ATE Project Talks: Industrial biomanufacturing and work-based biotech education

Welcome to the InnovATEBIO 2025 series of virtual ATE project talks.  This series features leaders in biotechnology workforce education from across the US sharing their work on exciting projects funded by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.  The ATE program supports the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.

Our two speakers this week will talk about their experiences with industrial biomanufacturing and work-based biotech education.

Each talk will be 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for questions and discussion.

View the whole series of InnovATEBIO 2025 ATE project talks.
 

Talk 1:  Module Development for Bioindustrial Manufacturing Workforce Readiness

Description:  BioMADE and member Delgado Community College recently received a National Science Foundation grant to develop pioneering new industry-driven curricula for bioindustrial manufacturing that will build the technical workforce needed to support this growing sector. This webinar will cover the modules that will be developed, the topics they will cover, and opportunities to participate in the project.

Speaker:  Louise Petruzzella (BioMADE)

Biography:  Louise is the Program Director – Education and Workforce Development at BioMADE. Louise is a self-directed and collaborative leader with 20+ years of experience educating tomorrow’s leaders, plus nine years dedicated to the design of forward-thinking educational programming to maximize opportunities and outcomes. She currently serves as a mentor for the National Science Foundation’s Mentorlinks program. The MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, supported by the National Science Foundation is designed to help colleges develop or strengthen technician training programs in STEM fields through mentoring, professional development opportunities, and technical assistance. She continues to volunteer as a proposal reviewer for the National Science Foundation ATE program.

• Learn more about the Advancing Progress in Industrial BioManufacturing to Accelerate Workforce Readiness ATE project

There will be a workshop for community college instructors on Bioindustrial Manufacturing at Delgado Community College, June 25th-27th.  Learn more and apply! 

Talk 2:  Work-based biotech education

Description: Fuller will talk about strategies for connecting students’ high school Biotechnology experience to your community college program. 

Speakers:  Michael Fuller, BABEC

• Learn more about the ATE project: Work-based Biotechnology Education from High School to Community College.