Andrea Tarbet, a senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Brockton resident, is participating in the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Internship Challenge this summer. She is interning at Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc. (CRi) in Woburn, a company that develops and markets optical imaging systems to advance biomedical research and molecular-based drug and diagnostic development. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Internship Challenge received an overwhelming response since its January launch, with nearly 900 applicants looking for internships this summer. Through the Challenge, 164 interns were matched with 93 life sciences companies across Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is the quasi-public agency charged with implementing the state’s ten-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. The Center’s Internship Challenge is a workforce development program focused on enhancing the talent pipeline for life sciences companies in Massachusetts by providing interns with practical, “hands on” experience that prepares them to step into the workforce ready to meet the job requirements of life sciences employers. The program, now in its second year, is providing summer 2010 internships to students and recent college graduates from 46 different colleges and universities.
There’s no better way for young people to gain hands-on, real-life work experience other than doing an internship, and I congratulate Ashley for working with CRi this summer to gain that experience. Working with our partners, the legislature has set out on a strong course to ensure the Commonwealth’s bright future as a leader in the ever-burgeoning life sciences industry. Along with the many medical breakthroughs that have emerged from this field, Ashley’s work proves that we’re making the right investment – and that it’s working for our future.
Under the program, host companies commit to providing a dedicated mentor and a meaningful internship opportunity related to the academic focus of eligible students. The Center established a web-based interface where students can post resumes, as well as cover letters highlighting their experience, and host companies can match skills with their needs. Selected interns receive a stipend provided by the Center of up to $7,200 for up to twelve weeks.
Objectives of the Life Sciences Internship Challenge include expanding the pool of prospective employees who have practical experience, enhancing opportunities for mentoring, enabling more students to explore career opportunities despite the challenging economic environment, and providing to students interested in working in the life sciences a peer network through educational and informational exchange events.
“The Life Sciences Internship Challenge is a key investment in the strength of our life sciences workforce in Massachusetts,” said Dr. Susan Windham Bannister, President and CEO of the Center. “This program is allowing life sciences companies and research institutions to mentor students, such as Andrea Tarbet, and provide on-the-job experience, while expanding the pool of qualified applicants for jobs in the life sciences all across the state.”
“Participating in the Massachusetts Life Center's Internship Program is a unique and exciting opportunity for life science majors, especially in our lagging economy,” said Tarbet. “I am very grateful for receiving this opportunity from Cambridge Research & Instrumentation (CRi) and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center this summer. I look forward to applying my knowledge and skills obtained through my courses over the past three years and gaining vital work experience from an innovative company throughout this internship.”
“We have participated in the Mass Life Sciences internship program for the past two years, and have found the caliber of students to be exceptional,” said Cathy Boutin, Marketing Manager of Cambridge Research & Instrumentation. “The delivery of tasks by the interns has been both timely and of the highest quality. Andrea in particular has exceeded our expectations in completing both assigned tasks early in addition to being a self-starter. Her business acumen has been professional and she has proven to be a true asset to our team.”
