MassBioEd Foundation
Sandra Luikenhuis is currently the Assistant Director of Biotechnology Education Programs at MassBioEd Foundation. Prior to this, Sandra held positions such as Senior Director of Research and Development at Viska Bio and Director of Corporate Development at Magen BioSciences. With a PhD in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sandra has a strong background in research and development within the biotechnology industry.
MassBioEd Foundation
Our mission is to build a sustainable life sciences workforce in the region through educational programs that inspire and propel students, engage and excite teachers, and illuminate the pathway from the classroom to careers. In 2001, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd), a non-profit 501(c)(3) education foundation, was founded by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio), a business association that now has more than one thousand organization members. MassBio had identified a separate need for educational programming to cultivate talent in the workforce. MassBioEd continues to serve the region through programs focused on training high school educators, exposing students to the college and career opportunities within the life sciences, providing industry and higher education with job trends analysis, and advancing the discussion between community colleges, universities, and employers to better align training with industry needs and reduce the skills gap to meet and fulfill demand for talent.