UTMB Biosafety Training

The Department of Biosafety (DOB) offers biosafety training courses to prepare staff to work in research laboratories and animal facilities in compliance with standards set forth by NIH, CDC, BMBL and UTMB policies.

Enrolling in biosafety courses does require the appropriate medical and/or medical respiratory clearance from Employee Health.

Register for our biosafety courses.

For additional information, please email Biosafety or call (409) 772-1781.

Available courses are listed below:

  • Biosafety Level 2 Training for Select Agent Registered BSL2 Laboratories

    This course will provide trainees with the principles of biosafety, best lab practices, a basic knowledge and understanding of laboratory equipment, and incident response procedures to successfully conduct research in a UTMB Select Agent Registered BSL2 laboratory.

    Animal Biosafety Level 2 Training

    This course provides trainees with the principles of biosafety along with techniques that are necessary to safely conduct research in an ABSL2 facility.

    • The theoretical module (presentation and exam) is provided by DOB to ensure a consistent message regarding biosafety and emergency response.
    • The practicum can be completed with ARC, DOB or the PI. Within the registration, the trainee can choose one of the three options (ARC, Biosafety, PI) for the practical training.

    Biosafety Level 3 Training

    This course will offer students an in-depth understanding of biosafety principles, practices and techniques that are necessary to successfully conduct research in an BSL3 laboratory.

    Animal Biosafety Level 3 Training

    This course builds on the principles of biosafety learned in ABSL2 and provides a greater understanding of biosafety along with techniques that are necessary to safely conduct research in an ABSL3 facility.

    The course includes both a theoretical module and practicum provided by DOB. 

    PAPR Training

    The course includes both a theoretical module and practicum provided by DOB. The practicum includes donning/doffing with PPE, entry/exit procedures, and incident response and reporting.

    Biosafety Level 4 Training

    The BSL4 training program provides training on facility specific emergency response, facility design, safe work practices, and facility operations. The BSL4 training program is a collaborative effort between biological safety staff, biocontainment engineers, laboratory directors and principal investigators. BSL3 Training is a prerequisite for this course. Please contact us at Biotrain@utmb.edu for this specialized training program

    Animal Biosafety Level 4 Training

    Completion of BSL4 training is a prerequisite for this course. Contact us at Biotrain@utmb.edu to discuss and schedule this specialized training.

    Nonhuman Primate Training

    This course is mandatory for staff that will have direct or indirect contact with nonhuman primates. The training required is based on the type of work being performed. This course requires additional medical clearance from Employee Health.

    • The theoretical module (presentation and exam) is provided by DOB to ensure a consistent message regarding biosafety and emergency response.
    • The practicum is provided by ARC.

  • Biosafety Level 2 Training

    This course will provide trainees with the principles of biosafety, best lab practices, a basic knowledge and understanding of laboratory equipment, and incident response procedures to successfully conduct research in a UTMB BSL2 laboratory.

    UPDATE: BSL2 training by the Department of Biosafety for non-select agent labs is not a regulatory requirement prior to working in a BSL1 or BSL2 lab. The PI can choose to provide all the basic lab and lab specific training themselves or designate someone in their lab to provide this training.

    If you are still interested in receiving DOB BSL2 training, we are happy to provide the following options to meet your needs:

    BSL2 Biosafety Theory only

    • This online theory course will provide trainees with the principles of biosafety, best lab practices, a basic knowledge and understanding of laboratory equipment, and incident response procedures to successfully conduct research in a UTMB BSL2 laboratory

    BSL2 Biosafety Theory with hands on training provided by the PI (or PI designee's)

    • The trainee will be enrolled in our BSL2 Biosafety Theory online course by the Department of Biosafety

    BSL2 Biosafety Theory with hands on training provide by the Department of Biosafety

    • This course includes our BSL2 Biosafety Theory online course + our practical training module