Mount Marty University Joins South Dakota Biotech Association

Mount Marty University recently became a member of the South Dakota Biotech Association. The South Dakota Biotech Association is an affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and serves as a membership of businesses, universities, and other entities to aid in the growth of the biotechnology industry. “South Dakota Biotech is excited about the Master of Science in Biotechnology Management degree and Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology Management at Mount Marty University,” said Joni Ekstrum, executive director of the South Dakota Biotech Association. “These programs will equip professionals with the critical skills needed to thrive in the fast-evolving biotech landscape and play a crucial role in driving innovation and economic growth in the region.” 

Mount Marty’s biotech program plays a crucial role in the growth of the biotech industry as it is the region’s first biotech graduate program. Mark Brown, executive director and professor of biotechnology, explained, “South Dakota Biotech promotes our region's bioscience ecosystem. And when it comes to growing our bioscience economy, the students in our graduate biotechnology programs, our future bioscience workforce, really represent the most critical element in that ecosystem.” 

Ekstrum added, “The biotech industry in South Dakota has been growing steadily, with numerous companies and research institutions making significant strides in fields ranging from agricultural biotech to medical research. However, industry leaders have identified a gap in the availability of specialized management training that caters specifically to the unique demands of the biotech sector. The new master’s in biotechnology management and graduate certificate programs at Mount Marty University aim to fill this gap by providing targeted education that blends scientific knowledge with essential management principles.” 

Both entities benefit from this membership. Mount Marty works to provide educated professionals to the biotech ecosystem while benefiting from South Dakota Biotech’s external reach, their partnership with Fisher Scientific in discounts they offer and in enriching opportunities, as well as networking opportunities for students with the region’s biotech community that can be joined in person or virtually. “We're the only biotech program to be taught entirely by current biotech industry professionals,” mentioned Brown. “And so, that brings its own reach and mutual benefit there between us and SD Biotech.” 

For more information, visit mountmarty.edu/biotechnology.

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ABOUT MOUNT MARTY UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1936 by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.