Report: Mass. needs more biotech workers
A new report from MassBIO and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center finds that the state needs to cultivate more biotech talent if it wants to keep its edge in the industry. The study found that 85 percent of the state's life science employers anticipate hiring in the next two years, but 90 percent said they have difficulty hiring clinical research staff. This, MassBIO says, means the state must "improve, expand and tailor its educational programs and resources designed to prepare students and workers for jobs in life sciences sector." The study makes several recommendations:
- Educate and retain more graduate students with interdisciplinary training
- Strengthen undergraduate education
- Improve and target technical training to respond to employers' needs
- Improve communication between the industry and higher education
Part of the recent $1 billion biotech bill will go to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund, which provides funding for training, research grants, fellowships and other programs designed to support education and research in the life sciences.
- here's the MassBIO study
- read this article from the Boston Herald
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Comments
By Tony Contino, Biokinetics, Inc. | Posted 2:52pm | September 17, 2008
The critical shortage of qualified staff for biotech companies is not just a MA phenomenon. The education of biotech/biopharm industry employees to meet near future demands presents an imposing challenge throughout the U.S. and abroad.
We deal with it everyday at our company. The oil and gas industry is the hot ticket for engineers and scientists these days.
The biotech industry situation can be improved, but admittedly not completely solved, if decision makers are willing to look at other educational alternatives, in addition to their local institutions of higher learning.
For example, there are Internet-based learning opportunities that offer true value when compared to traditional classrooms and conferences. On-line courses, authored by leading industry experts, are available. They can be tailored to the student's level of education and to the specific requirements of a job. They are offered 24-7 over the Internet, providing an extremely flexible learning opportunity.
Industry organizations and bio-based corporations need to start looking at non-traditional learning options, or be willing to wait for academia and the economy to move their priorities toward the biotech industry.
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