Jason Redmond / Star staff Student Liz Thomas works in a lab in Dr. Charles Sackerson's biotechnology and recombinant DNA techniques class at CSU Channel Islands last week. A new clinical lab program is set to begin this fall at the university.

CSU Channel Islands is adding a clinical lab emphasis within its biology major, continuing a push at local universities to prepare students to work at biotechnology companies in this area.

The clinical laboratory science program will train students to work in labs, hospitals and clinics, said Ching-Hua Wang, chairwoman of biology, geology and nursing at the Camarillo university.

"We have expanded so fast," Wang said. "There's a desperate need for young people trained in modern technology to go into public health professions."

The new clinical lab program is set to begin in the fall. Students who complete the emphasis are eligible for further training in hospitals or other public health organizations.

In addition to its new emphasis in clinical lab sciences, CSU Channel Islands also offers emphases in biotechnology, which was introduced last year; cell and molecular biology; ecology, evolution and organismal biology; medical imaging; pre- professional training and teacher preparation.

The clinical lab program "looks like a good opportunity for people," said Barbarita Figueroa, 21, a senior studying medical imaging. "I wish they'd had it sooner."

Invitrogen, a life sciences company with a site in Camarillo, appreciates the efforts to train scientists locally, said M.G. Kristian, vice president of global talent acquisition. The company makes products used in pharmaceutical and biomedical research.

"We prefer to hire people from the local community," Kristian said. "The cost to recruit from outside, especially at the entry level, is expensive. This creates a talent pool for us."

On the other end of the county, California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks also is expanding its focus on science, offering majors in bioengineering, biochemistry and biology. All three programs are growing, said Dennis Revie, professor of biology.

"We have a significant number of students who get hired by local companies," Revie said. "We have a number of students majoring in these areas so they can get hired."

In addition, CLU is expanding its focus on research, said Michele LeBlanc, chairwoman of the school's science division.

As part of that effort, CLU is planning a new science building that will provide more labs, as well as flexible space that can accommodate future needs, LeBlanc said.

The building will be used by both future scientists and English or philosophy majors who need to be science-savvy to participate in today's technological society, she said.

"We do good science here at CLU, but to go further, we need new facilities," LeBlanc said. "We want to increase the number of students involved in hands-on science. As a division, we value students doing science — not just seeing a demo, but getting their hands dirty and doing it."