Life Sciences Internship Challenge

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has launched the 2010 Life Sciences Internship Challenge, the second year of a workforce development program focused on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts life sciences companies. The program will provide summer 2010 internships for up to 150 students or recent graduates who are considering career opportunities in the life sciences.  Host companies will commit to providing a dedicated mentor and meaningful internship opportunity that relates to the academic focus of eligible students.

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.

Matt Gethers, 2009 Life Sciences Internship Challenge participant and recent MIT graduate with a degree in biological engineering, at the brand-new lab space of Ginkgo BioWorks in Boston. Photo courtesy of Bay State Banner/Sandra Larson

Background
Last year’s MLSC Internship Challenge met with extraordinary success, receiving over 500 applications and placing 104 interns at 59 companies and research institutions throughout Massachusetts. Based on feedback received from a survey of participants and our stakeholders, the MLSC has refined the program to enhance its impact.

This year, only smaller life sciences companies with 100 or less employees will be eligible to receive reimbursement of student stipends.  Eighty percent (80%) of last year’s intern sponsors were small businesses and the Center determined that supporting the growth of smaller life sciences companies by subsidizing human capital created the most value.  Life sciences companies with more than 100 employees or research institutions are welcome to recruit students from the MLSC’s database, but will be provided no subsidy to hire interns.

In addition, feedback overwhelmingly supported a longer time period for the internships. As a result, the MLSC has extended the period of subsidy from 8 weeks to up to 12 weeks. This should provide a more valuable experience both for companies and interns. There was also considerable support to expand the eligibility requirements to permit graduate students to participate and students studying business and other majors that are relevant to life sciences companies. Of course, students studying STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) are likely to be in high demand.

How the Program Works
The MLSC provides a web-based interface where students can apply for an internship and prospective host companies can match skills with their needs. Students will be required to identify their major area of concentration and it is anticipated that students studying STEM subjects or a field related to the needs of a life sciences company (i.e., finance, marketing) are more likely to be selected for an internship. 

Companies are responsible for reviewing resumes, contacting, interviewing, and hiring candidates.The Center is offering to reimburse companies with 100 or less employees for selected students at up to $15 per hour for up to 12 weeks.  Such stipend subsidies are available on a first come, first serve basis until the Center has committed the funds allocated to the program by its Board of Directors. After total allocation of the Center’s funds, eligible companies may still access the database of student candidates and offer paid or unpaid internships at the company’s discretion. 

Student Eligibility Requirements
Students will be required to meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. The college or university you attend(ed) must be located in Massachusetts. Or, if you attended a college or university outside of Massachusetts, you must be a Massachusetts resident and be able to present proof of residency; and
2. You must meet one of the following:
   • If you attend(ed) a 4-year college or university, you must have completed at least your junior year of study or have graduated within the past year. Your year of graduation must be 2009, 2010, or 2011; or
   • If you attend(ed) a community college, you must have or will complete(d) your Associate’s Degree or Certificate or the equivalent of one year’s course work related to the internship placement in 2009 or 2010. In recognition of the importance of encouraging an increase in the number of community college students participating in the program, the MLSC is reserving 10% of its resources at the outset of the program to subsidize internships for community college students.  The MLSC will use its best efforts to conduct extensive outreach to community colleges and potential employers to encourage these internship opportunities for community college students; or
   • If you are a graduate student, you must have or will complete(d) your Master's degree in 2009, 2010, or 2011.

Would you like to participate?
If you are a student who meets the above requirements, we urge you to click on the link below and submit your application today.

If your company is interested in offering an internship opportunity, please inform us as soon as possible. 

Contact Ryan Mudawar at internship@masslifesciences.com or 781-373-7719 with all inquiries.

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