Creating Pathways in Bioscience: Highlights from Our Apprenticeship Week Panel
Oregon Bio hosted a webinar in honor of National Apprenticeship Week on the topic of "Leveraging Apprenticeships for a Skilled and Diverse Bioscience Workforce." Featuring panelists Jenn Klotz, Senior Community Relations and External Communications Lead at Genentech; Carla Moentenich, Senior Associate, Talent Acquisition at Twist Bioscience; and Karla Talanian, Life Sciences Workforce Development Expert, the discussion focused on how apprenticeships are transforming workforce development in bioscience, creating accessible career pathways, and strengthening Oregon’s biomanufacturing talent pipeline.
In the second half of the webinar, apprentices Marc Gonzalez Martin and Ashton Knudsen, currently training at Twist Bioscience and Genentech respectively, joined the conversation to share valuable insights from their experiences.
At the start of the webinar, Jenn Klotz of Genentech talked about the role of apprenticeships in advancing equity noting that “Apprenticeships broaden access by removing barriers. They create accessible career pathways for underrepresented talent and provide economic mobility through living wages.”
Building on this point, workforce expert Karla Talanian emphasized how integrating training directly into the work environment allows participants to earn while they learn, making apprenticeships more accessible to people who ….: “Especially in manufacturing, shift work often makes it incompatible with attending community college or university classes. With an apprenticeship model, employers, educational providers, and intermediaries streamline the schedule, making education accessible while gaining practical skills.”
Carla Moentenich of Twist Bioscience highlighted how group apprenticeships like Access Bio are more than just a way to fill roles—they are an investment in the future of the industry. She noted that “Apprenticeships help build an ecosystem for the life sciences industry. Programs like this ensure we’re preparing individuals at all levels to meet industry demands while providing foundational knowledge and support.”
As a final thought, Jenn Klotz pointed out how programs like Access Bio can strengthen leadership skills within companies: “When I check in with the supervisors of the apprentices, they’re telling me their employees are getting developed as well because they’re getting to show leadership. So it’s this additional benefit that’s coming from it.”
Finally, Marc Gonzalez Martin, who worked as an ASL interpreter prior to joining the program, shared that he is enjoying his career change, particularly the team environment and hands-on learning opportunities. While, Ashton Knudsen emphasized the strong support network within the program, noting that “Everybody from the top down wants us to be here and wants us to succeed.”
This insightful discussion reinforced the value of apprenticeships—not only for apprentices themselves but for the broader workforce and industry. As the Access Bio Biomanufacturing Apprenticeship Program prepares for its next cohort, we look forward to continuing these conversations and growing opportunities within Oregon’s bioscience sector.
To hear from Access Bio apprentices and employer partners about what the program has meant to them—from building new skills to strengthening Oregon’s biotech workforce—watch a few key moments or view the entire conversation here. If you’d like to learn more about the Access Bio Apprenticeship Program, please reach out to us at apprenticeship@oregonlifesciences.org.