# Biological Hazard Site Training in Emerging Technologies (BioSTET) for Health and Safety

> **NIH NIH R25** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2024 · $221,538

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Biological and pathogenic agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and genetically modified organisms
present an ever-evolving and ongoing threat to occupational health, especially in site cleanup. However,
current educational efforts emphasize chemical hazards, often to the detriment of biological hazards. Research
on new and emerging technologies has offered promising inroads to safer resolution of these hazards;
however, new and supplemental training, as well as further advances in research, are greatly needed. This
collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Utah (lead institution), California Polytechnic State
University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), Montana Technological University, and Texas A&M University
(consultation)) seeks to create academic and continuing education (CE) courses in emerging technologies
specific to site biological/infectious agent safety. This collaborative, multidimensional educational experience
will facilitate not only skills development and field application, but also create opportunities for innovative,
cross-disciplinary research experiences and curriculum development on emerging technologies. Aim 1 seeks
to successfully develop, implement, and assess twelve continuing education modules and learner
certificate program for site biological/infectious agent health and safety. This certificate program will be
targeted towards both working professionals (e.g., industrial hygienists, safety professionals) and students in
the style of a HAZWOPER-type supplement. The time required will be equivalent to a typical HAZWOPER
refresher course (i.e., one 8-hour day) and will instruct participants in topics and techniques related to
biological safety as well as novel and emerging technologies relevant to biological safety. Aim 2 seeks to
successfully develop, implement, and evaluate a collaborative and joint 4+1/graduate research topics
course in site biological/infectious agent health and safety. This course will be offered at all participating
institutions and will focus on emerging techniques and strategies in designing, developing, and integrating
devices, systems, and controls into the site biological safety aspects of environmental characterization, clean-
up, and remediation. Enrolled students will work as interdisciplinary teams with members from each partnering
institution. Each student team will not only have a faculty advisor, but also an inter-institutional committee
made up of at least 3 members. Aim 3 seeks to successfully develop, implement, and evaluate a
collaborative and joint graduate applied topics course utilizing products resulting from the research
course in site biological/infectious agent health and safety. The proposed course will be offered at all
participating institutions and include the necessary rubrics from the 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA standard for 40-
hour HAZWOPER certification in addition to the additional biological and infectious agent health and safety
suppl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10903969
- **Project number:** 5R25ES033046-04
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Rodney G Handy
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $221,538
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10903969

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10903969, Biological Hazard Site Training in Emerging Technologies (BioSTET) for Health and Safety (5R25ES033046-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10903969. Licensed CC0.

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