Inspired by science?
Creative, meticulous and evidence-based — if you're interested in the variety of skills needed to make amazing scientific discoveries, this program is for you. Prepare for a career in cancer research, environmental protection, drug discovery, vaccine research and more. You can work straight out of the program in a wide range of labs, including those associated with biomedical and health-related biotechnology, forestry, fisheries, mining, agriculture, oceanography and the environment. Or, if your goal is a bachelor of science degree, you can transfer into third year studies at a BC university.
Whatever your goal, we can help
The two-year ACBT diploma program prepares you for laboratory work in areas such as cancer research, microbial disease research, drug development, plant biotech, or environmental protection.
You will benefit from the mentorship and guidance from dedicated faculty, whether your goal is employment in a lab, further study or simply a solid foundation for another educational experience.
Improve your academic skills. From science basics to advanced topics, there's a Help Centre for you. Refresh your skills, work on your assignments with our support, or get tutoring on specific subjects.
Access dedicated labs for program students
The department houses a number of dedicated labs where students gain experience in the analysis of organics, inorganics, and biomolecules. Students will receive training in lab safety, good lab practices, and lab technique. In addition, the tools or instruments chemists and biochemists use for analysis are a big part of their training. Students receive hands on training pertaining to the operation and use of lab instruments.
Instrumentation Lab
- Two Atomic Absorption Spectrometers (flame and graphite furnace atomizer) for the analysis of metals
- Gas Chromatograph (dual column with flame ionization and conductivity detector) for the analysis of volatile organics such as components in biodiesel and simple hydrocarbons.
- Two Agilent Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometers (GC/MS) for analysis of organic compounds at low concentrations such as parts-per-billion (ppb). Example compounds include pesticides in fruits and vegetables or PAH’s in water and sediment. Automated online extraction instrumentation such as solid phase micro-extraction is in use in 2nd year courses and in applied research projects.
- High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph with UV/Vis and Fluorescence detectors with data acquisition software for quantitative analysis of chemicals such as Bisphenol A
- UV/Vis scanning Spectrophotometers, IR Spectrophotometers, & Polarimeters for structural analysis of organic compounds
- Ion selective electrodes (e.g. Calcium, Fluoride, and Lead) are used in water quality testing etc.
Wet Chemistry Labs
- Analytical top loading balances and pH meters
- Standard volumetric and general laboratory glassware
- Extensive glassware used for organic and inorganic synthesis
- Solid phase extraction equipment and rotary evaporators are sometimes used to prepare samples for analysis
Biotechnology, Immunology, Biochemistry Lab
- Equipment for the biochemical analyses of cells and metabolites including blood glucose and cholesterol.
- Equipment and facilities for gene cloning and other recombinant DNA technologies
- Biosafety hoods and incubators for bacterial culture and tissue culture
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermocyclers for amplification of cloned genes and human DNA including qPCR instrumentation for the quantitation of gene copy number and gene expression levels.
- ELISA plate reader & other immunological assay equipment for the identification and quantification of antibodies or pathogenic bacteria
- Western blotting apparatus for identification of vaccine components
- Microfuge & high-speed refrigerated centrifuges for cell, DNA, RNA and protein isolation
- Gel-permeation, ion-exchange & affinity column chromatography for protein or DNA purification
- SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) equipment for the identification and characterization of proteins
- Agarose gel electrophoresis equipment for gene analyses
- Imaging analysis equipment and computer facilities for structure/function analyses of DNA, RNA and protein
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