Study: Mass. needs to train biotech workers

BOSTON – Life sciences companies in Massachusetts are eager to expand but having difficulty finding qualified workers, according to a new report from the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute.
According to the study, 85 percent of life sciences employers expect to expand in the next two years, but 90 percent of employers surveyed are having trouble hiring clinical research staff.
Mass. Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s administration has showered money and attention on the life sciences industry, most notably with the signing of a bill that will invest $1 billion in the sector .
However, the Donahue Institute report warned that the Bay State may not be positioned to take advantage of the sector’s growth if it does not train the next generation of life sciences workers.
The report recommended beefing up the state’s undergraduate and graduate science programs; increasing technical training and improving communication between the higher education community and the life sciences industry. &#8226