News

South End's Tony Ruan is Named a Project Onramp Intern

by Submitted by For Life Science Cares
Friday Sep 11, 2020

Yong "Tony" Ruan, 22, from Boston's South End, has been named a Project Onramp intern for Xilio Therapeutics. He is one of 37 college students who are gaining valuable hands-on experience in entry-level positions at 22 life science companies across Massachusetts this summer as part of the biotechnology workforce development program.
Project Onramp matches undergraduate students working with Bottom Line, a non-profit committed to building strong connections for first-generation-to-college students, with paid summer entry-level internships that often lead to full-time employment. Created and sponsored by four of the nation's leading life science organizations headquartered in Massachusetts — MassBio, MassBioEd, Life Science Cares and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center — the program is designed to help bridge the opportunity gap for underserved and minority students while building a pipeline of local and diverse talent in the life science industry.
"Project Onramp is a platform through which students seeking careers in the field can access valuable hands-on experience through internships at local biotechnology companies they otherwise may not have access to," says Sarah MacDonald, Executive Director for Life Science Cares. "For many participating students, this is their first experience in the workforce. For participating employers, this is an opportunity to open doors for young people, many of whom are first generation or first to go to college in their families, into a growing and thriving industry."
Growing up, Ruan always had a passion for nature and a curiosity to uncover why things are the way they are. His favorite subject in school was always biology. Now, as a biology major at the University of Massachusetts Boston, he is excited to enter the life science industry. The rising senior plans to work in a lab doing clinical research after graduation.
"It doesn't get much better than this internship and the opportunity to get real hands-on experience in a lab," says Ruan. "I am learning so much, both hard and soft skills, from the proper ways to use various pipettes to how to communicate with a professional team. This experience has exceeded my expectations and I am confident that the skills I am learning here will translate to future jobs and give me an edge for potential employers."
As a summer intern at Xilio Therapeutics, headquartered in Waltham, Ruan is responsible for performing molecular biology to support the production of protein therapeutic drug candidates. Project Onramp internships range from science and lab positions to disciplines in business administration, operations, human resources, marketing and communications. Bottom Line, a nonprofit that helps first-generation-to-college students from low income backgrounds get into college, successfully graduate and find meaningful
careers, helps support students as they apply, interview and earn internships.
"Diversity and inclusion are important to us at Xilio and we are thrilled to participate in Project Onramp and to have Tony as part of our team this summer. Tony is making important contributions to our mission of delivering tumor selective immunotherapies to cancer patients" says Jennifer O'Neil, VP of Translational Oncology at Xilio Therapeutics. "We look forward to hearing about Tony's future success in the biotechnology industry."
Since its establishment in 2019, Project Onramp has placed more than 50 students in well-paid internships with top companies statewide. The program is funded in part by the State Universities of Massachusetts. For more information, visit: www.projectonrampma.com.