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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