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Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology (Learning Undefeated)

Provided By
Learning Undefeated
A participant shows a pipette she is using.

Through the virtual session series, students build awareness of applied biotechnology, DoW STEM careers, SMART Scholarship opportunities, career pathways traveled by STEM professionals, and durable professional skills including teamwork, collaboration, and communication. During the in-person laboratory intensive experience, they explore investigative research methods and techniques including experimental design, data collection, quantitative data analysis, and evidence-based interpretation, as well as hands-on practice in Polymerase Chain Reaction, transformation, synthetic genomics, CRISPR-Cas9, DNA sequence analysis, and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Logic Model

Program Activities

Students (Grade 9-Postsecondary)

Learn biotechnology techniques​ 

Learn about DoW biotechnology-related careers and programs and pathways to a STEM profession​ 

Gain awareness of alternative pathways to STEM careers beyond the traditional 4-year degree path​

Program Near-Term Outcomes

Students (Grade 9-Postsecondary)

Learn biotechnology lab skills and techniques​ 

Increase awareness of DoW STEM careers​ 

Increase awareness of STEM career pathways

DSEC Near-Term Outcomes

Students (Grade 9-Postsecondary)

Increased student interest and engagement in STEM​ 

Increased participant STEM competencies ​ 

Increased participant awareness of, and interest in, STEM research and careers​

Participant Perspectives

Participant perspectives reflect survey responses from 2025-2026, the first year of survey administration.

Of 222 student participants, 164 responded to the survey.

Students

Grades 6-16

  • Disagree
  • Slightly Agree
  • Moderately Agree
  • Strongly Agree
ELB increased my ability to use laboratory techniques (e.g., PCR, CRISPR, gel electrophoresis)​.
n = 164 valid responses
ELB increased my ability to design an experiment in biotechnology.
n = 164 valid responses
ELB increased my ability to conduct an experiment in biotechnology​.
n = 164 valid responses
ELB increased my knowledge of biotechnology careers and programs in the Department of Defense​.
n = 164 valid responses
ELB increased my confidence in identifying careers that match my interest​s.
n = 164 valid responses
ELB increased my confidence in planning my coursework to reach my career goals.
n = 164 valid responses
Program Data

Program data includes participants from both years of Base Period (2024-2025 and 2025-2026). 

Students

383 total student participants

Student Grade Level

Military-Connected Students

Other programs from Partner
DoW Breakout Box (Learning Undefeated)