Project Onramp Meets Its Goal of Placing 50 Mass. Students from Low-Income Backgrounds into Summer Internships at Local Biotech Companies

Massachusetts Biotechnology Industry Embraces New Model That Opens
Doors to Careers in Life Sciences

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BostonLifeSciences?src=hash" target="_blank"gt;#BostonLifeScienceslt;/agt;–Project Onramp today announced they have placed more than 50 students in
well-paid internships with top companies for summer 2019 through its
first-in-the-nation Project Onramp program. The program will give the
students – many of them the first in their families to attend college –
hands-on experience and a valuable start towards a career in
biotechnology.

“Project Onramp has created a new model for extending opportunities in
the thriving biotech industry for high-achieving students who don’t have
the personal or family connections that often play a big part in
awarding internships,” said David Lucchino, chairman of MassBio and CEO
and co-founder of Frequency Therapeutics. “The enthusiastic response
from leading life sciences companies in Massachusetts has been
overwhelming.”

Established industry incumbents as well as rapidly growing startups have
created a total of 50 internships for Project Onramp students for summer
2019. Other firms are contributing by providing training, meeting
facilities and mentors for our students.

“We jumped at the chance to offer an internship to a Project Onramp
student,” said Nancy Simonian, M.D, president and CEO of Cambridge-based
Syros, a leader in the development of medicines that control the
expression of genes. “In addition to their solid academic credentials,
these students bring an unmatched level of drive and commitment.
Providing these opportunities to young people who have been historically
underrepresented is important to the health and future of our growing
industry.”

Syros’ intern is among several Project Onramp interns that will be
sponsored by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center as part of its
Internship Challenge. The state-funded workforce development program
enables small and mid-sized life sciences companies to hire paid interns
by reimbursing them for stipends of up to $8,160 per intern.

In addition to scientific and lab opportunities, Project Onramp is
providing internships to students in business disciplines such as
communications, administration and marketing. Syros’ intern will be
assisting in the Human Resources department.

Project Onramp was created in 2019 by the state’s leading life sciences
organizations: MassBio, MassBioEd, the Massachusetts Life Sciences
Center, and Life Science Cares, working with Bottom Line, a non-profit
that helps first-generation-to-college students get into school and
succeed. The program is open to undergraduate students who are working
with Bottom Line, and is supported in part by funding provided by the
State Universities of Massachusetts.

For the full list of 2019 Project Onramp Life Science Scholars, visit www.ProjectOnrampMA.com/scholars.
To see all the companies providing internships, go to www.ProjectOnrampMA.com/companies.

About MassBio
MassBio® is a not-for-profit
organization founded in 1985 that represents and provides services and
support for the world’s leading life sciences supercluster. MassBio is
committed to advancing Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences to
grow the industry, add value to the healthcare system and improve
patient lives. Representing 1,100+ biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, disease foundations and other organizations involved in
life sciences and healthcare, MassBio leverages its unparalleled network
of innovative companies and industry thought leaders to advance policy
and promote education, while providing member programs, events, industry
information, and services. Learn more at https://www.massbio.org/.

About MassBioEd
MassBioEd’s mission is to build a
sustainable life sciences workforce in the region through educational
programs that inspire and propel students, engage and excite teachers,
and illuminate the pathway from the classroom to careers. MassBioEd
serves the region through programs focused on training high school
educators, exposing students to the college and career opportunities
within the life sciences, providing industry and higher education with
job trends analysis, and advancing the discussion between community
colleges, universities, and employers. Learn more at https://www.massbioed.org/.

About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is an economic development and
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 &
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 more
than $677 million in Massachusetts. Learn more at http://www.masslifesciences.com/.

About Life Science Cares
Life Science Cares ^SM
is a collective effort of the life science industry to eliminate the
impact of poverty on our neighbors in the greater Boston area. Through
uniting the human and financial resources of life science companies and
industry leaders, we support service organizations that do the best work
in fighting poverty in our community. Learn more at http://lifesciencecares.org/.

About Bottom Line
Bottom Line helps low-income and
first-generation-to-college students get to and through college. This
nationally recognized nonprofit is committed to building strong
connections with our students, providing them with individual support,
and ensuring they have the guidance they need to persist and earn a
college degree. Learn more at http://www.bottomline.org/.

Contacts

Jeff Krasner, Emerging BioCommunications
[email protected]
617)
840-9806