The Biotech Career Foundations classes all take place at Bioversity’s training center in Dorchester at 135 Morrissey Blvd. (at the Southline Boston development of the old Boston Globe building). The brand-new, 4,000 square foot space is part classroom, part fully-functional scientific laboratory. Students can access the center by car with ample free parking or on the Red Line via a short walk to the UMass/JFK stop.

No, the training program is free.

Students admitted to Bioversity’s training program – Biotech Career Foundations – will be provided a $500 a week stipend payment while they are participating in the program. Our intention is that this generous stipend payment can help students cover the costs of things like childcare or transportation that could be a barrier to participation in this program.

Classes run Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm for eight weeks with the first program launching January 8, 2024 and running through February 29^th, 2024. We are currently recruiting for our second cohort which launches March 11. Please apply today.

Faculty from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will be teaching this course. Their work will be supplemented by people who work in the life sciences industry who are volunteering their time to help train and provide professional development.

Bioversity plans to run five cohorts of Biotech Career Foundations during 2024. The first cohort will start on January 8^th, 2024 and end on February 29^th, 2024. The second cohort will run March 11^th – May 2^nd. We will announce additional cohort dates in the future.

Students accepted into the program are expected to attend every day for the full duration of the program (32 total class days). Excused absences will be considered on an individual basis. Unexcused absences are not permitted and may result in students being asked to leave the program. If students miss more than 4 days for any reason, they will not be in line to graduate.

Bioversity can loan students a laptop for use during the time they are in the training program. For any computer work done outside the classroom we encourage students to utilize the free wi-fi available in the building where the training center is located (Southline Boston) or other locations such as public libraries.

There is some homework. The program is designed to be done mostly in-person at the training facility in Dorchester. There will be some additional learning required outside of the Monday – Thursday (9am – 3pm) window.

Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Bioversity.  To earn the certificate, participants will need to adhere to program policies and pass a series of assessments woven throughout the program. Per best practice, assessments will take a variety of forms including demonstrations, multiple choice and short essay quizzes and completion of mini-projects.

The first step of the process is to apply through the application form on this website. Bioversity staff will review each application and reach out individually to discuss the program in more detail and learn more about why the person is interested in the class via a 15 minute virtual meeting. If Bioversity staff and the applicant agree it could be a good fit, the next step is for the applicant to come in-person to Bioversity’s site in Dorchester to have an in-person interview.

Absolutely. Bioversity will be enrolling five separate classes of 20-24 people over the course of 2024. We will keep you application on file and consider you for future classes if you are not accepted the first time around.

We will be enrolling 20-24 people in each class. Over the course of 2024, we plan to enroll five separate, eight-week classes.

Students must be at least 18 years old to participate but there is no maximum age.

No. Candidates to join Bioversity’s training program only need to be 18 or older and have a high school degree or equivalent – no scientific background required. We are looking for people who are eager to join a growing industry and pursue an exciting career in scientific operations.

Absolutely. If you are interested in joining the training program after you graduate high school, please consider applying as we get nearer to your graduation date and include a note in the application form about your circumstances and timing.

We welcome people with criminal records to apply for the training program with the understanding that each life sciences employer treats criminal records differently when considering whether or not to hire an individual candidate. Of note, due to Massachusetts’ “Ban the Box” law there are strict rules about what Massachusetts employers can and cannot ask of candidates during the hiring process. This law in designed to encourage more employers to hire people with a criminal record. Learn more about those details here.

Yes. Bioversity’s site in Dorchester is designed to service the immediate neighborhood and its surrounding communities but if you are interested in the program and can travel to Dorchester during the program every day, please submit an application.

While graduates are not guaranteed a job after completing the Biotech Career Foundations program, Bioversity does provide career placements services to graduates to assist them in finding suitable positions in the local life sciences industry. Bioversity is busy gaining commitments from local employers to include Bioversity graduates in the recruitment plans for relevant entry-level talent.

This certificate training program is designed to prepare people with a high school degree to be work-ready upon graduation in scientific operations roles at local life sciences companies. These jobs, such as lab operations associate, support the operations of scientific laboratories through work including experiment prep, supply chain, inventory and procurement, facilities management, and hazardous waste removal. These mission critical jobs pay in a range from $21- $28 an hour with benefits.

Yes! Many companies promote entry-level talent with only a high school degree into more advanced positions. However, if Bioversity graduates want to continue their educational journey, we fully encourage that. To make paying for the 1^st semester of college easier, we offer a $2,000 tuition voucher upon acceptance to a partnered educational institution. And there’s a new state law making community college free for residents over 25 years old.