CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced the recipient of the inaugural Susan Windham-Bannister Life Sciences Intern Award last week at LabCentral in Cambridge. This new award, named after the MLSC’s first President and CEO, honors a participant of the MLSC’s Internship Challenge who has made an outstanding contribution to the growth and success of their host company.
This year’s inaugural award was proudly presented to Yash Patel, a 2025 graduate of Boston University. During his internship at the Cambridge-based diagnostics company BioSens8, Yash demonstrated leadership, innovation, and exceptional collaboration skills – qualities that exemplify Dr. Windham-Bannister’s legacy.
“The Internship Challenge is one of the MLSC’s most durable and successful programs, contributing to the Commonwealth’s innovation ecosystem by expanding the pool of young workers exploring career opportunities in the life sciences and supporting access to that talent pool by start-up companies,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister. “A common theme among the companies that participate in the program is that interns are not just future workers in our industry; they are key members of ‘the team’ and contribute energy and fresh perspectives during their internships. This new internship award is a way to recognize these contributions, and I am so honored that the MLSC’s leadership has named it after me.”
The Internship Challenge represents a core part of the Commonwealth’s workforce development strategy, expanding access to paid, real-world experiences for students and recent graduates interested in careers in the life sciences. Each year, the program places hundreds of interns at innovative companies of all sizes across Massachusetts, helping employers strengthen their organizations while giving young professionals the skills, exposure, and connections needed to thrive in the industry.
“Programs like the MLSC’s Internship Challenge are essential to sustaining Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences,” said Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development Undersecretary of Business Strategies Zenobia Moochhala. “By supporting interns early in their careers and connecting them with hands-on experience at innovative life sciences companies, the Center helps cultivate talent at every stage and strengthens our Commonwealth’s workforce.”
Since the program’s inception in 2009, the Internship Challenge has funded more than 6,850 internships with more than 1,200 organizations for students from 283 different academic institutions.
“Our honorees today showcase why the Internship Challenge remains such a pivotal foundation of the MLSC,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “Yash, and all of the other nominees for this award, are shining examples of the talent, curiosity, and determination that drive innovation across the Commonwealth. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and to carry on the legacy Dr. Windham-Bannister set in motion, one that continues to strengthen our workforce and our life sciences ecosystem.”
Today’s event included Massachusetts Economic Development Undersecretary Zenobia Moochhala, MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD, and LabCentral CEO Maggie O’Toole. Additionally, Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, whose vision and leadership helped establish the Internship Challenge as a cornerstone of the ecosystem, provided remarks virtually to share her reflections on the program’s legacy and congratulate this year’s honorees.
In addition to the award recipient, the MLSC also recognized a runner-up, two honorable mentions, and the four host companies that nominated these former interns for their outstanding work and contributions.
“BioSens8 gave me the chance to work on problems that really matter and to learn from people who care deeply about what they build,” said Yash Patel, winner of the Susan Windham-Bannister Life Sciences Intern Award. “I’m grateful for the support from the MLSC, which opened the door to opportunities that continue to shape my path and inspired me to keep growing in this field by pursuing a PhD focused on advancing medical devices.”
“Since the first day we met to sit down to outline our goals and outlines for our technical milestones, Yash has shined,” said Uroš Kuzmanović, CEO and Founder of BioSens8. “He was able to craft a multilevel plan for solving one of our major technical projects with extremely clear communication. Understanding the task at hand, producing an outline, and then seeing him execute at a PhD level was astonishing. I’m extremely grateful to have had the chance to work with Yash over these past years and am watching closely and with excitement at what he’ll accomplish for his next steps.”
Award honorees include:
Yash Patel, Award Winner
BioSense8, Cambridge, MA
Yash Patel graduated from Boston University in 2025 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and a concentration in Nanotechnology. During his internship at BioSens8, Yash demonstrated leadership, innovation, and exceptional collaboration skills, qualities that exemplify Dr. Windham-Bannister’s legacy.
About BioSens8:
BioSens8 is developing real-time, continuous biosensors that leverage microbial engineering to deliver precise health insights. Its flagship product, MySensing, is a continuous cortisol monitoring device that helps users track stress and recovery with clinical-grade accuracy. MLSC has supported four internships at BioSens8 since 2024.
Previously, BioSens8 received a $50,000 MLSC grant as the 2021 winner of the M2D2 $200K Challenge pitch competition. In addition, through the Women’s Health Collaboration Program, BioSens8 partnered with Boston University on the project “Novel Biosensors for Monitoring Fertility at the Point of Care,” for which Boston University, with Dr. Catherine Klapperich as Principal Investigator, received $750,000 in capital funding from the MLSC.
Sophia Mola, Award Runner-Up
Anderson Biotests, LLC, Bedford, MA
A Biology major with a Business minor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Sophia’s work as a product management intern demonstrated her deep understanding of how true innovation serves human needs.
About Anderson Biotests:
An independent company with over 30 years of expertise in semen analysis and post-vasectomy testing, Anderson Biotests operates a CLIA-certified laboratory and regularly publishes peer-reviewed research. The company dedicates a portion of profits to advancing basic science. The MLSC has supported 18 internships at Anderson Biotests since 2013.
Mercedes Garate, Honorable Mention
Nanopath, Cambridge, MA
Mercedes is currently attending Northeastern University with a major in Bioengineering, and a minor in Business Administration. Her ability to quickly learn new tasks and excellent critical thinking skills made her a standout contributor at Nanopath.
About NanoPath:
Nanopath is developing next-generation molecular diagnostics designed to meet women’s healthcare needs. A 2023 awardee of the MLSC’s MassNextGen program, Nanopath received a $43,750 grant and has since raised more than $10 million in follow-on funding. The MLSC has supported 10 internships at Nanopath since 2022.
Angela Jee, Honorable Mention
miniPCR bio
Angela graduated from Brandeis University in 2024 with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. After interning with miniPCR bio, she was hired full-time.
About miniPCR bio:
miniPCR bio designs and manufactures accessible tools for molecular biology education and research which are used everywhere from classrooms to the International Space Station to make science accessible across the globe. MLSC has supported 23 internships at MiniPCR bio since 2015.
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.
###
