Scholarships foster more biotechnology jobs in Boston

Posted on October 30, 2018

More scholarships will go towards bolstering biotechnology jobs in Boston.

The college presidents of Northeastern University and Middlesex Community College announced a $4.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation that will provide scholarships to low-income students studying biotechnology.

The scholarships will be awarded to low-income and under-represented minority students who will participate in an associates to masters’ degree accelerated program in biotechnology.

Northeastern University and Middlesex Community College are partners in this initiative, known as “A2M.”

Over the next five years, more than 500 scholarships will be awarded to academically-talented biotechnology students across three degree levels who are in the A2M pathway. Students will gain research experience, mentoring from industry leaders, specialized academic advising and tailored academic and career support.

“Students who are able to take advantage of this associates to masters’ opportunity will be prepared for success in the region’s biotech industry through paid internships, research experience, and other career opportunities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The partnership between Northeastern University and Middlesex Community College is an exciting and creative way to provide students an affordable path to a degree.”

The announcement was one of hundreds of events taking place across the state as part of the inaugural STEM Week, and exemplifies how public and private partners are working creatively to give students more opportunities to become engaged in STEM fields. Northeastern and Middlesex Community College partner with biotech companies, like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Novartis, Shire, the MassBioEd Foundation, and the Mass Life Sciences Center, to provide students with paid internships.