professional gap and support a foundation for innovation.”   

This unique program takes advantage of the dual-campus CU Denver | CU Anschutz bioengineering program—the only bioengineering program located on a medical campus in Colorado—providing participants with unparalleled access to cutting-edge medical facilities, research opportunities, and clinical resources that enhance their educational experience. 

“The Bioengineering program and this new certificate are outstanding examples of cross-campus collaboration, connecting engineering with the health sciences for the benefit of students and patients.,” said Roderick Nairn, PhD, CU Anschutz executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. 

The program was intentionally designed to be flexible, affordable, and accessible. Delivered entirely online, the coursework allows participants—whether they are undergraduates, graduate students, or working professionals—to learn on their own schedules. Competency-based admissions are an innovative and integral element of the program, opening the aperture to a wider range of professionals. 

Once complete, participants attend a three-day, in-person capstone hosted at partnering bioscience companies in the Denver metro area. This immersive experience includes industry site tours, collaborative problem-based learning activities, and a career fair that connects learners directly with hiring companies. Plus, everyone enrolled in the QA/RA certificate program is paired with an industry mentor through the Colorado BioScience Institute to ensure sustained career development support after the courses end. An industry advisory board actively guides curriculum development, and partners will also support the three-day culminating capstone project each spring. 

This certificate is designed to create a direct pipeline from education to meaningful biotech employment, exemplifying the commitment of CU Denver | CU Anschutz to providing real-world, career-aligned education that has measurable impact.  

Approximately half of the students in the first cohort come directly from industry, seizing the opportunity to upskill and advance their careers. By uniting the expertise of CU Denver | CU Anschutz and the Institute, the program opens pathways into rewarding, well-compensated careers in the life sciences, where regulatory and quality professionals are in critical demand.  

A Strategic Investment in Colorado’s Future

This investment builds on the strength of Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem, which employs nearly 41,000 Coloradans in high-paying jobs averaging $123,000 annually. In 2024 alone, Colorado life sciences companies and research institutions secured $2.15 billion in capital, underscoring strong demand for skilled QA/RA talent. Denver–Boulder now ranks among the top 20 global clusters for life sciences R&D, reinforcing the state’s position as an international hub for innovation and growth.  

The program is catching attention from elected officials who are keen on keeping the state’s economy diversified and thriving. As demand for skilled professionals in QA and RA continues to rise, CU Denver | CU Anschutz is strengthening the talent pipeline that biotech companies rely on to innovate and expand, ensuring that Colorado’s biotech sector has the workforce it needs to stay competitive. 

“I’m thrilled the University of Colorado Denver | CU Anschutz received nearly $1 million for this upskill program targeting biotechnology careers,” said Sen. Michael Bennet. “Students want to build sustainable futures, Colorado has companies ready to hire them, and now we are investing in the programs that train them and contributing to U.S. leadership in biotech innovation.” 

Graduates are equipped to step into high-impact roles that support public health, regulatory compliance, and the development of life-saving medical products. Their success fuels not only individual advancement but also the broader strength of Colorado’s biotech ecosystem. 

Join the Next Generation of Biotech Innovators 

The CU Denver | CU Anschutz QA/RA Certificate program is more than a credential— by uniting the expertise of the BioScience Institute and CU Denver | CU Anschutz, the program opens pathways into rewarding, well-compensated careers in the life sciences—where regulatory and quality professionals are in critical demand. By removing traditional barriers and aligning closely with employer expectations, CU Denver | CU Anschutz is helping students gain the skills they need to enter a competitive field with confidence and clarity, opening doors to impactful careers that will shape the future of health and science.  

Learn more about the QA/RA Certificate program and scholarship opportunities at https://engineering.ucdenver.edu/bioengineering/certificate-programs/quality-assurance-and-regulatory-affairs