Buzzin’ Brood: Student Spotlight, August R. Buchhalter, FCC Biotech Bootcamp Graduate

August R. Buchhalter, a Frederick, Maryland native, recently completed the Frederick Community College Biotech Boot Camp, a dynamic training program designed to equip job seekers with the foundational skills needed to enter the biotech industry. Drawn to biotechnology for its real-world impact on healthcare and innovation, August is excited to take the next step in his career. When he’s not immersed in science, he enjoys weightlifting, running, golfing, and biking. Check out what’s inspiring him right now!

How did you get here?

Presently, my “here” may be best described as a motivated professional eager to launch a career in biotechnology. 

For background, on January 31, 2025, I completed Frederick Community College’s Biotech Boot Camp (Winter, 2025). Prior to that, my career focused on the intersection of science and public health. I have a Ph.D. in experimental psychology and worked for a public health consulting firm for 10+ years, where our clients were pharmaceutical companies. My position was eliminated in 2024, which provided the impetus to seek a new career path. After considering several options, I decided on biotechnology.

Biotechnology resonates with me because it fulfills my interest in science and public health. Moreover, the biotechnology field very much appeals to me because of its vast scope, particularly in medical biotechnology (e.g., drug development, cell and gene therapy, diagnostics, vaccines) and its utility, such as saving patients’ lives.

Importantly, many of the skills I used in my prior line of work, coupled with the hands-on experience and knowledge gained from the Biotech Boot Camp, have provided me with a strong foundation. I am confident that these combined experiences will enable me to perform many entry-level biotechnology positions at a high level.

What is currently blowing your mind right now? 

What is currently blowing my mind right now is just how very blessed I am, as captured in the list below.

• Being accepted into the Frederick Community College Biotech Boot Camp, which, by its very existence, is a blessing

  

• Completing the Boot Camp, learning a lot, making wonderful connections, and creating fond memories along the way

• Having the opportunity to be featured in BioBuzz (thank you, Chris Frew)

• Entering such an exciting and amazing field as biotechnology

• Enjoying the support of a loving and encouraging wife throughout this journey

• Recognizing that, through His love, grace, and mercy, all these blessings come from God, for “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), and knowing He has plans to prosper me and give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11, paraphrased)

If you could explain yourself right now in only emojis, what would those be? 

If you could travel into the future… what does your LinkedIn Headline say?

Aspiring Biotech Professional | Combining Science and Innovation to Transform Patients’ Lives through Cutting-Edge Biotech Solutions | Connecting with Life Sciences Innovators for a Healthier Future

If you had unlimited resources to start your own company, what problem would you solve? What would be the name of your company? 

If I had unlimited resources to start my own company, I would focus on solving critical medical challenges using cutting-edge biotechnology solutions. The name of my company would be BioCure, reflecting our commitment to developing targeted therapies (e.g., cell and gene therapy, bacteriophage therapy, monoclonal antibodies) and improving outcomes for patients facing treatment-resistant cancers, antibiotic-resistant infections, and autoimmune diseases.

Connect with August on Linkedin!