Nonprofit research institute brings internship program to the Wiregrass to inspire the future of biotechnology careers
DOTHAN (May 1, 2024) – Five Wiregrass-area college students were recently selected to participate in HudsonAlpha’s annual BioTrain Internship program.
Autumn Dressler, Shacoya Mack, Bryce Malchow, Gabby Richards, and Madison Wallace were chosen from hundreds of undergraduate and graduate student applicants to complete the nine-week summer program. The BioTrain Internship is designed to connect classwork with real‐world job experience to prepare students for careers in biotechnology and related fields. This is the second year that positions have been based in the Wiregrass.
- Dressler is from Dothan and attends Wallace Community College. She will work at a local Wiregrass agriculture technology business, Sentinel Fertigation.
- Mack is from Union Springs and attends Tuskegee University. She will work at Aunt Katie’s Community Garden.
- Malchow is from Dothan and attends the University of South Alabama. He will work in the Economic Development department at HudsonAlpha Wiregrass.
- Richards is from Rehobeth and attends Troy University. She will work in Dr. Josh Clevenger’s Lab at HudsonAlpha Wiregrass in Dothan.
- Wallace is from Dothan and attends Troy University. She will work at Mt. Moriah Farms.
The internships begin May 27 and run through July. HudsonAlpha interns are paid a stipend and work 20-30 hours per week while participating in weekly professional development sessions. At the culmination of the internship program, students create and present posters at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, where they will share the work they accomplished during their internship.
“Internships provide students with a vital bridge between the classroom and the workforce,” said Dean Mitchell, Director of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass. “At HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, we are committed to nurturing local talent and creating pathways for lasting careers in science and innovation.”
Each internship opportunity is crafted with specific skill sets in mind and is open to participants based on their educational level and area of concentration. Originally launched in Huntsville in 2009, the BioTrain Internship program is one of the longest-running programs at HudsonAlpha. Summer positions provide experiences ranging from in‐depth laboratory research to biotechnology marketing, communications, and business strategy.
“As an alum of the original BioTrain program, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative this experience can be,” said Michele Morris, PhD, HudsonAlpha’s Director of Workforce Development and member of the 2009 BioTrain class. “We are thrilled to welcome these students and to bring the BioTrain opportunity to the Wiregrass region for yet another year.”
During the first week of the internship, the students attended a one-week, full-time Biotech Internship Boot Camp at HudsonAlpha in Huntsville. Click here to learn more about the BioTrain Internship program.
Applications for the 2026 BioTrain cohort open December 1, 2025 at https://www.hudsonalpha.org/biotrain/.
About HudsonAlpha Wiregrass
The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a non-profit organization with the mission to use biotechnology and basic biological research to make important discoveries, improve human health, stimulate economic development, inspire young people to seek careers in science, and teach members of the public the importance of science in their everyday lives. The Institute launched the HudsonAlpha Wiregrass initiative in partnership with the city of Dothan in 2022.