MLSC Pathmaker awards will help create 439 life sciences training opportunities across Massachusetts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) today announced more than $5.2 million in awards through the Pathmaker program to expand workforce training and create 439 opportunities for Massachusetts residents to prepare for careers in the life sciences.
The awards will support five training programs in Boston, Lowell, Upton, Cambridge, Bedford and Burlington, helping residents gain hands-on skills and industry experience while connecting Massachusetts life sciences employers with the workers they need to grow.
“Massachusetts leads the world in the life sciences because of our people, and we want more residents to have a chance to build a career in this growing industry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments will give hundreds of people hands-on training and a clear path to good jobs, while helping our life sciences companies find the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed here in Massachusetts.”
“We’re connecting people with the skills and experience they need to step into great careers and building a workforce that meets the needs of employers across our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Programs like Pathmaker create more opportunities for residents, strengthen our local economies and help make sure Massachusetts continues to lead in the life sciences.”
“Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences is built on the strength of our workforce, and we need to ensure residents across the state have clear pathways into this innovative industry,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Co-Chair of the MLSC Board of Directors. “These Pathmaker investments are aligning education and training programs directly to the needs of life sciences employers, giving participants the skills and hands-on experience to launch meaningful careers while helping Massachusetts companies find the talent they need to grow and compete.”
Administration officials and the MLSC announced the latest round of Pathmaker awards during an event at Just A Start in Cambridge. For more than 50 years, Just A Start has worked to expand access to housing, education and workforce development opportunities that help individuals and families achieve greater economic mobility. Its workforce programs include biotechnology training that prepares residents for careers in the life sciences.
“Building a pathway into the life sciences starts with giving people a chance to experience the industry firsthand,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “When a participant can step into a laboratory, work with the same equipment used in the field, and learn directly from experienced professionals, they can begin to see themselves entering a lifelong career in the ecosystem. That is the kind of opportunity Pathmaker is designed to create.”
“Massachusetts has an incredibly strong life sciences sector, but too many residents lack access and the skills to secure careers in the industry,” said Just A Start Executive Director Carl Nagy-Koechlin. “The Pathmaker program has enabled Just A Start to expand and evolve our biotechnology training model to meet the needs of residents and the sector. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue preparing talented individuals for meaningful careers while strengthening the life sciences workforce across the Commonwealth.”
As part of this effort, Just A Start is partnering with the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI) to bring specialized laboratory automation training to its Pathmaker programming. IPI is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to advancing protein science and developing protein-based tools and resources that accelerate biological research. Through a Post-secondary Education and Training grant of nearly $83,000 from the MLSC’s Education and Workforce Development Grant Program, the partners will integrate automated liquid handling equipment and training into Just A Start’s existing Biotechnology Careers Training programs, including its nine-month program and accelerated 10-week Pathmaker program.
The partnership will serve 56 trainees annually and provide hands-on experience with applied biomedical automation workflows, including automated liquid handling protocols, preparing materials for laboratory testing, documenting experimental data and using basic scripts to control robotic processes. Industry partners, including Moderna and Opentrons Labworks Inc., will help inform curriculum and skills development, while IPI will support curriculum development and instruction.
“Scientists have traditionally learned at the bench, working alongside experienced researchers who provide access to tools and knowledge of their fields,” said Kevin Harvey, PhD, President and CEO of IPI. “As a nonprofit research institute that combines an academic culture with industry-level automation and scaling, IPI is embracing the opportunity to extend that model beyond well-equipped laboratories and even degree programs. Through partnerships with Just a Start and other MLSC Pathmaker organizations, we want to broaden access to cutting-edge protein science and automation, and help build the next generation of scientists who are ready and confident to succeed in a rapidly changing biotech landscape.”
The Pathmaker awards announced today include:
Bioversity, Boston & Lowell – $1,872,000 to support 156 training seats
Bioversity is a certificate program designed to provide Boston and Lowell area residents, 18 years and older, who have a high school diploma or GED, with a hands-on, in-person training in the technical and soft skills necessary to be hired upon graduation into entry-level scientific operations (e.g. lab operations, facilities, and environmental health and safety) and biomanufacturing roles at local life sciences companies.
Blackstone Valley Technical Institute (BVTi) at the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District, Upton – $124,320 to support 12 training seats
Blackstone Valley Technical Institute’s eight-week biomanufacturing training provides participants with an introduction to the industry and the technical skills needed to pursue careers in the field. Participants will earn industry certifications and connect with industry leaders while developing the skills and knowledge needed to pursue employment in biomanufacturing.
Just A Start, Cambridge – $588,657 to support 49 training seats
The Biotechnology Career Accelerator program (BCAP) builds on more than 30 years of experience from Just A Start’s Adult Career Training program with an intensive, 10-week training model designed to accelerate entry into lab support and biomanufacturing careers. Participants develop industry-relevant technical skills through classroom and hands-on laboratory training using industry-standard equipment, while also receiving career development and employment support.
Middlesex Community College, Bedford – $2,179,977 to support 169 training seats
Middlesex Community College (MCC) is home to one of the first state-of-the-art good manufacturing practice training facilities in Massachusetts and provides students with hands-on experience that directly aligns with industry standards and employer needs.
Northeastern University, Burlington – $500,000 to support 53 training seats
The program, delivered through Northeastern University’s Center for Bioinnovation and its Biopharmaceutical Analysis & Training Laboratory (BATL), provides training in life sciences laboratory automation, robotics, and AI. Participants gain hands-on experience with industry-standard platforms such as liquid handlers, while developing foundational programming and AI-assisted automation skills. Delivered as part of Northeastern’s Pathmaker award, the program emphasizes cGMP and quality systems throughout and offers the opportunity to earn OSHA 10 and BCSI certifications.
Statements of Support:
“The Pathmaker program has been transformative for Bioversity allowing us to train more Massachusetts residents and expand our training to the Merrimack Valley,” said Zach Stanley, Executive Director of Bioversity. “By highlighting short-term training programs like ours and standardizing core competencies, MLSC has given our program additional credibility and visibility leading to 40 different employers hiring our graduates in less than three years.”
“Biomanufacturing is an exciting and rapidly expanding field, and this grant gives us an opportunity to connect adults in our region with meaningful pathways into the life sciences,” said BVT Superintendent-Director Anthony E. Steele II. “We are grateful to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for investing in workforce development and in the future of our students and our region.”
“Thank you to MLSC for their continuous support of MCC’s efforts to expand our life sciences offerings on the Bedford Campus,” said Phil Sisson, President of Middlesex Community College. “With their assistance, our Robotics and Automation lab is equipped with training systems and processes that are used throughout the industry in Massachusetts. In turn, MCC partners with Insulet Corporation to develop curricula that meets the needs of the workforce across the medical device field. Students participating in our Automation and Robotics or Electronics programs earn valuable critical thinking and troubleshooting skills, as well as training opportunities and certifications to prepare them for direct entry into these in-demand roles. The funding from MLSC has been a game changer for MCC, for the life sciences industry, and for our students completing the program.”
“On behalf of Northeastern University, we extend our sincere gratitude to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for this Pathmaker award,” said Jared Auclair, Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Director of Bioinnovation, Northeastern University. “As the life sciences industry increasingly embraces AI, automation, and advanced technologies, we are honored to continue our partnership in equipping participants with the skills needed to thrive in this evolving workforce.”
The MLSC launched the Pathmaker program in June 2023. The program aims to accelerate life science career entry by condensing training program timelines, harmonizing core competencies to create alignment between industry and training providers, branding training programs to signal to companies that these programs are producing ready-to-hire candidates for entry-level roles, and expanding outreach about training/career opportunities with a strong focus on targeting underrepresented communities. To date, Pathmaker has awarded nearly $19 million and created over 1,690 training opportunities.
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public economic development investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts, home to the most verdant and productive life sciences ecosystem in the world. Through public-private funding initiatives, the MLSC supports innovation, research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing activities in the fields of biopharma, medical device, diagnostics and digital health. Since 2008, the MLSC has strategically deployed more than $1.1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce development programs. These investments have created thousands of jobs and propelled the development of new therapies, devices and scientific advancements that are improving patient health and well-being in Massachusetts and beyond.
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