Dathan is a biomedical manufacturing operator at Bloomington, Indiana. He works in a lab where he grows cell cultures that are modified to produce vaccines and medications. Dathan isolates the necessary proteins from these cells, performs tests, and collects data to ensure the substance is sufficiently pure to be approved for further testing and use.
Biotechnology combines knowledge of biology and chemistry for industrial purposes, such as manufacturing pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Dathan pursued a career in this field because he could use his science and math skills to create real-world solutions. In the lab, Dathan has to use precise, technical skills to maintain a sterile environment and ensure the purity of the substances he helps produce.
Learn more about his career path on Dathan’s profile page.
Activites for Students
These standards-aligned activities provide students with opportunities to practice the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a career similar to Dathan’s role as a biomedical manufacturing operator. Each activity guide provides educators with both leader notes and student handouts, as well as detailed materials lists and timing guides.
Grades 3-5
Operation Separation: Use physical properties to separate substances and explore the differences between mixtures and solutions.
Grades 6-8
Cheek Cells & DNA: Stain and examine cheek cells and isolate DNA using alcohol precipitation.
Grades 9-12
Paper Plasmids: Create a paper model to understand how DNA is moved into new cells to produce new proteins.