Biotech in the Classroom: Truman College Awarded ABE/Amgen Grant to Support CPS Science Teachers

High school educators offered a groundbreaking opportunity to bring the future of science into their classrooms

CHICAGO—The Biology Department at Harry S Truman College has been awarded the prestigious ABE/Amgen grant, marking a transformative step in STEM education for Chicago educators. This grant will empower high school STEM educators teaching grades eight through 12 with cutting-edge biotechnology lab training, directly integrating real-world science into public school classrooms.

For the first time, Truman College is partnering directly with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) science teachers to bring industry-standard biotech labs to classrooms at no cost to participating schools. This initiative represents a unique and powerful collaboration between a major industry partner, the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), and Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

“This is more than a professional development opportunity, this is about supporting an excellent STEM education and giving the student real world or pharma biotech hands-on experience” said Dr. Vijayalakshmi Natarajan, Chair of the Biology Department at Truman College. “By bringing these resources to our educators, they in turn are able to bring them into CPS classrooms. Together, we are creating access and academic excellence for students who have historically been underrepresented in science and biotech fields.”

On September 26, Truman College, in collaboration with the CPS STEM Department, will host the CPS Holistic Instructional Practice Summit Series on Biotech Tools lab sequence at Harry S Truman, 1145 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago. The event will introduce the program to 60 participants, provide hands-on experience with biotechnology lab materials, and offer guidance on integrating these resources into school curricula for 20 STEM high school teachers.

On October 23, Truman College will also host the CPS K–12 STEAM Event, bringing together 51 CPS STEAM elementary and high schools, along with STEAM coordinators and principals. During this event, the ABE program will be introduced, and participants will have the opportunity to tour the new laboratories and explore the student support services available at Truman.

“This is the kind of partnership that can reshape science education,” said Teesta Jain, Program Coordinator for the initiative. “We’re excited to build capacity in schools and support teachers who are eager to bring modern biotech tools to their students.”

This opportunity is open to all CPS science educators teaching grades 8–12. For more information or to express interest, please contact either:

• Vijayalakshmi Natarajan at vnatarajan@ccc.edu
• Teesta Jain, Ph.D. at tjain@ccc.edu

About the Labs

Recently, Harry S Truman College underwent a major renovation project to modernize its Anatomy, Microbiology, and Prep Labs. The renovation covered 6,600 square feet of lab space and included removing and replacing the original 40-year-old casework, equipment, and fixtures. Now completed, the updated labs feature modern technology, improved safety and accessibility, smarter storage solutions, and a design that supports today’s teaching and learning needs. The project was led by Tilton, Kelly & Bell, a woman-owned architectural firm.

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