The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center team joined the Merrimack College community and government officials at a ribbon cutting event to celebrate new life sciences equipment made possible by MLSC funding
In October, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) was proud to join Merrimack College leadership, faculty, and students to cut the ribbon on the college’s Instrumentation Lab. MLSC President and CEO Kirk Tayor, MD helped cut the ribbon for the new lab, made possible by a $750,000 grant from the MLSC’s Workforce Development Capital Grant Program.
“The MLSC is proud to support an institution like Merrimack College where so much focus is placed on the success of its students,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Tayor, MD. “The instruments funded through this grant will help prepare the next generation of life science professionals in our Commonwealth for years to come.”
Through the Workforce Development Capital Grant Program, the MLSC seeks to further the development and expansion of life sciences education and training programs offered by post-secondary academic institutions and non-profit organizations through capital investment in industry-aligned certificate and degree programs.
The Workforce Development Capital Grant Program awards funding of up to $750,000 per project for the purchase and installation of life sciences equipment, renovations, lab furniture, materials, supplies, and/or technology that will enable them to effectively prepare students for high-demand career opportunities in the life sciences. The MLSC has deployed approximately $192 million to support post-secondary lab and training facilities.
With the support of the MLSC Workforce Development Grant, Merrimack College has been able to develop a skills-based curriculum that focuses on giving students the hands-on experience and training necessary to be successful in the life sciences industry. The grant has enabled Merrimack to purchase key instrumentation commonly used in the industry, thus infusing its curriculum with skills-based opportunities for students. Training and use of the instruments has been embedded into both undergraduate and graduate curriculums.
Specifically, the College has been able to enhance its curriculum with a focus on experiential learning. Starting in the introductory labs all the way through the graduate course, Merrimack students gain valuable experience using instrumentation, conducting experiments, and solving real world problems. Additionally, the MLSC grant enhances Merrimack’s ability to focus on developing students’ skills that will empower them to be successful in life science careers.
“We are here to make a difference in human beings’ lives,” said Merrimack College President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D. “We are going to do something special here. [This grant] is a great accomplishment but there is no way we could do this by ourselves and I want to thank Mass Life Sciences for its support, its kindness and its leadership.”
Havilland Clark ‘23, M’24, an applied chemistry graduate student who was one of the speakers at the event, discussed the impact that the advanced research instruments available at Merrimack have had on her learning experience and how they have helped prepare her for entering the life sciences workforce.
“What makes my time at Merrimack even more special is the access I’ve had to top-of-the-line instruments and technology,” said Clark. “The School’s recent addition of advanced research tools has significantly enhanced my ability to conduct my work, making me more marketable as I prepare to enter the workforce this winter.”
The MLSC grant builds on a previous award of $500,000 made in 2016, bringing MLSC’s total investment in the College to $1.25 million. The MLSC has also sponsored more than forty internships for Merrimack College students since 2011 through its Internship Challenge, a program that enables small life sciences companies to connect with college students and receive funding for intern wages.
About the MLSC
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is an 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 its creation in 2007, the MLSC has strategically deployed approximately $1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce 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.
