Student Portfolio

High School Students

Prospective College Students

Degrees, Certificates & Training

Biotech Portfolio

Purpose of Portfolio

To document evidence of knowledge and skills acquired by the student during the course of the program.
To be used as supporting documentation in an interview for employment, internship, or enrollment into an advanced education program.

Portfolio should be well organized, professionally prepared and should include:

1. Background Information

Official copy of transcripts
Résumé that documents student’s career goals and interests, and academic and extra-curriculum experience
Certificates of awards and honors, and other forms of recognition relevant to the portfolio theme
Letters of recommendation or performance evaluations from previous employers, campus advisors, or leaders of volunteer projects in which the student has been involved
Training, conferences and workshops (not listed in the academic transcripts) attended by the student to further skills and knowledge in career field
Internship summary report, if available

2. Documentation of technical skills

Evidence of mastery of the technical skills can be documented with a laboratory notebook, or through a process of a sign-off sheet, or other form completed and signed by faculty, and/or by description of activities/projects completed by the student.

See examples of portfolio and competency documentation forms:

Biotech Skills Portfolio Process used by Seattle Pacific University
Laboratory Skill Competency Form used by Seattle Pacific University
Competency Attainment Status Record used by Bates Technical College

Examples of technical skills that can be included in the portfolio:

Foundation Skills (examples)

Lab math
Reading and interpretation of scientific literature
Basic computer skills
Technical writing

Laboratory Procedures (examples)

Tissue culture
Transformation
Protein purification
Solution preparation
Sterile techniques
Plasmid preparation
Good manufacturing and laboratory practices
Laboratory safety
Experimental design, implementation, troubleshooting and monitoring
Documentation of experiment

3. Documentation of non-technical skills

Evidence of mastery of the non-technical skills can be documented through a record of faculty classroom evaluations or faculty recommendations.

See an example of a workplace competency documentation form:

Workplace Behaviors Checklist used by Bates Technical College.

Examples of non-technical skills that can be included in the portfolio:

Team participation
Problem solving
Organization of work
Written communication
Verbal communication
Basic understanding of business structure and practices
Attention to detail

4. Projects

Only capstone projects, posters, oral presentations, or lab manager projects that integrate several advanced technical and non-technical skills should be included. It is important for the student to document the process used in the project implementation, and the specific role the student played if it was a group project, as well as the outcomes.