ESD Investment Supports Paid Internships and Program Coordination Model Designed for Statewide Expansion
Hands-On Training Lowers Barriers to Launch Careers in New York’s Growing Life Sciences Industry
Advances Governor Hochul’s Life Sciences Initiative to Strengthen New York’s Life Sciences Ecosystem
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the launch of the Life Science Training-to-Internship Program, a one-year pilot initiative to prepare community college students for in-demand careers in New York State's life sciences sector, combining hands-on training with paid internships. The initiative is designed to address the critical experience gap that often prevents community college talent from accessing early-career opportunities, creating new pathways into high-growth careers for New Yorkers.
Developed in partnership with LaGuardia Community College/CUNY (LAGCC) and Upper West Strategies (UWS), the pilot program provides students with direct experience in New York’s life sciences ecosystem, offering practical on-the-job training at top-tier research institutions, startup incubators, and biotechnology companies. The pilot aims to build a scalable model for workforce development that strengthens New York’s position as a leader in life sciences innovation.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York's life sciences sector continues to be a key driver of economic growth, and ensuring our workforce has the skills to meet industry demand at every level is critical to maintaining our competitive edge. This pilot program creates an accessible pathway for community college students to launch careers in biotechnology while giving employers access to a pipeline of well-trained talent. By partnering with LaGuardia Community College and Upper West Strategies, we're building a scalable model that can strengthen life sciences training capacity across the state."
LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams said, “At LaGuardia, we take pride in preparing students for success across a wide range of industries that are shaping the city’s future, by ensuring students gain the skills and experience needed to contribute to New York’s evolving workforce. This pilot program bridges the gap between classroom learning and the real-world skills students need to succeed in today’s life sciences workforce. By combining hands-on laboratory training, an industry-aligned curriculum, and recognized credentials, the program ensures our students graduate with practical experience and a clear understanding of workplace expectations. We value our collaboration with Upper West Strategies and appreciate their partnership.”
Upper West Strategies CEO Richard Robbins said, “Through our work connecting students to life sciences internships, we’ve seen how critical early, hands-on experience is to launch a career in this field. Too often, community college students face barriers to accessing these opportunities. This pilot program is an important step toward addressing that gap—combining targeted training with paid internships to help students build real-world skills and confidence. By engaging employers in shaping the program, it ensures participants are prepared to contribute from day one while strengthening New York’s life sciences talent pipeline.”
ESD is committing nearly $550,000 to launch the pilot, with funding supporting paid internships, student training, employer engagement, and program evaluation to guide potential statewide expansion. Building the talent pipeline companies need to start and scale in the state plays an essential role in advancing ESD’s broader strategy to grow New York’s life science economy.
The program will begin with a three-month training program at LAGCC’s new Life Science Spring Institute, ensuring students gain the hands-on core laboratory skills and professional skills specifically requested by partnering employers. Students who complete the Spring Institute will earn a program completion certificate, industry-recognized micro-credentials from the Bioscience Core Skills Institute, and digital badges from LAGCC demonstrating professional competencies, such as problem-solving and critical thinking—providing employers with clear documentation of both laboratory proficiency and workplace readiness.
Following the training, students will participate in 10-week, full-time, project-based internships at partnering companies and research institutes. These partners include BioLabs, SOSV, MantleBio, Ancilia Bio, UmAb Biosystems, Harlem Biospace, CarbonBridge, Gotham Foundry, Weill Cornell Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Columbia University. LAGCC will lead delivery of the Spring Institute curriculum, while UWS will manage employer partnerships, internship matching, and program operations.
Upon completion of the pilot, UWS and LAGCC will assess outcomes against key performance indicators—including completion rates, student and employer feedback, and indicators of continued engagement in life science career pathways —and ESD will use findings to guide potential expansion to community colleges across New York State in partnership with regional life sciences employers.
New York State is building one of the nation’s most vibrant life sciences clusters—linking discovery and commercialization with the infrastructure, capital, and talent needed to bring new technologies to market. With more than 3,000 life sciences companies and research institutions employing tens of thousands of workers statewide, New York is already one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems. As the sector continues to expand, workforce development initiatives like this Life Science Training-to-Internship Program are critical to ensuring New York has the talent pipeline needed to support continued growth and maintain the state's position as a global leader in life sciences innovation.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
About LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
About Upper West Strategies
Upper West Strategies (UWS) is a New York City–based small business with extensive experience designing and implementing workforce development and talent pipeline initiatives, particularly within the life sciences sector. Founded in 2012, UWS partners with government, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders to develop and execute programs that expand economic opportunity and support industry growth. Over the past nine years, UWS has led the development and management of the LifeSci NYC Internship Program, placing over 1,250 students into paid internships with over 250 host organizations. UWS combines rigorous stakeholder engagement and data-driven strategy with tireless program execution, leveraging strong networks across the public and private sectors to deliver measurable, scalable outcomes.(UWS) is a New York City–based small business with extensive experience designing and implementing workforce development and talent pipeline initiatives, particularly within the life sciences sector. Founded in 2012, UWS partners with government, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders to develop and execute programs that expand economic opportunity and support industry growth. Over the past nine years, UWS has led the development and management of the LifeSci NYC Internship Program, placing over 1,250 students into paid internships with over 250 host organizations. UWS combines rigorous stakeholder engagement and data-driven strategy with tireless program execution, leveraging strong networks across the public and private sectors to deliver measurable, scalable outcomes.
Contact:
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313
Emily Mijatovic | [email protected] | (212) 803-3692