2011 2011: Mass. Life Sciences Center/UMass Dartmouth highlight area life science student interns

2011 2011: Mass. Life Sciences Center/UMass Dartmouth highlight area life science student interns
Mass. Life Sciences Center/UMass Dartmouth highlight area life science student interns

UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center highlighted the work of Massachusetts student interns and the companies they have been working with this summer.

UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center highlighted the work of Massachusetts student interns and the companies they have been working with this summer. The students, most of whom attend UMass Dartmouth, participated this summer in Massachusetts Life Sciences Center 2011 Internship Challenge, a workforce development program focused on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in life sciences. 

Today the students presented projects on topics such as "Surgical Tool Development" and "The Business of Tissue Preservation" to an audience of industry, government and university representatives at the UMass Dartmouth Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in Fall River. The ATMC is located just minutes from the site of the UMass Bio-Manufacturing Center, which is planned for construction in 2012 and will assist companies as they scale up new products, train the life science workforce, and serve as a research engine for the Commonwealth. 

"I am extremely proud of the interns who participated in this cutting-edge program," said Governor Deval Patrick. "This program is enhancing the talent pipeline for our businesses, and helping more students get a jump start on careers in the life sciences field." 

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean MacCormack said, "The Life Science Center has been a terrific partner for UMass Dartmouth as we build opportunities for our students to experience the real world opportunities present in the life science industry, and work with companies to create jobs in this region." 

"The Life Sciences Internship Challenge is a key investment in the strength of our life sciences workforce in Massachusetts," said Dr. Susan Windham Bannister, President and CEO of the Center. "This program is allowing life sciences companies and research institutions to mentor students, and provide on-the-job experience, while expanding the pool of qualified applicants for jobs in the life sciences all across the state." 

The following South Coast companies participated in the intern program this year: 

Phosphorex (ATMC) 
Boston Open Labs (ATMC) 
Imgen (ATMC) 
NuOrtho Surgical (ATMC) 
Five Star Surgical (New Bedford) 
Five Star Manufacturing (New Bedford) 
PharmaHealth (Fairhaven) 

The following students participated: 

Phosphorex 

Lauren Alfonse of Dartmouth, Boston College -- Bio- Chemistry 
Synthesis of Hollow Polystyrene Microspheres and Quantification of Amine-Modified Polymer Surfaces 

Julia Massey of Birmingham, Alabama, Amherst College -- Chemistry 
Synthesis of Chitosan Nanospheres 

Boston Open Labs 

Adam Acorn of Framingham, UMass Dartmouth - Business 
Shanqing Caleb Chang of Brookline, UCONN Pre-Pharmacy 
Behind the Doors of a Biotech Startup 

Imgen 

Hana Bao of Sharon, Johns Hopkins University - Public Health 
Stephen Bi of Boxborough, Northwestern University - Bio-Medical Engineering 
Imgen SensiT - Beta-lactam Rapid Milk Safety Test Kit 

NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. 

Tamer Plourd of Wilbraham, UMass Dartmouth -- Business 
NuOrtho Surgical: The Business of Tissue Preservation 

Five Star Surgical 

Ross Douglas of Norfolk, UMass Dartmouth - Mechanical Engineering 
Product Development, Quoting and Inventory 

Michael Mongeau of Marlborough, UMass Dartmouth - Mechanical Engineering 
Surgical Tool Development 

Five Star Manufactuing 

Michael Davey of Uxbridge, UMass Dartmouth - Mechanical Engineering 
Validation and ISO Accreditation 

Alexander Marden of Shrewsbury, UMass Dartmouth - Mechanical Engineering 
Programming, Quality Control and Traceability 

PharmaHealth 

Meaghan Andre of Dartmouth, UMass Dartmouth - Biology 
Ashley Whewell of New Bedford, UMass Dartmouth - Biology 
A Solution to Your Problems 

The Internship Challenge, now in its third year, facilitates the placement of students and recent graduates who are considering career opportunities in the life sciences in paid summer internships across the state.  Consistent with the Center's role as a catalyst in growing the talent needed by the life sciences industry, the Internship Challenge is designed to provide students and companies with the tools to connect, and the Center will reimburse eligible companies for intern stipends.