Internship Challenge
Forecasted
Internship Challenge supports college students and recent graduates through paid life sciences internships that build practical workplace experience and strengthen Massachusetts’ workforce pipeline.
Funder: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Due Dates: May 1, 2026–April 30, 2027 (2026–27 program year)
Funding Amounts: Up to $9,600 per intern, based on $20 per hour for 12 weeks
Summary: Supports paid internships for college students and recent graduates while strengthening Massachusetts’ life sciences workforce pipeline.
Key Information: Current-round subsidy funding is fully committed; host organizations can request a first-come, first-served waitlist placement.
Description
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) runs the Internship Challenge to create hundreds of new internship opportunities each year for college students and recent graduates interested in life sciences careers. The program connects Massachusetts employers with prospective interns through an online platform and searchable resume database, while subsidizing wages so eligible small companies can hire paid interns.
The program emphasizes practical industry experience, mentoring, and career exploration. By supporting experiential learning, MLSC aims to expand the pool of prospective employees with workplace experience and help companies develop their workforce pipelines. Internships may be part-time or full-time and take place during the program year. Partnerships with Project Onramp and the UNCF Ernest E. Just Life Sciences Initiative also support access for low-income and underrepresented students.
