Dr. Chae Sweet, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs & Provost at Montgomery County Community College, presented the 2026 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award to Dr. Margaret Bryans, Professor of Biology and Biotechnology Program Coordinator, during the College’s 59th Commencement May 14. Photo by David DeBalko
After being recognized for her leadership in workforce development, industry partnerships, and grant-funded innovation in biotechnology, Dr. Margaret Bryans, Professor of Biology and Biotechnology Program Coordinator at Montgomery County Community College has been honored once again, this time with a top teaching award.
Bryans was named the recipient of the 2026 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award during the Commencement ceremonies on May 14. Each year, the College honors outstanding full- and part-time faculty members for their commitment to student success both inside and outside the classroom.
Bryans was honored by the award, especially because it came from students and peers, she said.
“Over the years I have been able to incorporate different types of experiential learning into the program, bringing in industry speakers, touring industry partner sites, fostering internship opportunities at Montco and in the region for graduates and students who are transferring,” she said. “It’s a constant thread throughout my teaching years at Montco, and it’s impactful for the students.”
This year she incorporated virtual reality into the classroom in her biomanufacturing course, as a way of getting students more industry ready, she said. The technology was used to virtually train students on processes they will eventually use in the workforce and to reinforce what they learned in the lab and classroom.
Students have praised Bryans’ hands-on nature of the Biotechnology program.
“It makes them feel comfortable and confident in the lab,” said Bryans. “They gain so much experience and training. By the end of the degree program, they’re able to join a lab or company and contribute to the work being done and the data being generated. All four biotechnology courses are very hands-on and lab skill focused.”
Bryans holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. For over a decade she conducted biomedical and biotechnology research at several institutions before joining the faculty ranks at MCCC.
Outside the classroom, she has been the Principal Investigator (P.I.) of several National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education grant awards at MCCC. As P.I. of the Northeast Biomanufacturing Center and Collaborative, NBC2, a consortium of community colleges focused on training biomanufacturing technicians, she created and disseminated open-source curriculum and trained faculty in the skills required to develop training programs that address the workforce needs.
Bryans also has led workshops for community college instructors, summer workshops for area high school teachers, and programs for students to introduce them to careers in biomanufacturing.
She led the Building an Advanced Therapy Technical Workforce in the Southeastern PA project, which aligns local community college curricula with the specific needs of the biotech industry. Drawing on input from regional cell and gene therapy companies and a series of published skill standards co-authored by Bryans, the required curriculum was developed at MCCC. Regional faculty were introduced to the curriculum and trained during a series of workshops facilitating the incorporation of cell and gene therapy skills training at local colleges and workforce training programs. Week-long workshops provided high school students—particularly those from underrepresented groups—with exposure to this field.
Bryans was named the Workforce Champion of the Year for 2024, during the second annual BioBuzz Awards for the Greater Philadelphia Region. The recognition honors individuals “who prioritize diversity, innovation, employee well-being, and professional development while cultivating a culture of leadership and collaboration.” Honorees represent organizations and individuals who help build a workforce pipeline to support the economic strength and growth of the regional life science sector. Nominees for the award are selected by industry peers.
For the Lindback award, Bryans similarly received high praise from her students.
“In their nominations, students noted Dr. Bryans combines exceptional teaching with a genuine commitment to her students’ success,” said Dr. Chae Sweet, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs & Provost, during the Commencement ceremonies. “Students praised her engaging lecture-and-lab approach, her ability to make complex concepts interactive and thought-provoking, and the way she encourages students to think critically and creatively. They also highlighted her warmth, accessibility, and unwavering support for students both inside and outside the classroom.”
MCCC offers two Biotechnology programs of study, a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Biotechnology and a one-year Certificate in Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing designed for degree-holding students who wish to acquire the lab skills and knowledge needed to enter the biotechnology workforce. For more information, contact the STEM Department.