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. The workforce development program connects employers with prospective interns through an online platform and enables eligible companies to pay their interns for up to twelve weeks by subsidizing intern wages.

Internships can be part- or full-time and can take place throughout the 12-month Program Year, which runs from May 1 through April 30. The MLSC reimburses eligible organizations at pay rates from $17 to $20 per hour for a total reimbursement of up to $9,600 per intern.

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.

Must meet at least one of the following:

• Massachusetts resident (proof of residency required)
• Attend an accredited college or university located in Massachusetts (enrollment verification required)
• Attend a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)

Must meet one of the following:

• Currently enrolled in a 2-year college or community college OR a Certificate Program working toward an Associate Degree or Certificate (or have completed one within the past year)
• Enrolled in a 4-year college or university and having completed at least their freshman year the semester before the internship OR have graduated within the past year.
• Graduate students must be enrolled in a Master’s Degree program or have received their Master’s Degree within the past year. Ph.D. and M.D. candidates are not eligible.  

Please Note:

• Interns are to be hired and paid directly by the host company. Any employed intern shall be treated as a W-2 employee of the company (not a contractor or subcontractor). Interns must be hired for a temporary internship experience and not as permanent employees. Upon completion of the internship, interns can be hired as full-time employees.
• Companies cannot hire an intern who is the spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, cousin or spouse of a child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or cousin of ANY current employee of the company.
• Interns cannot participate in more than one subsidized internship in the same program year.
• Interns cannot participate in more than two subsidized internships with the same company.
• Internships cannot be concurrently subsidized by another state entity (such as MassTech or MassCEC).