Internship Challenge
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Internship Challenge is a workforce development program focused on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in life sciences. The program facilitates the placement of students and recent graduates, who are considering career opportunities in the life sciences, in paid internships across the state. Consistent with the Center’s role as a catalyst in growing the talent needed by the life sciences industry, the Internship Challenge is designed to provide students and companies with the tools to connect, and the Center will reimburse eligible companies for intern stipends.
Objectives of the Internship Challenge include expanding the pool of prospective employees who have practical experience, enhancing opportunities for mentoring, enabling more students to explore career opportunities despite the challenging economic environment, and providing to students interested in working in the life sciences a peer network through educational and informational networking events.
Since the program first launched in 2009, the Center has placed 543 interns at 200 different companies and research institutions throughout Massachusetts.
 Photo courtesy of Bay State Banner/Sandra Larson |
"The MLSC-sponsored internship allowed me to work for Ginkgo Bioworks, a biotech start-up, during its infancy. At this early stage of development, scarce funds could have prevented them from hiring me. Working for them during this period gave me the chance to make significant contributions to several exciting projects and allowed me a great introduction to the challenges of founding a start-up. The experience has encouraged me to bring my life sciences background to the business sector."
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How the Program Works
Students that are looking for an internship in the life sciences will need to complete an online application (link below), which includes their resume and a cover letter, identifying their academic background and the industry subsector in which they are looking to intern. Representatives from companies looking to host interns will review these applications and select candidates with the qualifications that are most suited to their needs. Internships can be part or full time and take place throughout the year. The Center’s Internship Program Year runs from May 1st through April 30th of any given year. The Center will reimburse companies for pay rates of up to $15 per hour for a total stipend of no more than $7,200 per intern at the conclusion of the internship.
Eligibility Requirements
Prospective host companies must be located in Massachusetts and have no more than 100 employees in order to receive a reimbursement from the Center for intern stipends. Larger companies and research institutions are still encouraged to participate in the program, however cannot request a subsidy from the Center. Eligible companies can receive a reimbursement of up to $7,200 (480 hours) per intern, but are limited to two subsidized interns per year period (May 1st – April 30th).
Students will be required to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The college or university you attend(ed) must be located in Massachusetts. Or, if you attend(ed) a college or university outside of Massachusetts, you must be a Massachusetts resident and be able to provide proof of residency; and
- You must meet one of the following:
- You attend(ed) a 4-year college or university and have or will have complete(d) at least your sophomore year the semester before the internship, or have graduated within the past year.
- You are currently enrolled in a 2-year/Community College or you have completed your Associate's Degree or Certificate within the past year.
- You are a graduate student enrolled in a Master's Degree program or received your Master's Degree within the past year. PhD students are not eligible.
Would you like to participate?
If you are a prospective intern who meets the above requirements, we urge you to click on the link below and submit your application today. Please note that your application will expire if not updated within six months.
Internship Application >>
If your company is interested in hosting an intern through this program, please complete the registration form posted below and email it to Ryan H. Mudawar at: internship@masslifesciences.com.
Company Registration Form >>
For more information, please read the program’s
Frequently Asked Questions >>
UPDATE: The Center has launched the 2012-13 round of the Internship Challenge. Students are now invited to submit applications for internships to take place at any time during the period of May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013. Companies seeking interns during this time period are also asked to submit registration forms. Funding remains available for Spring 2012 internships (ending as of 4/30/12) for those companies and students that qualify.