The Future of Biotech: Inspiring the Next Generation

The memories of being a student of Northwest High School’s Academy of Biotechnology in Germantown, Maryland, are still fresh for Sujay Srinivasan. Now a junior in the University of Maryland’s Biocomputational Engineering program, he was able to stand on the other side, welcoming a new class of high schoolers to the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville for a special day of exploration and discovery. For these students, this visit was about more than just visiting a college campus—it was a chance to see their futures take shape.

When the students stepped onto the USG campus, Sujay greeted them with a broad smile, eager to share how his journey from Northwest to UMD’s Biocomputational Engineering (BCE) program had shaped his career goals. The event, hosted by the program, gave these future scientists and engineers a firsthand look at how biology and computational science are converging to transform healthcare, medicine, and biotech innovation.

"It was a joy having the Northwest students in class. They bring a curiosity and energy to the lecture that enriches the learning experience for my BCE students,” said Dr. Jarred Callura, the Biocomputational Engineering program’s full-time faculty member for biological courses. Highlights of the day included attending Dr. Callura’s Quantitative Molecular and Cellular Biology lecture, which focused on antibodies. It offered students insight into the critical role these proteins play in medicine and research.

Students also heard from the faculty’s Machine Learning specialist, Dr. Jimmy Azarnoosh, who presented on the applications of Artificial Intelligence and computer modeling in his own research on breast cancer detection and cardiovascular flow abnormalities. These experiences offered a glimpse into the exciting intersections of biology, computation, and engineering that are shaping the future of healthcare.

Northwest’s Academy of Biotechnology was where Sujay first glimpsed this future—studying molecular biology, genetics, and lab techniques that later became the foundation for his college studies. At UMD, he now builds on those skills in a program designed to represent the next frontier of biotechnology. Housed within UMD’s Clark School of Engineering and its Fischell Department of Bioengineering, the Biocomputational Engineering program prepares students to tackle some of the most significant computational challenges in biotech.

Montgomery County is the ideal place for undergraduates like Sujay and these high school students to grow in this field. The BioHealth Capital Region is home to over 500 life sciences companies, along with federal agencies such as the NIH and FDA, which have offices and headquarters nearby. The region is recognized as one of the country's top biotech hubs. Additionally, with USG’s strong industry partnerships and focus on hands-on learning, students in the Biocomputational Engineering program gain real-world experience that equips them to spearhead the next wave of biotech breakthroughs.

Sujay reflected on the visit, “That day was a full circle moment for me, from hearing from former academy students when I was in high school, to now sharing my wisdom as a junior student with these academy students. It was great meeting them and seeing my former teachers again.”

For the high schoolers who visited USG that day, seeing Sujay in action was more than just a moment of guidance—it was a glimpse into their own potential. As they explored labs, met faculty, and immersed themselves in the possibilities of biocomputational engineering, they were just at the beginning of their journey toward becoming the future of biotechnology.

Published April 30, 2025