Host Organizations
The High School Apprenticeship Challenge is designed to create new internship opportunities by subsidizing intern wages for small life sciences companies and academic researchers to enable them to hire paid interns.
Host organizations apply online, and once approved, are provided access to a secure database to review applications and reach out directly to candidates. Interns are hired and paid by the employer. Companies can hire up to two interns and research institutions can hire no more than 30 interns per year.
The MLSC reimburses eligible host organizations up to $4,080 per intern, based on $17 per hour for six weeks of full-time work. Internships can be part-time or full-time and must take place between May 2024 and April 2025.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Life sciences companies, research institutions, or incubators engaged in life sciences:
- For-profit companies must have 100 or fewer employees in Massachusetts (up to 250 worldwide) to be eligible for the internship subsidy. Larger companies are also encouraged to participate, but cannot be reimbursed for intern stipends.
- Research institutions and life sciences incubators of any size are eligible for the subsidy.
- Located in Massachusetts and internships must take place in Massachusetts.
- Companies are required to be registered to do business in Massachusetts and must submit Certificates of Good Standing from both the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth (click on links to request).
- All host organizations must also provide MLSC with a signed copy of their Form W-9 and an authorization for electronic fund transfers (if not previously provided).
- Offer interns hands-on learning experience and at least one mentor that directly oversees the internship at an official place of business.
- Must be in compliance with any and all grant agreements and contracts with the MLSC, including reporting requirements and reimbursement certification for past participation in an Internship program.
Please Note:
- Interns must meet the program’s eligibility requirements as detailed here.
- Interns must be hired and paid directly by the host organization and treated as a W-2 employee (not a contractor or subcontractor) for compensation purposes.
- It is preferred that interns are paid through a third-party payroll service (e.g., ADP, Paychex, Intuit Payroll). If using an internal payroll system (e.g., QuickBooks) in which payroll is not processed by a third party, additional support in the form of weekly timesheets will be required.
- Companies cannot hire an intern who is the child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or cousin of any employee of the company. Research institutions cannot hire an intern that is related to any employee affiliated with the department at which the intern will be working.
Resources for Host Organizations
The application period for companies opens in January and will remain open until all funding for the program has been allocated. Research institutions should contact internship@masslifesciences.com regarding potential internship placements.
Prospective host organizations are required to create an account prior to accessing the application. If you already have an account, please log in to begin the application.