Program Overview
Update as of Oct. 18, 24: All funding for the 2024-25 Program Year has been committed, and new selections cannot be approved at this time. Organizations can be placed on a waiting list should additional funds become available, and are welcome to still hire interns with the understanding that the internships may not be subsidized.
Investing in the next generation of life science professionals is at the core of our mission. The Internship Challenge enhances the talent pipeline for the Massachusetts life sciences industry by creating hundreds of new internship opportunities each year for college students and recent graduates interested in life sciences careers. Through an online platform, the program offers employers access to a searchable resume database to help them connect with qualified candidates from across Massachusetts. The program also enables eligible wages up to $9,600 per intern (based on $20 per hour for 12 weeks).
Internships can be part- or full-time and can take place any time during the Program Year, which runs from May 1 through April 30.
As part of our commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the life sciences workforce, the MLSC also partners with Project Onramp and the UNCF Ernest E. Just Initiative to support internship opportunities for underrepresented students.
Eligibility Requirements
Resources
Companies and prospective interns must first create an account in our application portal in order to submit an application:
Students and companies already registered can log in here to access the application.
Impact on the Ecosystem
The Internship Challenge embodies our belief in the power of experiential learning to cultivate a workforce pipeline. As the longest-running program at the MLSC, the Internship Challenge has expanded the pool of prospective employees who have practical experience, increased opportunities for mentoring, and enabled more students from across the Commonwealth to explore careers in the life sciences industry. This initiative has reached every region of our state to the benefit of a diverse pool of talented young people.
The program creates new internship opportunities for college students and recent graduates by enabling small companies, of 100 employees or less, to hire paid interns. Since the program’s inception in 2009, the MLSC has funded more than 6,300 internships with over 1,100 Massachusetts organizations for students from 280 different academic institutions. Nearly 40 percent of interns that completed college were offered employment directly following their internship.
Connect with us to Learn More
If you have further questions regarding the application process, please email: internship@masslifesciences.com.
