Third-Party Evaluation Shows Strong Outcomes for Students and Employers—and a Clear Path Forward
We’re thrilled to share the results of an independent impact evaluation conducted by BW Research Partnership that confirms what we’ve witnessed firsthand over the past two years: Bioversity is making a real difference in the lives of our students and in the talent pipelines of Massachusetts life sciences companies.
Since launching in January 2024, we’ve graduated 120 students across 12 cohorts—all from low-income households, and 96% identifying as non-white. The numbers tell an inspiring story, but behind each statistic is a person whose life trajectory has fundamentally changed.
Program Outcomes: Creating Pathways to Economic Mobility
The data speaks for itself. Our graduates are not just finding jobs—they’re launching careers with stability, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
Employment Gains
80% placement rate into full-time roles at 34 unique employers in a wide variety of entry-level lab operations, facilities, and biomanufacturing roles that are true pathways to lifelong careers
Meaningful Wage Increases
Average starting wage: $26.18/hour (approximately $54,454 annually)—doubling pre-program earnings, on average
55% of those graduates are earning $50,000-$74,999
Access to Critical Benefits
Perhaps most importantly, our graduates are gaining access to benefits that build long-term financial security.
77% now have employer-provided healthcare, up from just 9% before the program (most previously relied on Medicaid/MassHealth)
68% receive employer retirement contributions (i.e. 401k), compared to 41% before Bioversity
These benefits matter. Bioversity graduates are building foundations for wealth and financial security that will impact their families for generations.
What Students Are Saying
The quantitative results are backed by overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants:
98% of students gained a basic understanding of lab operations from the program
88% felt well-prepared to work in a lab environment
87% of employed graduates either remain in their initial roles (73%) or have been promoted (14%)
But perhaps the most powerful evidence comes from their own words:
“Bioversity helped change the trajectory of my life.” “It opens doors for opportunities that may have never come my way without it.” “It was a great training that actually put us on the way to start a new career.”
– BIOVERSITY GRADUATES
Employer Validation: Meeting Industry Needs
Our employer partners confirmed that Bioversity is delivering on its promise. Among surveyed life sciences employers, they expressed that Bioversity’s training is well-aligned with their needs for entry-level talent:
At the time of survey, 53% have hired a Bioversity graduate
Among those who haven’t, 75% cited lack of open positions—not program concerns—as the reason
63% of employers who haven’t hired expressed willingness to do so after reviewing our curriculum
Employers emphasized that our graduates consistently demonstrate:
Solid understanding of foundational lab basics, safety protocols, and PPE
Strong preparation for interviews and eagerness to learn
Initiative and positive attitudes in the workplace
“Bioversity provides opportunities to bring in talent where you know they have been vetted. They have some desire to operate in life sciences and have career ambitions.”
“We hire either experienced folks or people from training programs. But we found that the folks from Bioversity come well prepared. The program is more extensive than the internal training we do, so it’s certainly helpful.”
-Employers hiring from bioversity
When asked what matters most in training partnerships, employers prioritized:
Access to a diverse talent pool (91% rated “very important”)
Relevance to industry needs (82%)
Quality of training (73%)
Flexibility in commitment level (73%)
This validation is particularly meaningful because it confirms that our mission—creating opportunities for underrepresented populations in life sciences—directly aligns with what employers need most.
Opportunities for Growth: Meeting the Challenge Together
While we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, the report also identified opportunities to strengthen our program. Employers and students both highlighted areas where we can improve.
The most consistent feedback centered on helping students navigate professional workplace norms—things like email etiquette, workplace communication, and understanding corporate culture. Many of our students are first-time entrants to professional office environments, and we have an opportunity to better prepare them for these transitions.
Key Recommendations Include:
Formalizing “Professionalism 101” training with concrete modules on workplace expectations
Expanding public speaking and communication practice through structured presentations
Creating individualized career pathway planning with skill assessments
Adding modules on emerging technologies, including AI applications in biotech
Bioversity has focused on these areas prior to the report, but has since updated its curriculum to strengthen the areas where employers sought improvement. With only eight-week training cycles, Bioversity is extremely agile and can make each training session better than the previous one.
We Can’t Do This Alone
This report validates that Bioversity’s model works—we’re creating real pathways to economic mobility while addressing critical workforce needs in Massachusetts’ life sciences sector. But it also makes clear that scaling our impact requires continued partnership and support.
Employers: Continue hiring our graduates, volunteer to help our students learn, and offer feedback that helps us refine our curriculum
Community Partners: Help us reach job seekers who need these opportunities most
Alumni: Stay connected, support current students, and help build the Bioversity community
The first two years have proven that when we invest in people with potential and connect them with the right training and support, transformation is possible. Our graduates aren’t just getting jobs—they’re gaining healthcare, building retirement savings, and accessing opportunities that will change their families’ futures through lifelong careers.
With your continued support, we can reach even more individuals who deserve these opportunities and further strengthen our role as a vital talent pipeline for Massachusetts’ thriving life sciences industry.
This research was made possible through the support of JPMorganChase. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the views and opinions expressed in the report are solely those of the report’s author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of JPMorganChase or its affiliates.
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