Poster Sessions
Wednesday, July 29, 4:15–5:30 in the Exhibit Hall
Biotech Connect: Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce
Capital Region Biotech Connect is an integrated workforce initiative designed to strengthen the biotechnology workforce pipeline in New York’s Capital Region, an emerging life sciences hub that includes organizations ranging from small startups to established large biopharmaceutical companies. Led by Hudson Valley Community College, the project engages three key groups: students in grades 7 to 12, career counselors, and adults exploring career change. Through family enrichment nights, summer camps, Lunch and Learn workshops, and adult information sessions, each featuring engaging hands-on activities to spark interest and build confidence, the program raises awareness while providing clear educational and career pathways. Ongoing follow up, industry partnerships, and a dedicated website support participants from initial interest to education and employment, creating a replicable model for regional biotech workforce growth.
Donna Barron, Professor, Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY; Julie Friot, Associate Professor, Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY; Michelle Lewis, Adjunct Professor, Raising Awareness and Creating Pathways to the Biotechnology Workforce, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY
Building the Eastern Shore Technician Pipeline: The ESTEEM Electro-Mechanics Model
The ESTEEM program is an industry-aligned technician training model developed to address regional workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing and automation. Housed at Wor-Wic Community College, the program integrates electro-mechanical systems, industrial robotics, CNC, metrology, fluid power, and programmable controls into a hands-on pathway. Students train on industry-standard equipment, earn embedded SACA certifications, and engage directly with regional employers to ensure workforce readiness. ESTEEM emphasizes applied problem-solving, cross-disciplinary skill development, and strong employer partnerships to create a sustainable technician pipeline for the Eastern Shore. This poster highlights curriculum design, equipment integration, certification alignment, and early workforce outcomes.
Richard Speakman, Eastern Shore Technician Education in Electro-Mechanics (ESTEEM), Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury, MD
Building Energy Analyst—Project Based Learning
Several College of the Canyons Bachelor of Science in Building Performance students completed for-credit, Project Based Learning work experience internships over 2025-26 preparing energy models and analyzing the performance of existing community college buildings. For the two projects completed so far (at Bakersfield College and College of the Canyons), students worked with campus facilities staff to acquire as-built information, interview facilities staff regarding existing HVAC and electrical equipment, and then prepare an energy model to benchmark the building’s performance (including Energy Use Intensity – EUI). Using the results from their analysis, students then made five to six recommendations to the Facilities Department for performance/efficiency improvements to the building.
Jason Oliver, CREATE, College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA
Building the Future Cyber Workforce: Advancing AIoT Cybersecurity Education
The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed how data is collected, analyzed, and secured. The fusion of these technologies—known as AIoT—offers great innovation potential but intensifies the demand for cybersecurity expertise. This project addresses the AIoT cybersecurity skills gap at the two-year college level by enriching the cybersecurity program with cutting-edge, hands-on AIoT Security courses aligned with industry certification. Students will gain experience in analyzing IoT devices and participate in mentoring and outreach initiatives. This initiative aims to strengthen the regional workforce, foster sustainable academic pathways, and establish a replicable model for preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Chola Chhetri, Cultivating AI and Mentorship Initiatives for the Cybersecurity Workforce, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA
Building the Semiconductor Workforce: A Study of Community College Initiatives to Expand Enrollment
This multiple case study examines how five community colleges within a regional consortium of universities and industry partners implemented initiatives to expand enrollment in semiconductor technician programs. Using interviews, institutional data, and consortium documents collected between Fall 2023 and Spring 2025, the study compares similarities and differences in college-level strategies. Interviews with administrators, faculty, and consortium leaders were coded using MAXQDA and supplemented with AI-assisted thematic analysis. All colleges reported enrollment gains during the study period, with the consortium exceeding its goal of tripling enrollment. Six cross-cutting themes emerged across institutions, along with strategies unique to individual colleges. Findings highlight the value of consortium-based collaboration in aligning institutional efforts with national workforce priorities such as the CHIPS and Science Act and demonstrate the utility of AI-assisted thematic analysis.
Katherine Hoover, University of Texas at Arlington, UTA College of Education, Arlington, TX
Building Technician Pathways: Recruitment and Industry Partnerships in Action
Lake Area Technical College’s NSF-ATE project focuses on strengthening technician pipelines through structured outreach and measurable industry partnerships. Over two years, the initiative engaged more than 1,100 students, increased interest in manufacturing careers by 27%, expanded K–12 district engagement, and grew high-performing industry partners from 5 to 14. The poster outlines scalable recruitment strategies including hands-on STEM camps, middle school classroom visits, and dual credit promotion, alongside a Partnership Index framework used to deepen employer engagement. Attendees will see how grant-supported roles, evaluation data, and industry alignment can be integrated to improve enrollment, strengthen advisory participation, and build sustainable technician pathways.
Brooks Jacobsen, Cultivating Career Pathways for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians, Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD
Connecting Advanced Manufacturing Skills to Technician Pathways
Connecting students to careers in advanced manufacturing benefits from alignment between technician education and validated industry competencies. The Manufacturing USA Advanced Manufacturing Occupation and Competency Framework—developed by NIST —organizes competencies spanning 17 technology areas (including biomanufacturing, robotics, 3D printing, cybersecurity) and more than 1,200 occupation–KSA linkages. In this poster, we translate the framework into actionable curriculum strategy for ATE programs. Using national data on entry-level roles and cross-cutting skills, we demonstrate how community colleges can embed validated KSAs into courses, co-ops and HyFlex delivery. Emphasis is placed on prioritizing shared, high-impact KSAs while integrating emerging technical competencies. The result is a scalable pathway model that improves technician placement, expands access for incumbent workers and the underemployed, and strengthens regional advanced manufacturing ecosystems.
Sam Samanta, Finger Lakes Community College, Victor, NY; Brad Conrad, Education and Workforce Development Manager, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD
Crude Oil Influences Taxonomic Composition of Delaware River Biofilms
Pollution events introduce toxic contaminants such as alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which can destabilize microbial communities in freshwater ecosystems. We investigated the concentration-dependent succession of freshwater biofilms following acute crude oil exposure using controlled microcosms designed to simulate the Delaware River. The general abundance of bacteria were assessed using a Kbase workflow that incorporated Kaiju software for taxonomic classification. This study reveals a complex and concentration-dependent response in the Delaware River microbiome and supports the hypothesis of a functionally primed freshwater system capable of bioremediation. The design of the research experience demonstrates the use of an original research project as a means of recruitment and retention of undergraduates to STEM majors and technician training programs.
Dominic Salerno, The Micro-Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC), The Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Students: Zoe Schubert, Eden Achtenberg, The Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Cultivating Cyber Safety Across Disciplines: Building Inclusive Pathways
Nash Community College received a NSF–ATE grant on July 1, 2024. The grant titled: “Cultivating Cyber Safety Across Disciplines”, is a project focused on strengthening cyber safety education and expanding pathways into information technology careers. The project includes a cybersecurity badge aligned with industry needs, the launch of the Nighthawk Cyber Alliance, and cyber safety integration across non-IT disciplines. Through flexible program delivery, strong industry and K–12 partnerships and faculty mentorship, the project supports workforce readiness and promotes a sustainable, inclusive cyber-safe culture. This project demonstrates how community colleges can simultaneously strengthen cybersecurity education, support students entering information technology careers, and engage non-IT stakeholders in building a cyber-safe culture. This presentation will share practical strategies, outcomes, and a replicable model to inspire collaboration and adoption across institutions nationwide.
Nakisha Floyd, Cultivating Cyber Safety Across Disciplines (Grant # 2400694), Nash Community College, Rocky Mount, NC
Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Health Informatics: Education for the Future—Developing the Program
This new project aims to serve the national interest by producing more qualified technicians to meet workforce demands in cybersecurity. CCHIEF focuses on industry needs for cybersecurity in healthcare informatics (HCI) and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). These industries were selected as significant employers in the Maryland economy. In this poster session, we present the need for these specific courses in industry and illustrate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for this new courseware and how we anticipate these courses will fit into the revised Cybersecurity AAS degree program. And, of course, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) fits into these fields. This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ATE-2500166.
Joel Offenberg, Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Health Informatics: Education for the Future (CCHIEF), Howard Community College, Columbia, MD; Ahnica Truong, Associate Professor, Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Health Informatics: Education for the Future (CCHIEF), Howard Community College, Columbia, MD
Developing Career-Ready Mechatronics Technicians for Today’s Workforce
Modern mechatronics technicians must keep up with rapidly changing industry demands. Today’s mechatronics technicians must be familiar with hardware and software packages that businesses are using and have some knowledge of Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is comprised of many different concepts including SCADA systems, Simulation, Additive Manufacturing, Automation, Robotics, PLCs and Sensors. Today’s successful technicians will also have a vast knowledge of The Internet of Things (IoT) that includes Data Collection, Systems Integration, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an emphasis on machine learning and predictive maintenance.
Doug Laven, Expanding the Technician Workforce through Independent Mechatronics Education Curriculum iMEC3.0, South Central College, N Mankato, MN
Enhancing Faculty, Staff, and Students’ Awareness in Robotics and Automation (RA) Applications
A growing milk production industry in New York State needs an increase in the pool of qualified RA technicians. This poster presents the ongoing efforts to raise awareness of RA’s interdisciplinary applications among faculty, students, and staff, as well as the insights gained. Two activities are highlighted. The project team prepared the first activity, which was a tour of the Alfred State College’s organic automated dairy farm for professors and staff during their professional development week. The second activity involved a mechatronics professor who utilized a partially functional, outdated commercial milking robot on the farm as course projects for two of his classes. In these projects, students first evaluated the robot’s functionalities and then designed and built a milking robot prototype. The data shows that such activities boost the interest and awareness in robotics, automation, and their interdisciplinary use.
Dr. Mohamed Eleshaky and Jessica Hutchison, NSF-ATE project (2500052): Developing a Robotics and Automation (RA) Technician Pathway for the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors (Pathway Project) at Alfred State College of Technology, SUNY, Alfred State College of Technology, Alfred, NY; Dr. Harshvadan Panchal, Assistant Professor, SUNY-Alfred State College of Technology, Alfred, NY
Entrepreneurial STEM
Students use their experiences from STEAM K-7 to launch a business. Students work on their business plan as laid out by the Michigan SBDC and a beginning budget. They take out a small no-interest loan to start, file their LLC, apply for an EIN, and launch their business. Currently, there are several student businesses running. The students learn marketing, web design, graphics, and branding. Students learn about positions within a corporation and hold positions themselves such as CEO, CFO, COO, and quality control. Students keep detailed accounting, which includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoicing, and filing taxes. The students learn marketing, web design, graphics, branding, etc, as they push their business out into the community. The students pay back their loan and begin earning shares of the profit as their business grows.
Joseph Walsh, Entrepreneurial STEM, Caife Aspire Inc/Manchester Community Schools, Manchester, MI
ExploreCyber: Building Cybersecurity Technician Career Pathways
ExploreCyber addresses a gap in cybersecurity technician education, particularly in rural communities where students often lack awareness of career pathways and advisors may not have practical tools to guide them. As demand for cybersecurity technicians grows across government, defense, and industry, institutions need scalable strategies that connect student interests to defined workforce roles. This poster presents the ExploreCyber model, equipping advisors, counselors, and faculty with career exploration tools aligned with the NICE Workforce Framework and the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF). Resources include pathway maps, certification guidance, role-matching activities, and professional development workshops to strengthen recruitment and retention. Early outcomes show increased advisor confidence and stronger alignment between student interests and cybersecurity technician careers.
Kristine Christensen, Cybersecurity Career Awareness and Exploration Initiative, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL
From Idea to Impact: Building FC Tech's First Cybersecurity Community
In October 2025, I founded Franklin Cummings Tech’s first Cybersecurity Club to fill a critical gap by creating peer-led spaces for skill-building, certification preparation, and professional growth. As a Venezuelan immigrant who discovered my passion for cybersecurity at FC Tech, I saw that many students, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, needed more than classroom instruction. They needed mentorship, hands-on practice, and community. With support from faculty and classmates, we launched weekly sessions. Within months, 15 students actively collaborated on CompTIA Security Plus, CySA Plus, and ISC2 CC preparation, projects, labs, and Capture the Flag exercises. Freshmen now confidently pursue certifications, students secure interviews through peer resume and mock interview support, and a culture of collaborative learning has emerged. This poster presents our peer-led model, strategies for engaging diverse students, measurable outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.
Maria Victoria Davila, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Roxbury, MA
Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced NV-Center Magnetometers
Quantum magnetometers can find numerous applications. Existing quantum magnetometers include superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), alkali-atom optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), and nitrogen-vacancy (NV)-center diamond magnetometers. Quantum magnetometers based on NV centers in diamonds have been extensively investigated for highly sensitive magnetic field detection. However, the performance of NV-center magnetometers strongly depends on the NV center concentration. In this work, we demonstrate a gold particle–enhanced NV-center quantum magnetometer. This technique increases the detected signals while avoiding spin-resonance broadening. It enables high-precision quantum sensing with low fabrication complexity and cost.
Ethan Qiao, Student, Commonwealth School, Boston, MA; Xuejun Lu, Professor, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
Implementing a PLC and Robotics Technician Certificate: Early Lessons
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology launched its PLC and Robotic Automation Technician (PRA) Certificate Program in Spring 2025 to address regional demand for skilled automation technicians in the New York City area. The one-year, 13-credit NYSED-approved program was developed using a Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model to align curriculum with employer-defined competencies in PLC programming, robotic systems, and industrial troubleshooting. Transitioning from program design to delivery provided early implementation insights related to recruitment, student preparedness, persistence, and instructional sequencing in a highly technical certificate pathway. This poster shares lessons learned from the inaugural pilot cohort and discusses refinements intended to strengthen enrollment, retention, and long-term sustainability.
Douglas Jahnke, Vaughn College, Flushing, NY
Innovating Robotic Welding Education
This NSF ATE project advances technician training by integrating robotic welding technology into technical education. The initiative develops industry‑aligned curriculum, hands‑on lab activities, and faculty training that blend welding fundamentals with automation. By incorporating real‑world robotic welding applications and collaborating with industry partners, the project enhances student preparation for high‑demand roles in advanced manufacturing and strengthens the regional technician workforce.
Landon LaRocque, Enhancing Robotic Welding Education for Technicians, Collin College, Allen, TX; Cesar Lopez-Maldonado, Professor Welding, Enhancing Robotic Welding Education for Technicians, Collin College, Allen, TX
Innovative Pipelines for Training the Next Generation of Engineering Technology Instructors
Community colleges face increasing demand for engineering technicians but lack qualified instructors to teach high-need courses. This session highlights two scalable workforce-development strategies created by Columbus State Community College to expand instructional capacity. The New Instructor Fellowship recruits students within a year of earning a qualifying credential and recent graduates from qualifying engineering/engineering technology programs. They are given training in the form of a pedagogical bootcamp, safety preparation, and a structured co-teaching experience that forms an early-career pathway into teaching. The STEM-to-CCP Pathway prepares high school STEM teachers to deliver dual-credit electronics courses, expanding access to technician training without requiring additional college faculty.
Lucas Gorz, Reinforcing Instructors for Semiconductor Education (RISE) Consortium, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Amanda Irwin, Project Manager, Reinforcing Instructors for Semiconductor Education (RISE) Consortium, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH
Innovative Recruitment Strategies Through Fostering Impactful Connections
This presentation showcases a range of innovative strategies designed to boost recruitment by fostering meaningful connections with prospective students and key community partners. By re-engaging recent graduates as ambassadors, fostering impactful partnerships with high schools through visits and hosted experiences, maintaining consistent monthly admissions events, supporting women in industry with specialized programs, and offering Academic Preview Days students experience campus life firsthand. These efforts collectively sustain strong recruitment momentum and engagement.
Eric Almeida, Training Electric Vehicle Technicians to Accelerate Massachusetts’ Automotive Future, Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA; John Pignataro, Assistant Professor, Training Electric Vehicle Technicians to Accelerate Massachusetts’ Automotive Future, Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA
Mapping the Earth: A Digital Approach to Teaching Soil Science
Modern agriculture relies on robotics, AI, and remote sensing, yet a “low-tech” perception deters STEM students. With a 10% rise in demand for precision specialists, Northwest Ohio needs a tech-savvy workforce. The Grow with Rhodes initiative rebrands soil science as a high-tech STEM discipline through three pillars: Industry Pathways: Mapping secondary STEM courses to degrees in Agronomy, Prescription Mapping, and Robotics/AI; Teacher Institute: Professional development in nutrient management and geospatial analysis; Mobile Lab: Bringing drones, soil sensors, and GIS software directly to high schools. Students master a “Dirt to Data” workflow—sensing, analyzing, and prescribing—to optimize yields. By recruiting female and STEM-focused youth, this project creates a scalable blueprint for modernizing agricultural education.
Jim Uphaus, Grow with Rhodes: Expanding Awareness of Agriculture Technology Careers and Pathways, Rhodes State College, Lima, OH