Bentley Awarded $235,000 to Strengthen Life Sciences Talent Pipeline
Massachusetts is a national leader in the life sciences sector, but a projected 35% growth in computing and analytics-oriented roles could create a shortage of workers to fill these positions. Bentley will use a $235,000 grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to help address that need by preparing students with the technological skills and knowledge to enter this fast-growing industry. The grant will pay for state-of-the-art LED data visualization technology installed in the university’s renovated Adamian Academic Center that will allow students to integrate life science analytics with business strategy.
Bentley’s programming for business and data analytics for the life sciences is preparing graduates for high-demand roles such as data scientists, clinical data managers and regulatory analysts. A key component of doing that is integrating life sciences across multiple educational levels — from pre-college through graduate-level courses. A new transdisciplinary part of the curriculum, for example, introduces foundational biology and chemistry before challenging students to solve problems using industry datasets and AI tools.
Plans are already underway. This summer, the team in Bentley’s Center for Health and Business worked with 17 Bentley collaborators across centers, faculty and disciplines to coordinate pilot program components for the 2026-2027 academic year. Bentley will also host a Hot in Health speaker series featuring experts in data analytics in the life sciences.
The LED visualization infrastructure is scheduled to open in 2027 in the Futures Lab in the newly renovated Adamian Academic Center. Key technological features include a wraparound visualization system for students to analyze large-scale, complex life sciences datasets in an immersive, collaborative environment. Since the equipment mirrors modern industry settings like clinical trial monitoring and supply-chain management centers, students will be prepared for these types of jobs after graduation and ready to hit the ground running.
Programming for business and data analytics for the life sciences represents an integrated effort across campus, including the Center for Health and Business, Center for Analytics and Data Science, Center for Integration of Science and Industry, the Academic Technology Center, the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiative, Strategy and Innovation, Academic Affairs and the Badavas Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
“Collectively, these entities bridge health, analytics, science, technology and innovation, ensuring that the program is not only interdisciplinary but also deeply connected to industry trends and academic excellence,” says Danielle Blanch Hartigan, Chester B. Slade Professor of Psychology and executive director of the Center for Health and Business at Bentley. “By leveraging the strengths of each center, the team creates a unified platform for experiential learning, curriculum innovation and workforce development, positioning Bentley as a leader in preparing students for the evolving life sciences landscape.”