A biotechnology student at Alamance Community College will receive a rare opportunity this summer to learn about the biopharma industry alongside peers from across the nation in an immersive week-long workshop in Puerto Rico.

 

Areli Velazco Lopez of Burlington is among a select group to be accepted into the competitive NiiMBLeXperience, a hands-on program for highly motivated first- and second-year STEM college students. STEM is an acronym for four closely connected areas of study: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 

The NIIMBL eXperience is an exclusive immersion program that offers students real-world insight into biopharmaceutical industry careers through hands-on activities and direct interactions with industry professionals. Sponsored by the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, Areli and her peers will learn on the campus of the Science City of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust (PRSTRT). All travel, housing, meals, and program expenses are fully covered, and participants will receive a $1,000 stipend.

 

“This apprenticeship allows me to learn alongside other students who share one common mindset, and I’m eager to gain insights from their experiences. With the knowledge I will acquire, I aim to one day be as great as the researchers who will be leading the program,” said Areli.

 

As the child of hardworking immigrant parents, Areli Lopez grew up in Burlington, NC and attended Cummings High School where she played on the women’s soccer team and fell in love with science in the chemistry and biology classes she took.

 

Areli discovered the world of biotechnology when she became a Career and College Promise (CCP) student at Alamance Community College beginning in her junior year of high school.

 

“I found it all so interesting how there was a whole world of undiscovered aspects that connect the living organisms with evaluating microscopic cells for pharmacology purposes,” she explained. “I discovered biotechnology holds the ability to aid patients who have little to no hope to treat their current illness. We as individuals can facilitate this process by developing new formulations for therapies. This is when I knew what I wanted to study.”

 

Areli enrolled full-time at ACC after high school, taking advantage of the new Biotechnology Center of Excellence facility that opened for students in spring 2023. While ACC was among the first two-year institutions in the U.S. to open a biotechnology program in the 1980s, the science has grown exponentially over the years as new technological advances have been implemented into the curriculum. At ACC, Areli has studied inside laboratories using state of the art equipment and gaining practical experience that mirrors what graduates will find in industry labs.

 

“Areli is a motivated student, who has persisted and honed her laboratory skills throughout our two-year program,” said Michelle Sabaoun, Department Head of ACC’s Biotechnology program. “Her interests have evolved as she has progressed through the program. We are proud of her accomplishments and her acceptance into the prestigious NiiMBLeXperience program.”

 

Sabaoun added that Areli has always participated in extracurricular science-related events, such as Parenteral Drug Association SE Chapter Events at the NCBiotech Center and on campus.

 

Upon returning from her adventure in Puerto Rico, Areli will earn her associate’s degree in biotechnology from ACC this summer. In the fall, she begins working toward a bachelor’s degree in biology at one of three schools where she has already been accepted: UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, or UNC Greensboro. Wherever she ultimately earns her Bachelor of Science in biology, Areli already knows her career pathway.

 

“I plan to venture into clinical and experimental research,” she said. “I would like individuals to know that there are people like me who genuinely care for their health and are determined to find a potential cure. My upbringing has played a significant role in defining how I perceive myself, and [taking advantage of] the opportunities that arise my way.”