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When Patrick Hash ’25, enrolled in the Master of Science in Biotechnology program at ���Ĵ�ý (���Ĵ�ý), many would have called his résumé complete: West Point graduate with multiple graduate degrees, Army infantry officer, oil and gas engineer, and established as an operations manager at a mid-sized pharmaceutical company.  

After transitioning into the biotech industry during the early days of COVID-19, though, when vaccine production created an unexpected career opportunity, Hash felt he had more to learn.

“I could understand the chemistry just fine,” he said. “But there are nuances to biotech that I felt I needed to round out.” 

A capstone built on real-world challenges

���Ĵ�ý’s biotechnology capstone is designed to give graduate students hands-on experience through partnerships with biotech companies, many of them early-stage or emerging firms. Students consult on real regulatory, commercialization, clinical, and strategic challenges. It’s a true win-win: the companies get their services at no cost while the students gain practical experience that complements the academic curriculum.

In fall 2025, Hash joined a capstone team assigned to  (IPS), a Maryland-based contract research organization. Serving as project manager was a natural fit, given his background, but the work still pushed him into new territory. The team had the opportunity to collaborate directly with IPS’s CEO and COO, granting an uncommon view into the decisions and pressures that shape executive-level operations.

“It gave me insight into concerns at a much higher strategic level,” Hash said. “The things that kept leadership awake at night weren’t the things that kept me awake at night. Seeing that difference firsthand was incredibly valuable.” 

Regulatory insight with immediate impact

The project required deep engagement with regulatory frameworks, clinical trial processes, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. For Hash, that rigor translated almost immediately into impact at work. 

“The capstone forced us to dig into regulatory questions about how clinical trials actually work, what’s required, and how FDA frameworks apply in real scenarios,” Hash explained. “I was able to say, ‘Why are we pursuing this? The regulations don’t require that level of scrutiny.’”  

He was able to realign the project, saving his employer time and money. “That understanding came directly from the program,” Hash said. “Without the capstone, I wouldn’t have had the regulatory depth to push back with confidence.” 

Value for experienced leaders

While Hash already held a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Lean Six Sigma credentials, the capstone still offered room to grow, and Hash encourages prospective students to think beyond skills acquisition and view a graduate degree as a message.

“A master’s program isn’t just about learning new skills,” he said. “It signals that you’re committed to your own self-development, and that signal carries weight in industry.” 

Learning that that fits real life

For Hash, ���Ĵ�ý’s asynchronous format was more than a convenience; it was a requirement. At the time, he was managing teams and facilities in South Korea, Poland, Canada, and the U.S. “I needed something that would allow me to work around a demanding travel schedule,” he said. “���Ĵ�ý was the ideal fit.” 

Though he already held graduate degrees in business and analytics, UMCG’s biotechnology master’s program with a concentration in management filled genuine gaps for Hash. 

“This wasn’t about proving I could complete another degree,” he said. “It was about filling real knowledge gaps. The coursework and the capstone helped me close those gaps faster than I could have on my own.” 

Learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s biotechnology management master’s program.