By Whats Up Worcester Staff
WORCESTER, MA — Clark University students will gain expanded access to laboratory equipment and hands-on scientific training through a new $354,443 grant supporting life sciences education and workforce preparation.
The university received the Post-Secondary Education and Training Grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, according to an announcement from Clark.
The funding is intended to support laboratory equipment, materials, supplies, technology, and facility improvements that strengthen education and workforce training. Clark was one of 22 academic institutions and nonprofit organizations selected for the grant program and one of two Worcester-based academic institutions to receive an award.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awarded more than $7.3 million through the post-secondary grant program. The awards were part of $12.3 million in education and workforce development investments announced by the state and the center.
For students at Clark University, the local grant will expand opportunities to work directly with equipment and laboratory methods connected to biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and related fields.
Jennifer Hanselman, Clark’s associate provost and dean of research, said the funding will provide more students with the laboratory experiences needed for graduate education, research careers, and employment in the life sciences.
“Through enhanced laboratory facilities and equipment, this award will provide more students with the hands-on experiences needed to succeed in graduate education, research careers, and the life sciences workforce,” Hanselman said in the university’s announcement.
New center to support laboratory learning
The grant will support Clark’s Center for Biomolecular Research and Experiential Learning, which is expected to expand research-grade training available to undergraduate students.
Donald Spratt, a chemistry professor and director of Clark’s Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program, said students will receive training in mammalian cell culture, sterile technique, microscopy, quantitative analysis, and experimental troubleshooting.
According to Spratt, students will have opportunities to work through the scientific process from growing living cells to generating and interpreting molecular data.
“The new Center for Biomolecular Research and Experiential Learning will transform how our students learn biochemistry at Clark,” Spratt said.
The university’s announcement states that the center is expected to come to life during 2026. It does not provide a specific opening date, construction schedule, or breakdown showing how the $354,443 will be divided among equipment, supplies, technology, and facility work.
More than $1 million awarded over two years
The new grant continues a series of investments in Clark’s biotechnology and life sciences training infrastructure.
According to the university, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has awarded Clark approximately $1.1 million over the past two years for facility improvements, scientific equipment, and laboratory supplies.
In 2024, Spratt received a $750,000 Workforce Development Capital Grant to modernize biochemical instrumentation and strengthen the research-level training available to students.
The latest $354,443 award brings additional support to Clark’s efforts to connect classroom instruction with practical laboratory experience.
For Worcester-area students, the funding may create greater access to equipment and techniques used in research laboratories, graduate programs, biotechnology companies, and other life sciences workplaces. The source material does not specify how many students will use the new equipment or whether access will extend to students from other Worcester colleges, high schools, or community programs.
State focuses on life sciences workforce
State officials described the grants as part of a broader effort to prepare Massachusetts residents for careers in life sciences fields.
Gov. Maura Healey said the awards are intended to expand access to the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experiences students need to enter the industry.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s education and workforce grants support post-secondary programs, out-of-school learning opportunities, certificate and degree programs, and other workforce initiatives.
Since the beginning of the state’s Life Sciences Initiative, the center has invested more than $240 million in education and workforce training programs, according to the announcement.
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO Kirk Taylor said the investments are also intended to expand opportunities for low-income, underrepresented, and nontraditional learners in Gateway Cities, rural communities, and other parts of the state.
The announcement does not explain whether Clark’s grant includes specific enrollment targets, financial assistance, recruitment requirements, or reserved opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
What comes next
Clark is expected to use the grant to improve its laboratory environment and expand experiential learning in biochemistry and molecular biology.
The university has not released a detailed purchasing list, implementation schedule, or date when all equipment and facility improvements will be available to students.
Residents and prospective students can learn more about academic programs, research opportunities, and future university updates through Clark University’s official website.
🔎 W.U.W. Verification Box
• Project / Topic: Expansion of hands-on life sciences education and workforce training at Clark University.
• Current Status: Clark University has been awarded a $354,443 Post-Secondary Education and Training Grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
• Key Dates or Decisions: The grant was announced in 2026. Clark also received a $750,000 Workforce Development Capital Grant in 2024.
• Estimated Cost: The current grant award is $354,443. Clark reports receiving approximately $1.1 million from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center during the past two years.
• Timeline: Clark expects the Center for Biomolecular Research and Experiential Learning to begin taking shape in 2026. A specific completion or opening date was not provided.
• Immediate Next Steps: Clark is expected to purchase or install laboratory equipment, materials, supplies, technology, and facility improvements supporting hands-on life sciences instruction.
• Primary Sources: Clark University’s press release, statements from Clark administrators and faculty, and information attributed to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
• What We Do Not Yet Know: The source material does not provide a detailed spending breakdown, equipment list, construction schedule, number of students expected to participate, or specific eligibility requirements for accessing the expanded training.
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