Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

30. Breaking into Biotech: Linnea Fletcher's Inclusive Education and Workforce Upskilling at InnovATEBIO

Jun 23, 2023

01:08:57

Episode Description:

In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl and Erum are joined by Linnea Fletcher, a passionate scientist with a PhD in biochemistry and a strong advocate for biotech education at the community college level. Linnea discusses the importance of education and its intersection with biotechnology, recognizing the growing significance of the Bioeconomy. She emphasizes the need for more individuals to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to support or create companies in this field. Linnea shares her own journey, starting from high school programs, where she realized the limitations of memorization-based education and outdated textbooks. She believes in the importance of training students in troubleshooting skills and providing them with scaffolded information to prepare them for careers in biotech. Additionally, Linnea highlights the immense opportunities in gene therapies and synthetic biology that people should be aware of.

Grow Everything brings to life the bioeconomy when hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories from the field and interview leaders and influencers in the space. Life is a powerful force and it can be engineered. What are we creating?

Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything

Topics Covered:

00:00:00 - The Difficulty Of Understanding Science And Risk Assessment
00:01:41 - From California to Brooklyn: Exciting Adventures and the Transition back into the World of Work
00:07:26 - the Secrets of Amino Acids: Exploring Phenotypic Possibilities Beyond the Central Dogma
00:09:05 - The Cutting-Edge Potential of New Amino Acids and Apple Vision Technology
00:17:02 - Exploring the Vast Career Opportunities in Biotech
00:23:20 - Embracing Open-Ended Possibilities in Biotech Research
00:23:37 - Empowering Researchers to Design, Experiment, and Troubleshoot
00:28:03 - Revolutionizing High School Science Education
00:29:18 - From Memorization to Hands-On Learning
00:32:36 - Unveiling the Fascinating World of Heart Cell Differentiation
00:35:33 - From Layoffs to Liftoff: Soaring into a New Career in Biotechnology
00:38:18 - Inspiring High School Students to Explore the Boundless World of Life Sciences
00:42:46 - Biotech Careers for All, From High School to PhD
00:47:23 - Understanding Science Reporting and Clinical Trials
00:52:47 - Embracing Biology-Friendly Solutions for Healthier Work Environments
00:57:00 -The Untapped Power of Hands-On Learning
00:59:54 - A Leader's Journey to Inspire and Educate
01:01:25 - From Fermentation to Biotech - Exploring the Surprising Simplicity and Growing Demand in the Biotechnology
01:04:25 - Why Hiring Based on Credentials May Be Costing Biotech Companies Big Bucks