UNH Manchester launches program to boost biosciences workforce

Scholarships, research opportunities will be made available to high-achieving students starting fall 2019

The University of New Hampshire at Manchester is expanding its workforce development efforts in bioengineering with the launch of the new Millyard Scholars program, which provides scholarships and research opportunities to high-achieving students interested in the field of biotechnology, starting fall 2019. 

UNH Manchester is located nearby the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) and its BioFabUSA program. As ARMI's workforce development partner, the university created the Millyard Scholars program to support efforts to attract and retain exceptional students in the emerging field. The biofabrication industry combines biology-related research, computer science, materials science and engineering to create an industry for engineered tissue manufacturing, which will restore form, function and appearance to wounded soldiers and reduce the waiting time for organ transplant patients.

“ARMI and BioFabUSA have created a need for skilled workers in the biomanufacturing sector,” said Mike Decelle, dean of UNH Manchester. “Through initiatives like the Millyard Scholars program, we are preparing graduates to meet the demand, which will ultimately have an economic impact on our community and state.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows above average growth in many biomedical occupations. In response, UNH Manchester has dedicated its sixth floor to new teaching and research facilities in the areas of bioengineering and cellular biology. It will also include incubator space for start-up biotechnology firms, which will provide on-site research and internship opportunities for Millyard Scholars.

In June, Governor Chris Sununu signed into law a bipartisan bill that forgives student loan debt for college graduates who work at a regenerative manufacturing organization in New Hampshire for a minimum of five years. The bill also put into effect a 10-year tax exemption for New Hampshire organizations that have at least 75 percent of their business activities in regenerative manufacturing.

"New Hampshire has signaled to the rest of the country that we are at the forefront of innovative, life-saving technological developments,” Sununu said. “We have a long history of making smart long-term investments in New Hampshire. We are poised to become the global hub of regenerative medicine, continuing our long history on the forefront of science and technology.”

Millyard Scholars will have access to distinctive seminar classes, research projects and research opportunities with ARMI|BioFabUSA’s ever-growing network of member companies.

“We are actively finding new ways to partner with industry, and these collaborations are a win-win for students and biotech companies,” said Wayne Jones, provost and vice president for academic affairs at UNH. “Millyard Scholars have the opportunity to work with organizations that are making a real impact in the field, and they’ll be prepared to hit the ground running when they graduate.”