Investing in the next generation of life science professionals is at the core of how we fulfill our mission at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC). ;xNLx;The Internship Challenge is the MLSC’s longest running workforce program, and it embodies our belief in the power of experiential learning to cultivate a workforce pipeline.;xNLx;The MLSC annually provides over 500 paid internship experiences for Massachusetts college students that enhance the talent pipeline for small to medium Massachusetts life sciences companies. 20 percent of interns immediately matriculate to full or part-time employment with their company at the end of their internship.Since its inception in 2009, the Internship Challenge has produced more than 4,000 internships at nearly 800 companies throughout Massachusetts. It has grown to be the single largest state STEM intern program in the US, and serves as a nationwide model.;xNLx;We believe now, 10 years on, is the perfect moment to pause and reflect, celebrate, and recognize the people, places, and partnerships that have enabled students from across the Commonwealth to begin successful careers in the life sciences industry.;xNLx;The Internship Challenge is only as successful as the community it serves. We thank you for your support and we look forward to celebrating the program in the days and months to come.
Governor Deval Patrick signs legislation establishing a 10-year, $1 billion investment in life sciences managed by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC).
The UMass Donahue Institute and MLSC publishes “Growing Talent: Meeting the Evolving Needs of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Industry,” which reports the research, findings and recommendations of the Life Sciences Talent Initiative, a comprehensive one-year study of talent needs in the Massachusetts life sciences industry and the capacity of the state’s higher education institutions and workforce training organizations to respond. The report recommends the need for increased life sciences internship opportunities for college students
MLSC launches the pilot round of the Internship Challenge with the goal of placing 100 college students in paid summer internships.
The first MLSC-sponsored interns begin their internships. A total of 104 interns were selected by 59 organizations.
A kick-off event is held at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA and attended by 70 interns and representatives from host organizations. Following a speaking program and panel discussion, interns participated in a professional workshop facilitated by Year Up, a training program that provides a unique combination of technical and professional skills.
Several interns from the South East region of Massachusetts are joined by their company mentors at UMass Dartmouth’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center for presentations about their internships
The MLSC and Citizen Schools co-host the “STEM Talent Showcase” at the Massachusetts State House to kick-off the second year of the Internship Challenge while also celebrating the achievements of middle school apprentices.
The Internship Challenge becomes a year-round program and places its 500th intern since inception of the program.
The MLSC kicks-off its third year of the program with an event at Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) in Worcester. Following a speaking program and panel discussion, interns participated in a professional workshop facilitated by Propel Careers, a life sciences search firm dedicated to networking, mentoring and career development.
Interns from the South East region of Massachusetts are joined by their company mentors at UMass Dartmouth’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center for presentations about their internships and tours of the facility.
The MLSC is awarded nearly $864,000 as part of a $5 million, 5-year U.S. Department of Labor grant to the City of Boston for the SCILS (Skilled Careers in Life Sciences) Initiative. The award provided matching funds for 324 interns between 2012 and 2017.
UMass Dartmouth’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center hosts several interns from the South East region of Massachusetts and their company mentors for internship presentations and networking.
The MLSC reaches total placement of 1,000 internships since the program’s inception.
An event to celebrate the success of Internship Challenge, as well as similar internship programs offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Mass Technology Collaborative (MassTech) is held in Boston and attended by interns and host company representatives from all three programs. MLSC worked closely with MassCEC and MassTech to help develop programs modeled on the Internship Challenge for their respective industries.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts “InternBuzz,” a special networking event for college interns. Panelists, which included an MLSC intern, discussed ways to leverage internships for future job opportunities and how to get the most out of internship experiences. MLSC serves on the Federal Reserve and Chamber’s Internship Collaboration Advisory Board.
The MLSC hosts a networking event for interns at District Hall in Boston. The event included a panel discussion focused on preparing interns for a successful transition into the workforce.
The MLSC reaches total placement of 2,000 internships since the program’s inception.
The MLSC increases the reimbursable pay rate cap from $15 per hour to $17 per hour, and increases the maximum reimbursable stipend from $7,200 to $8,160 per intern.
The MLSC creates a new internship program for high school students, the High School Apprenticeship Challenge.
The program reaches 500 internship placements for the first time in a single Program Year.
The MLSC wins the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for the Internship Challenge. The honor was presented at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada.
The MLSC reaches total placement of 3,000 internships since the program’s inception.
Governor Charlie Baker signs An Act providing continued investment in the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth to invest up to $623 million in bond authorization and tax credits over five years in education, research and development, and workforce training programs such as the Internship Challenge.
The MLSC reaches total placement of 4,000 internships since the program’s inception.
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